Longterm training program

Natural Building Long-Term Training Program

Finished your degree… but still not confident to design and build a real, sustainable home?

You’re not alone. Many Architecture and Civil Engineering graduates know software, drawings and theory—but not how to build with the earth under their feet.

At Thannal Natural Homes, natural building is not a side topic.
It is our full-time practice, research and way of life.

This Natural Building Long-Term Training Program (12–15 months) helps you:

• Learn natural building on real sites
• Work with different type of earth/mud, lime, stone, wood/bamboo and roofing, plant admixtures, wall systems, finishes, etc
• Move from student → natural builder with real projects and documentation

Grow towards independent practice and future collaborations

Why This Program?

For Architecture & Civil Students Who Want Natural Building, Not Just “Green” Labels

As an Architecture or Civil student, you may feel this gap:

You’ve spent 4–5 years and a lot of fees, but you still:

• Haven’t really built with earth, lime,bamboo, etc on a live site?
• Don’t feel ready to execute even a small home from foundation to finish?
• Have never seen how a natural building ages, cracks and gets repaired in old buildings?

If you’re from Architecture, you may also feel:

• Most of your work stayed in studio sheets and 3D models, not real walls
• Your “green” projects were concepts, not full-scale, low-impact homes on the ground

Maybe you studied “sustainability”—but not natural building as a real, on-site practice.

Going abroad for a “green” course often means:

• Certifications and imported systems, not local, low-cost methods
• Climate, labour and budgets that are very different from Indian realities

Most “green” work today is:

• Extra layers, extra products, more cost and dependency
• More branding than real reduction in impact

How Natural Building at Thannal is Different

At Thannal, natural building:

• Starts with local materials: earth/mud, lime, bamboo/wood, surkhi/pozzoloana, plant admixture
• Respects traditional methods that have worked for centuries and implemented in the modern era which is hugely lacking.
• Aims for homes that are breathable, repairable and low-energy

And the core struggle for many young professionals:

• No natural building project to show
• No documented case study of a real site
• No confidence to tell a client: “Yes, I can design and build your earth home.”

This long-term program is built as a bridge:

• From degree → natural building practice
• From software → soil and materials
• From student → natural builder with a portfolio and support network

If you’re an Architecture graduate tired of only studio work and sustainability slides, and a Civil Engineer stuck in RCC drawings, and you want to explore lime, earth and low-carbon structures with real testing and guidance — this path is designed for you.

Why Thannal?

Thannal Natural Homes is one of India’s pioneers in natural building. This is not a short add-on course for us—it’s our daily work and way of living.

By joining this program, you learn inside a working natural building practice, not just in a classroom.

Thannal at a glance:

• 15+ years of building only with natural materials
  India’s first online learning platform for natural building
• World’s first app dedicated to natural building education
• Many completed earth homes in contemporary times
• A living ecosystem of live projects, research, documentation, workshops and online courses

You’re not just attending a course; you’re stepping into Thannal’s ongoing work, culture and community.

Eligibility & Who Can Apply

Who This Is For

• Indian citizens / residents
• Age: 18–25 years
• Final-year / fresh graduates / early-career professionals in:
  • Architecture
  • Civil Engineering

Small cohort: only a handful of long-term trainees per batch, with roles such as:

• Architecture trainees (design + detailing + documentation)
• Civil Engineering trainee (structure + testing + site coordination)
• Documentation / content-focused trainees

This keeps the training personal, site-based and responsibility-driven.

Architecture graduates and Civil Engineering graduates are equally central to this program.
You’ll learn to design, detail and execute natural buildings together, each bringing your own strengths.

You’re a Good Fit If You

• Want real on-site natural building experience
• Are ready to work with your hands on site
  Can keep basic notes, sketches and photos

Good to have:

• Basic AutoCAD / SketchUp
• Simple sketching skills

Skill Priority: Attitude First

At Thannal, we value:

• Humility on site
• Willingness to work physically with soil, lime and materials
  Consistency, reliability and respect for everyone on site

Software can be taught. Your attitude and character is the real foundation.

Selection Process

1. Documents & Portfolio
   • Portfolio: sketches, academic work, any site / documentation work
   • Degree certificate / college ID (for final-year)
   • Aadhaar card
2. Shortlisting & Interaction
   • Shortlisting based on portfolio, course engagement and intent
   • Online / phone interaction with mentors to align expectations
3. Final Confirmation
   • The cohort is confirmed once the small group of trainees is finalised.

To know more details about Training and Fee Structure Click Here.