World Environment Day 2026: Architect explains why traditional building materials are key to a greener future

As conversations around sustainability evolve, architects are increasingly looking beyond energy-efficient appliances and solar panels. Today, the focus is shifting towards a less visible but equally important aspect of construction: the environmental impact of the materials used to build our homes.

According to Dikshu Kukreja, Managing Principal at CP Kukreja Architects and Honorary Consul General of Albania to India, sustainable housing is no longer just about reducing operational energy consumption. It is also about understanding a building's full lifecycle and the embodied energy associated with the materials that go into it.

"Traditional materials such as lime, stone, bamboo, terracotta and compressed earth are seeing renewed interest because they are locally available, climate-responsive and generally require far less energy to produce and transport than many contemporary alternatives," Kukreja says.

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Lessons from India's architectural heritage

Long before sustainability became a global buzzword, India's traditional building systems were designed around local climates and available resources. Across the country, homes were built with a deep understanding of geography, weather patterns and thermal comfort. Thick stone walls, courtyards, terracotta elements and naturally ventilated spaces helped regulate indoor temperatures without relying heavily on mechanical cooling.

Kukreja believes these time-tested practices deserve renewed attention, particularly as Indian cities grapple with increasingly intense heatwaves.

"At a time when our cities are experiencing increasingly severe heat conditions, there is much to learn from materials and construction techniques that prioritised thermal comfort, durability and resource efficiency," he says.

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Sustainability starts with everyday choices

For homeowners, creating a greener home does not necessarily mean investing in expensive technology. Instead, Kukreja argues that a series of thoughtful decisions can collectively have a significant environmental impact. These include maximising natural ventilation and daylight, choosing durable locally sourced materials, reducing unnecessary finishes, conserving water and considering a product's lifecycle before bringing it into the home.

The idea is simple- sustainability should be integrated into everyday design choices rather than treated as an add-on.

The problem with some modern design trends

Not every contemporary design trend is as environmentally friendly as it appears. Kukreja points out that excessive use of glass in hot climates, highly processed construction materials and finishes that require frequent replacement often come with substantial environmental costs. Many of these materials carry high embodied energy and can increase long-term cooling requirements, making homes less sustainable over time.

"Sustainable housing ultimately depends less on individual products and more on making informed decisions about how buildings are designed, constructed and inhabited," he explains.

Building the homes of tomorrow

For Kukreja, the answer is not about abandoning modern technology or recreating the past. Instead, he advocates combining traditional material wisdom with contemporary innovation and a deeper understanding of environmental impact throughout a building's lifecycle.

"The future of sustainable housing will not be shaped by a return to the past, but by combining traditional material wisdom with contemporary innovation and a deeper understanding of lifecycle impact," he says.

As the world marks World Environment Day, that balance between heritage and innovation may prove essential in creating homes that are not only comfortable and efficient, but also better equipped to meet the challenges of a warming planet.