" Field Architects has completed Gulzar’s Residence, a home that thoughtfully integrates the vernacular practices of northern India‘s remote and mountainous region of Ladakh. Shaped by the region’s harsh climate, culture, and traditions, the project draws on centuries of evolution in local architecture. The studio’s design for the residence embraces local materials and techniques while focusing on human habitation in harmony with the environment. This approach acknowledges Ladakh’s unique high-altitude desert setting and honors the adaptations made by generations of inhabitants in response to the area’s natural and social conditions..."

" Vernacular building practices represent a form of architecture rooted in craft—shaped by generations of empirical knowledge, hands-on techniques and an intuitive understanding of the environment, rather than formal training or theoretical frameworks. These practices use indigenous materials and traditional methods to reflect a region's cultural, environmental and social character. Unlike more formal architectural styles often devised by trained professionals in 'architectural laboratories' and institutions, it evolves naturally over time, responding intuitively to the climate, geography, resources and requirements of the local population. "

" Along the Indus riverbank, surrounded by grassy fields, circled by ancient mountains with a front-row (albeit distant) view of the historic Thiksey Monastery. As locations go, this pretty parcel of land in the Chuchot village of Leh has a ‘neighbour’s envy owner’s pride’ kind of appeal. When naturalist and conservationist Gulzar Hussain bought it, he knew he had found a great spot for his house. All he needed was the right kind of architect to build it. Someone well versed in Ladakhi architecture knew how to mould it into a modern aesthetic and understood the land. Because as fiercely beautiful as Ladakh is, it is also an exacting muse. Field Architects happened to tick all the boxes; plus, its founders Faiza Khan and Suril Patel had just completed a project for a common friend...."

"Field Architects was presented the Gaggenau Excellence award for a residential project in Ladakh, crafted with locally sourced materials to create a contemporary aesthetic. The home’s earthen design centres on the core factors of passive solar heating (PSH), and contemporary Ladakhi planning. It is designed to keep warm during the winter, cool in the summer (without any additional help) as well as have running water year-round, which is a rarity in Ladakh."

Explore how resourcefulness thrives in seemingly limited environments. This engaging panel brings together experts to discuss the documentation of indigenous tribes, the ingenuity of vernacular architecture, the evolution of Ladakhi fashion, and more. Delve into how cultural and environmental contexts inspire creativity, sustainability, and innovation, showcasing the richness that emerges from scarcity. Speakers: Faiza Khan (Founder, Field Architects) Saravana Kumar (Founder, India in Motion), Jigmat Norbu (Jigmat Couture), Rigzin Wangmo Lachic (Founder, Dholkar), Ikshit Pande (CSR Brand Strategy Lead for Royal Enfield) Moderated by: Monisha Ahmed

"Echoes of Ladakh" It delves into the intricate relationship between Ladakh's natural landscape, lifestyle, and vernacular architecture.Using stone, earth, and timber, Ladakhi structures showcase raw craftsmanship and an inherent respect for materials. Their design relies on intuitive geometry, with stacking and corbelling techniques reflecting an acute understanding of gravity and mass. These forms transcend functionality to express a unique cultural narrative. The installation presents miniature architectural models that highlight the essence of these structures, focusing on form over materiality.

A travel based design studio to understand the vernacular architecture of Ladakh  and design in response to it. Vernacular built forms all over the world are observed to  be intuitive, sustainable and community driven. The workshop prompts the students  to explore context responsive buildings within the background of Ladakh, its local  materials and their craft. Ladakh being at the cusp of a very fast cultural-economic shift  makes it a place to explore the true potential for this project.

Field Architects was listed in AD100 2024 winners, for the ThinLars ResidenceProject. "A residential project for a couple and their child, ThinLars is a home in Leh that has been designed keeping the region’s harsh weather and topography in mind. The house’s design revolves around core factors of passive-solar heating and traditional Ladakhi planning, keeping it warm in winters and cool in summers. There’s also a greenhouse where the residents can grow vegetables even in harsh conditions. Solar panels, eco-friendly toilets and more make this home one with the environment."

Unifying Architectural Education and Practice across India - At IIDEA, Indus University we always believe in Practice Meets Theory, looking at our practice in Architectural Education and in the dynamic field of architecture, the interconnection of education and practice is pivotal for fostering innovation and ensuring professional relevance. To address this critical connection, we propose an event that brings together some of the most accomplished Practicing Architects from different regions of the country. The primary objective is to bridge the gap between Architectural Education and Practice, simultaneously emphasizing the need for a parallel and integrative approach. Talk by: Leo Pereira, Leo Pereira Architect Talk by: Smit Vyas, @studio4000designs Talk by: Akshay Heranjal, @the_purple_ink_studio Talk by: Malay Doshi, @studio_saransh Talk by: Suril Patel, @field_architects

Recently our principal architect Faiza Khan gave a talk at the prestigious Banasthali Vidyapith on the journey of our architectural practice and woman in architecture, alongwith stalwarts Ar. Smita Habeeb Khan and Ar. Latha Raman Jaigopal. The origin and the history of Banasthali Vidyapith is so deep rooted and humbling going way back to the year 1935. Banasthali is one of the five higher education institutes in India meant exclusively for women at the scale that it has its own runway for aviation courses. It currently houses approxiately 18,000 girls from all over India.

