Architecture tips: 7 Ways modern Indian architecture is inspired by ancestral designs

From courtyards and jaalis to lime plaster and stepwells, traditional Indian architecture is inspiring sustainable, cooler, and more community-driven modern spaces. (Image: Pinterest)

As climate concerns grow and modern cities expand Indian architects are looking back to move forward, reviving ancestral techniques that once kept homes cool, resilient, and in harmony with nature, culture and community.

When it comes to smart architecture, the answer lies not in modern innovation, but in age-old intelligence. “If you have ever visited an ancestral home, say some centuries-old, you would have noticed that they still feel cool in summer, are serene in their layout, and intuitively comfortable,” says Husna Rahman, Architect and Founder Fulcrum Studio, Bengaluru. “As Indian cities expand and buildings grow taller, you can notice a design revolution, one that draws deeply from our architectural past to build for the future” she opines.

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Rahman shares that from the courtyards of Chettinad to the stepwells of Rajasthan, traditional Indian architecture was always about harmony; with sun, wind, water, and people. She further reveals how in the present era of climate urgency, this wisdom is finding renewed relevance.

Passive cooling: Traditional features like jaalis (perforated screens), aangans (courtyards), and chajjas (overhangs) are making a strong comeback. “These weren’t aesthetic flourishes, they managed heat, channelled breeze, and sheltered homes. Today, architects are using them not as nostalgic callbacks but as intelligent design solutions for cooling and light control, cutting down dependence on air conditioning”, tells Rahman.

Image: Pinterest

Harnessing wind: In desert homes, badgirs (wind towers) once funnelled air into living spaces. Modern buildings now echo these with fins and vents that use wind for passive ventilation. “Height-based stack ventilation, once a temple trick, is now helping reduce energy loads in schools and public spaces,” suggests Rahman.

Image: Pinterest

Natural materials: Lime, stone, and earth materials used by our ancestors had breathability, thermal comfort, and longevity. Rahman adds that today’s architects are rediscovering these for sustainable building. “Rammed earth and adobe blocks regulate heat naturally, while being eco-friendly and tactile, offering comfort that concrete rarely can.”

Image: Pinterest

Water wisdom: Water was never wasted in older settlements. “It was respected, harvested, and stored in systems like baolis and temple tanks. That same ethos is now seen in bioswales, percolation pits, and rainwater harvesting. These aren’t new innovations; they’re revivals of indigenous intelligence”, she emotes.

Image: Pinterest

Climate-responsive roofs: “From sloped terracotta roofs in Kerala to vaulted domes in Rajasthan, our ancestors built for heat, rain, and acoustics,” she reveals adding, “Architects today are borrowing these forms to create homes that stay cooler, last longer, and feel more connected to the sky above.”

Image: Pinterest

Transitional spaces: Verandah, the otla, the colonnade; these in-between spaces shaped how people lived, sat, socialised, and cooled off. “They’re now being reintroduced in homes and institutions to balance indoor and outdoor living, encouraging slow movement and community connection.”

Image: Pinterest

Local craft: Master builders, mistris, and sthapathis carry generational knowledge, about soil types, seasonal shifts, and regional materials. “Projects that involve them create structures that last, that feel local, and that function intuitively.”