Ar. Rohan Nahar
Founder
The firm emphasizes on ‘value-based architecture’ over form-based arhcitecture, where every decision is guided by environmental sensitivity, functionality, and long-term durability and deriving aesthetics through these conditions. “Every decision, every design choice is governed by being sensitive towards the environment.
Whether it is selecting materials or understanding local weather, the aim is to create buildings that are resilient, functional and environmentally conscious”, explains Ar. Rohan Nahar, Founder, Studio Roots & Basics. With deep gratitude, Rohan traces the roots of his design sensibilities to the timeless wisdom of his mentors, the late, legendary Ar. Nimish Patel of Ahmedabad, Prof. Yogananda of Mrinmayee Consultants in Bengaluru, and the visionary Ar. Eugene Pandala of Kerala.
Services with an Eco-Conscious Edge
Studio Roots & Basics provides a full spectrum of services, including sustainable architectural and interior design, material research and testing, and turnkey project execution. The firm’s expertise in material behavior forms the foundation of its innovative, eco-conscious design approach.
By harnessing the inherent qualities of local materials, the team develops sustainable techniques that enhance a building’s durability, minimize long-term maintenance, and reduce environmental impact. This
process not only pushes the boundaries of what these materials can achieve but also allows for the creation of a distinctive, place-sensitive aesthetic rooted in context and craft.
The firm’s office at The Farm, near Pune, stands as a compelling testament to its philosophy, a space built during the lockdown by six hands - four colleagues and two unskilled workers. Nestled in the forested areas near NDA, the office embraces mud construction, natural ventilation, and an open-plan layout free of doors and windows.
Designed to dissolve boundaries between built form and nature, it welcomes wildlife into its folds: birds like flycatchers nest in hand-crafted niches, while dogs, cats, and even peacocks roam freely. Here, workspace and wilderness coexist, blurring the line between architecture and ecosystem.
Merging Tradition with Technology
At Studio Roots & Basics, innovation grows from the ground up , where age-old craft meets modern tools. Each project begins with the land: its soil, its stories, its seasons.
In Rajasthan, local craftsmen were hired who used Bilwara stone, mud plasters and natural waterproofing materials. Women knew the soil, craftsmen knew the stone, and together, they built with nature, not against it. In Mahabaleshwar, scarcity sparked creativity: a rain harvesting pond, and mud concrete replacing cement. Tradition, tested and reimagined, becomes the architecture of resilience.
The Way Ahead
Studio Roots & Basics is in the process of setting up a mud block manufacturing plant, supported by NITI Aayog and the Government’s Startup Seed Fund. This facility will produce eco-friendly bricks for architects and builders across Maharashtra, filling a major gap in the region’s sustainable construction industry.
“We are also actively conducting hands-on workshops and collaborating with architecture colleges to help students learn and experiment with sustainable materials and techniques. Internationally, we are partnering with organizations like Green School Bali and working with entrepreneurs in Senegal and Kenya to establish local construction capacities”, concludes Rohan.
The firm’s office at The Farm, near Pune, stands as a compelling testament to its philosophy, a space built during the lockdown by six hands - four colleagues and two unskilled workers. Nestled in the forested areas near NDA, the office embraces mud construction, natural ventilation, and an open-plan layout free of doors and windows.
Designed to dissolve boundaries between built form and nature, it welcomes wildlife into its folds: birds like flycatchers nest in hand-crafted niches, while dogs, cats, and even peacocks roam freely. Here, workspace and wilderness coexist, blurring the line between architecture and ecosystem.
Every decision and every design is a quiet act of reverence, guided by a deep sensitivity to the rhythms of the environment and we owe it all to Mother Nature
Merging Tradition with Technology
At Studio Roots & Basics, innovation grows from the ground up , where age-old craft meets modern tools. Each project begins with the land: its soil, its stories, its seasons.
In Rajasthan, local craftsmen were hired who used Bilwara stone, mud plasters and natural waterproofing materials. Women knew the soil, craftsmen knew the stone, and together, they built with nature, not against it. In Mahabaleshwar, scarcity sparked creativity: a rain harvesting pond, and mud concrete replacing cement. Tradition, tested and reimagined, becomes the architecture of resilience.
The Way Ahead
Studio Roots & Basics is in the process of setting up a mud block manufacturing plant, supported by NITI Aayog and the Government’s Startup Seed Fund. This facility will produce eco-friendly bricks for architects and builders across Maharashtra, filling a major gap in the region’s sustainable construction industry.
“We are also actively conducting hands-on workshops and collaborating with architecture colleges to help students learn and experiment with sustainable materials and techniques. Internationally, we are partnering with organizations like Green School Bali and working with entrepreneurs in Senegal and Kenya to establish local construction capacities”, concludes Rohan.