8 - days experiential workshop offering the students to explore and learn about local builtforms, visit restoration and adaptive-reuse projects

Conservation of Palay House and Cultural regeneration & adaptive re-use of old Phey in Ladakh has been awarded Silver Medal at Domus International Prize for Architectural Restoration 9th Edition 2023 by Department of Architecture, University of Ferrara, Italy JURY REPORT- The intervention on the Palay House in the old village of Phey, in the mountain region of Ladakh, India, is an exemplary case of conservation applied to a vernacular clustered architecture. Of particular relevance, from a cultural point of view, is the attention paid on the one hand to the materiality of the building and its construction techniques, and on the other to the immateriality of the traditional skills involved in their conservation. The greatest changes, also from a figurative point of view, were concentrated on the north side, where the degradation of the adobe was heaviest. In replacing the upper stratigraphy of the floors and the layer of earthen plaster, traditional techniques were adopted, but with a peculiar attention to the concept of distinguishability and to the recovery of demolition materials. This intervention stands as a model, also applicable in other buildings in the context, of how sustainable restoration can be carried out, improving the quality of life of the inhabitants of rural houses, with substantial respect for material and historical- testimonial values.

These people are elevating the Ladakh experience via heritage conservation, sustainability, and vernacular construction. We call them 'The Ladakh Progressives'. "After working with firms like Serie Architects and Studio Mumbai, a hunt to find “a base that inspired” brought the duo to Ladakh in 2016. A meeting with Magsaysay award-winner Sonam Wangchuk led to a two-year teaching stint at SECMOL (Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh), where they learnt elements key to vernacular construction, such as the science behind passive solar design. Further learning came from the conservation of heritage structures, working with materials and techniques used centuries ago. “How do you include the vernacular in the modern and what can that combined language evolve into? That’s what we’re concerned with,” says Khan. What’s their dream project? “Designing our own house,” Khan replies with a laugh. “It’ll be like taking a selfie, figuring out our own aspirations and responding to them,” adds Patel"

Field Architects has been nominated and awarded the ID Honours 2024 in the category of sustainable design. The advisory panel for ID Honours 2024 - Ar.Sameep Padora, Ar.Nuru Karim, Ar.Nina Puri, Ar.Ambrish Arora, Ar.Abin Chowdhary and Ar.Sunitha Kondur had recommended Field Architects for the award.

Join us for a talk 'The Restoration of Palay House, Ladakh: Methodologies and Imaginations' on Sunday, 29 January 2023 at 6.30 pm. "Palay House is more than 200 year old typical Ladakhi village home built incrementally over generations by the villagers using locally available materials, now abandoned as the family has shifted to a new home. The construction techniques and materials used over this period also documents various shift in resources and lifestyle in Ladakh. The restoration of Palay house is done considering its new function but keeping its spirit alive"

Field Architects was mentioned in Swissnex Newsletter Anomaly vol.8. "Field signifies growth. Field is also a particular discipline that you're interested in, Faiza Khan, speaking from Phey in the mountains of Ladakh, said about how they came to name their practice Field Architects. It also has a certain seasonal recurrence and cycle of thoughts and ideas and also the way a field functions. It also signifies expansiveness, added Suril Patel....."

ThinLars Residence has been awarded the citation in the Merit List Cycle of 2022-23 "CITATION : In an ecologically sensitive terrain, architecture can play a pivotal role in aiding assimilation of life and the land. In Ladakh, the extremities of climate dictate the form and ambition of the built space often drawing from the knowledge systems embedded in the context. However, the engagement of contemporary architecture with this knowledge is often superficial, extractive and occasionally, a mimicry of the past. This house, built in rammed earth and timber, draws from the construction culture of the place without making overt gestures towards the language of the buildings in the context. With simple, clear and eloquently proportioned forms, the house subscribes to the terraced house forms of Ladakh however, the architecture finds a contemporary language to locate the rammed earth, timber and solar passive strategies within. The intuitive grasp of the material and the effort of detail pushes the boundaries of the possible...."

Field Architects was invited to School Of Environment and Architecture(SEA) as a part of their lecture series SEA Conversations.

" Leh-Ladakh has always been on India’s map as the emplacement de l’exotique. But one man’s dreams and efforts to change the educational and cultural landscapes of the mountain peoples and the Himalayan countries, has taken root in the form of SECMOL (The Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh) and HIAL (Himalayan Institute of Alternatives) Part of this initiative is to break away from conventional thinking and approach, and engage and encourage learning through practical application. The Sun and Earth Natural Building Festival, an international natural building festival organized by HIAL and the first of it skind, is a step in this direction. "

In 2016, we, Faiza and Suril, had an opportunity and a profound learning experience while conducting Solar and Earth building course at SECMOL campus for a group of young minds who were interested in climate responsive construction techniques in Ladakh. It was a two year long course, training and equipping the students with all aspects of passive solar and earth building construction which they can then practice independently and confidently. The course was organized and assisted by Sonam Wangchuk and Konchok Norgay who have been teaching passive solar and earthen construction techniques and propagating natural building construction in Ladakh for years. Several students from this course have gone on to become successful entrepreneurs, and practicing sustainable construction in Himalayas.