Making a good building means more than constructing an attractive one; it needs to be functional, safe, economical and satisfy the needs of its occupants. Architects may be involved in practically all the phases of the building construction - right from the initial talks with the clients, down to the buying of materials
  Design first Once you’ve made that leap of faith, the options are endless. But first, take a good look at your site to discover its layout, wind direction and water availability. If it’s an odd-shaped plot or perched higher or lower than the surrounding road levels, your architect must work these into the blueprint to leverage the natural landscaping.

Next, examine the soil to select a building material that suits your land type. The basic construction rules still apply: If you can help it, never build on tank beds or in areas with loose soil. You need extra protection from sunlight on the western and southern fronts, so make sure your living areas don’t get the brunt of the tropical sun. Work out the wind direction as well to optimise window placements.

Lean and green The most expensive solution is not always the best. Dig a foundation only as deep as needed to bear the load of your building design. Says Vishwanath: "Any foundation beyond the optimum depth is sheer wasteful expenditure." For a standard ground plus one building, a foundation depth of three feet is more than adequate..

  Composite blocks Once the foundation is in, ensure that the excavated mud is not carted away as waste. Mixed with soil and cement, it can be used to make stabilised mud blocks for the walls of your home.
  Once the composite blocks are ready, alternative technology architects recommend that walls be built using the classic Baker formula–the rat-trap design. This involves laying blocks or bricks two at a time on parallel edges with a three-inch gap within. This facilitates airflow, acting as a natural coolant as well as providing thermal insulation. It reduces the amount of cement, as the exposed brickwork requires no plastering on the outside, with inner wall plastering being a matter of personal choice.

Light and airy Or take the filler-slab technology made popular by Laurie Baker. Interlocking tiles and concrete are reinforced with steel to form a pastiche of red and white on the ceiling that requires no further plastering or concrete slabs.

Solar solution. If Shivakumar fights to fend off the fierce rays of the sun, he also knows that the same energy can be priceless if channelled positively. He has installed a solar water heater (SWH) system on the northern side of his rooftop. Able to heat about 200 litres of water a day to about 35o C above ambient temperature, the system is a double structure with a heating container at one end that pipes hot water into an insulated container at the lower end.

  Cheaper to conserve Eco-friendly construction can cost you as much as 30 per cent less than conventional architecture, provided you go by the maxim that local is best. For instance, terracotta tile roofs are doubtless environment-friendly but if the tiles have to be transported across states and climate zones, it would be a waste of both money and any environmental benefit.