Cultivated Envelope in India

Vernacular Green Facade System

Cultivated Envelope in India

  • Next generation Next Generation 4th prize 2020–2021 Asia Pacific

Cultivated Envelope is a multifunctional co-working space in the heart of Pune, developed in a context where commercial projects often prioritise profit over people—typically resulting in generic glass-box structures that ignore the aspirations and dynamic needs of users.

By Divya Jyoti - PMA madhushala, Pune, India

This project takes a different approach, aiming to create:

  • A sensitive, multifunctional design that responds thoughtfully to its surroundings and its users.
  • An architectural language that is timeless, rooted in local culture and context—both physically and symbolically.

The architecture is conceived as a living framework: an active organism that breathes, adapts, and transforms with the seasons and the evolving patterns of use.

Cultivated Envelope in India

Project authors

  • Cultivated Envelope in India
    Divya Jyoti

    PMA madhushala

    India

Project Summary

In response to the global proliferation of air-tight, fully glazed buildings—which in countries like India often fail to meet occupant expectations for comfort—Cultivated Envelope proposes an efficient and environmentally conscious façade system tailored to hot, semi-arid climates. The design features thin slabs of natural red sandstone, arranged to form a grid of planters and fenestrations. Vegetation becomes an integral part of the building skin, creating a calming natural atmosphere indoors while giving the exterior a vibrant presence that enhances the surrounding neighbourhood. This semi-permeable natural envelope contributes to indoor comfort by shading the building and moderating temperature fluctuations.

Cultivated Envelope in India

The makers of stone fenestration.

The sandstone fins are supported by two vertical metal elements that also integrate water supply and drainage systems. The entire façade grid is structurally independent from the main building, allowing for flexibility in composition and pattern. Implemented at full scale in a pilot building in Pune, the façade system engages local labour in stone processing and showcases how green technologies can contribute to a circular economy through locally sourced materials and skills.

Jury Appraisal

The Holcim Foundation Awards jury Asia Pacific highly commended this very developed and advance façade system that went all the way from a concept, to prototype and full-scale construction. The solution was considered very appropriate for the Indian climatic context, well-rooted into the local cultural dimension and aesthetically compelling. The modularity and ease of implementation were compelling aspects that make the system relevant not only for new construction but also for retrofit interventions. The proposal successfully demonstrates that façade design can move away from international trends to be rethought to meet the needs of the territory locally.

Cultivated Envelope in India

Green strategies for optimum efficiency.

Project Updates

Statements on Sustainability

  • Glass-enclosed buildings often create nature-deficient, sterile environments that disconnect users from their surroundings. In contrast, traditional buildings in Pune frequently featured planters projecting into the street, celebrating nature in transitional spaces like balconies and windows.

    This spirit has been reinterpreted in the design to evoke nostalgia—placing plants within reach of windows so they can be touched, watered, and maintained from the inside, fostering a direct, personal connection with nature. These integrated planters bring vibrancy to interior spaces and a sense of belonging for users, while also enlivening the neighbourhood with a natural, animated façade. The semi-permeable stone skin serves a dual purpose—as both a planter structure and an effective shading device.

  • A peripheral column system has been adopted to enable flexible, multifunctional interior spaces. The façade is divided modularly to reduce visual bulk and scale, and to simplify construction using locally handcrafted components. This approach not only makes on-site assembly more efficient but also supports a circular economy by involving local labour and materials.

    A notable structural innovation lies in the integration of services into the façade elements: the stone fins rest on two vertical metal members that also accommodate water supply and drainage systems. The asymmetric arrangement of planters forms a dynamic visual rhythm, enhanced by the growth of vegetation. Because the fins are structurally independent from the main building, there is also flexibility to alter the architectural expression over time.


  • Instead of relying on energy-intensive glass façades, the project uses natural Indian red sandstone—chosen for its water absorption, durability, and long-lasting performance. Stone dimensions were optimised to minimise waste, with offcuts repurposed in the parking areas and compound walls.

    A gravity-fed drip irrigation system supplies water and liquid fertiliser to each planter, ensuring low-maintenance upkeep. The modular design allows easy access to the planters from each floor. The semi-permeable stone envelope filters light throughout the day, while the vegetation helps reduce solar heat gain—enhancing indoor comfort and lowering energy demand.