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Mud becomes the new luxury in Indian homes

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Terracotta offers functional advantages over modern building materials because it stays significantly cooler than heat-absorbing concrete and weathers well over time. Design studios, including Bengaluru-based ma+rs and Ara Living Studio, are collaborating with regional artisans and clay vendors to innovate with new formats and finishes. Beyond its thermal efficiency, the medium serves as an economical choice, with cladding priced at roughly ₹55 per square foot compared to Indian marble starting between ₹150 and ₹200 before installation.

Key points

  • Homeowners are actively replacing glossy, stone-heavy spaces with natural materials that…: Homeowners are actively replacing glossy, stone-heavy spaces with natural materials that reflect regional character.
  • Social media platforms such as Pinterest and Instagram are driving consumer perception of…: Social media platforms such as Pinterest and Instagram are driving consumer perception of clay as a sophisticated luxury element.
  • The material delivers significant climate-responsive advantages alongside considerable co…: The material delivers significant climate-responsive advantages alongside considerable cost savings compared to conventional luxury stones.

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She recently completed a series of 10 circular murals inspired by Kerala folklore for a client and is now working on a Life of Buddha series. Her murals start at around ₹3,500 for a 10-inch piece. What set them apart, she says, are the minimal design and storytelling.

Artists, architects and product designers are taking terracotta beyond the familiar matka, planters and earthen lamps. There are sculptural lamps, wall installations, jaalis, tiles and objets d'art-all crafted in one of India's oldest building and craft materials that sits seamlessly in contemporary interiors. The humble clay has had an upgrade.

Call Of Red Earth

For architects, terracotta never really went away. What has changed is the way it is used and perceived. Yashwin Dev, an architect who works out of Mangaluru, Bengaluru and Delhi, has used exposed terracotta brick walls, jaalis, tiled roofs and flooring across projects. Recently he designed the BuCo cafe in Koramangala, Bengaluru, where he incorporated terracotta flooring and Mangalore roof tiles, the latter as an architectural feature rather than as a functional roof.A lot more of his clients…

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