Natural building is a soulful craft, not a standardized industrial process. Unlike conventional cement construction, which relies on uniform, factory-made materials, a natural home is built using a complex harmony of earth, lime, bamboo, stone, and specialized plant admixtures. By developing a foundational understanding through our courses or workshops, you gain vital insight into:

Material Wisdom: Recognizing why specific herbs, plant juices, and minerals are added to the earth to ensure durability, health, and breathability.
Labor Transparency: Gaining a deep respect for the intense manual skill and “man-hours” required by artisans, which helps you appreciate the true value and rhythm of your home’s creation.
Technique Diversity: Realizing that a structure is uniquely adapted to its environment—whether through Cob, Adobe, Wattle & Daub, or Earthbag—based on your specific climate and local resources.
Empowered Ownership: Whether you choose a “Minimal One” project or “Design & Management,” being an informed client allows you to oversee the process with confidence. It ensures that the long-term care and maintenance of your home becomes second nature to you.

We recommend starting with our Free Introductory Course. It provides a solid foundation for both prospective clients and aspiring builders. You can access it here: Introduction to Natural Building India.

This is our most comprehensive educational experience. It pairs a 10-day hands-on workshop with lifetime access to our Part 1–4 Online Course. Please note that only three of these workshops are held per year.

Yes! We have created the World’s first Natural Building learning app. You can enroll in the “Complete Companion” online course (Parts 1-4) through the app and currently enjoy a 15% discount.

Yes. It is a common misconception that they cannot handle rain. Almost all buildings constructed 70–100 years ago were natural buildings, and they have successfully withstood the test of time. With proper design and traditional stabilizers, these homes are incredibly resilient.

Thannal prefers to do Pure Natural Builds. We focus on 100% natural materials to create healthy, breathable living spaces

Definitely yes. We can build multi-storey natural buildings entirely without the use of cement. In India 2- 3 storey natural buildings are very common. One example is a multi-story apartment complex in Shibam Yeam which is over 10 storey and still used even nearly after a thousand years.

We have a wide variety of flat roofs. Check out the article using the link.

Yes. Different colored plasters can be done on walls to bring the asthetics of a natural building.Check out the link to the article on natural finishes.

Definitely yes. The very simple and long followed one is Random Rubble masonry with Lime mortars.One can also make the foundation masonry with different materials based on the availability.

We use a wide range of indigenous and modern natural techniques:

• Foundations: Various traditional and site-specific natural foundations.
• Walls: Cob, Wattle and Daub, Shuttered Cob, Adobe, Lime Bricks, CSEB (Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks), and Earthbags.
• Roofing: Flat Mud roofs, Limecrete, Terracotta tiles, and Hourdi roofs.
• Plasters: Specialized finishes including Lime (with natural pigments), Earthen finishes, Thappi-Lohi-Araish (Rajasthani), and Special Ayurvedic plasters.

Absolutely. One of the greatest gifts of a natural home is its ability to be reused and recycled. Unlike concrete, which becomes toxic debris at the end of its life, the materials in a natural home—earth, stone, and lime—can eventually return to the soil or be repurposed for new structures. Furthermore, natural materials do not “off-gas” harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ensuring a healthy, non-toxic environment for your family today and a cleaner planet for generations to come.

There is a common misconception that “lifeless” concrete homes require no maintenance, while natural homes are high-maintenance. In reality:
The Hierarchy of Longevity: From humble huts to grand palaces, the lifespan of a natural building depends on the hierarchy of materials and techniques chosen. If you select high-specification options—such as stabilized foundations and high-quality lime plasters—the maintenance required is remarkably low.
Living Structures: While a concrete house eventually cracks and degrades in a way that is difficult to repair, a natural home is a “breathing” entity.
Proactive Care: When you partner with us to design a long-life natural building, we prioritize “good boots and a good hat” (strong foundations and wide roof overhangs). This strategic design ensures that your home remains durable and requires minimal intervention over the decades.

Yes. very much possible. You can check out how Manisha built her home in Khan Market Delhi.

Earth Projects is Thannal’s project wing specializing in Construction solutions. We manage every aspect of design and construction, making it a hassle-free experience for clients, especially those facing urban or reverse-migrant construction challenges.

• Design, Consultation and Training: We provide the design and oversight while the client manages execution.
• Design, Consultation and Management: We handle full project management while the client oversees expenditure.(Also for people who have not attended workshop or online course)
• Design, Consultation and Outsource Management: We monitor an external construction team of your choice. (Also for people who have not attended workshop or online course)
• Online Consultation: Exclusive 45-minute virtual sessions for our students and workshop participants.
• Minimal One: Full service specifically for small-scale projects under 1,200 sq.ft. (Also for people who have not attended workshop or online course)

Plasters: Specialized application of natural and Ayurvedic finishes.

Outright pricing is Outdated. There is no outright pricing model in natural buildings. Even in cities like Chennai, Pune, Bangalore people build cement buildings as per specifications only. Costs vary based on the project scope and location. You can find a detailed breakdown in our article: Cost of Natural Building.

• For Workshops & Enrollment: thannalroots@gmail.com
• For Projects & Construction: earthprojects.thannal@gmail.com