How to Build a Sustainable Home | The Magic of Mud

Meet the best friends de-carbonizing the construction sector, one (mud) brick at a time.
Rosie Paul and Sridevi Changali lead an all-woman architecture firm in Bangalore, India, focused on using traditional materials such as mud to build sustainably in India and beyond.
The built environment is responsible for almost 40% of global CO2 emissions. The use of materials such as cement and steel create a massive carbon footprint, both in production and transport.
Can mud be the solution? Architects like Rosie and Sri are reviving raw-earth construction to build sustainable structures that can withstand extreme weather events such as flash floods and intense heat. At the same time, they’re championing more women in architecture and training more women to be stone masons on site.
The magic of mud? Its breathable nature allows moisture into the home, improving indoor air quality and avoiding buildup of damp and mold which cement traps and incubates. Mud walls have a high thermal mass which means they slowly absorb heat from solar radiation and store it, releasing it at night in cooler temperatures. This reduces the need for air conditioning units, which consume large amounts of electricity and contain refrigerants that are potent greenhouse gas emissions.
Watch and learn from these inspiring women how various construction techniques using mud can help you too build a sustainable home.
00:00 Saving the world, one mud brick at a time? Meet Masons Ink
01:00 Making mud bricks: India's techniques and traditions
02:19 Giving back to local communities
02:56 Working with male masons on site and bridging the gender gap
03:42 The surprising benefits of cow dung in construction
04:18 Best friends taking on the world: The origins of Masons Ink
04:49 Leading an all-woman architecture firm
05:37 The Hobbit House project: Sindhoor's story
06:41 A zero waste strategy
07:42 The magic of mud
08:12 Mud techniques using sacking to create large format bricks
08:51 Mud versus cement
09:33 The proper use of mud: busting the myths
09:57 Climate change and the need to build resilient housing
10:15 Exploring the facts: carbon emissions and our built environment
10:28 The two main culprits? Cement and steel
10:56 The health benefits of organic homes - the need for more research
11:12 Traditional systems of mud construction: The healing power of mud
11:44 Bringing on more women masons to construction sites
13:22 Questioning the silent "no", and an inclusive approach to gender equality
14:14 The expectations for women: traditional versus modern India
15:15 Seeing the finished product: Thomas's dream home
#Sustainability #ClimateAction #Mud #India #Architecture #HomeDesign #ZeroWaste #Eco

[@FarooqKhan1964]

I am from Pakistan, settled in Turkey, I am really impressed by the Indian women seeing how they have risen in society and how they are contributing with confidence and competence. 👏👍

[@unknownfighters4431]

Not any Muslim women either, still they r slaves

[@paradevparadev5371]

Hope same energy comes to islam womens so they can come out of burqa

[@gomugomu3701]

true pakistani women are far behind

[@eswaribalan164]

Definately Farook, Pakistani women are great too.

[@paradevparadev5371]

@@eswaribalan164 like wearing and accompanying male to even bring vegetables, wah wah so muvh freedom in Pakistan

[@cleitondecarvalho431]

Videos like this are what makes KZbin worth watching.

[@strugglenortheastern8715]

This is not new in Indian village....I also live in a mud house since 20 yr..... it's good to see that is recognised in global stage

[@achemanju5246]

I have been living with my family along with my parents in a joint family since 1985 .This sweet home had constructed with Mud,Lime stone and Bamboo architecture by our ancestors. . This Construction nearly 120 years have been successfully completed . .I really feel good living in Mud house

[@STUDYSMARTTUBE]

Hi Ma’am, I am a phd scholar. Can I please have a conversation with you about your strong sustainable ancestral house. Like the materials and technology they have used and your experience in living there. I would love to write an article on this.

[@Ak-yw9kf]

@@STUDYSMARTTUBE Please share article here if you do write it.

[@Adi-nd4bp]

@@STUDYSMARTTUBE then do check the "tharavadu" naalukettu houses of kerala.Thousands of ppl still live in such structures which cud be there ancestral home since 100-400 years.Its basically making construction materials with what u have in your area.In kerala we didnt have hard rocks as such so we used big laterite stones shaped into bricks with limestone mixture and all decorative works and furniture in diff type of wood bcz we are a more green state. Some other states wud have bamboo or hard rocks in abundance.

[@janviergalle]

I absolutely support your idea building homes using mud. I feel so tired seeing concretes, steel, and glass everywhere in the world.

[@aditisk99]

I know, and they feel so ugly and empty after a long time.

[@eswaribalan164]

Yes, very very ugly.

[@CandycaneBeyond]

Lost the love of my life at 53 yrs old. Devastating to try and start over at this age. Congratulations on making a huge effort.

[@drsteviejasengnsangma8739]

So sorry to hear about your loss. Try to stay strong madam🙏

[@Pacco3002]

53 years old is not old in Europe. It's really a good period of life. Move!

[@ivaan005]

Loosing the love of our lives is the worst thing happens in our lives. It's the kind of deadly pain that we have to live every single day. I am sure you love is watching you wherever he is and you have to live and show him a new version of you. More power to you. ❤

[@kartargrewal8638]

great to see women empowerment... good wishes... what a strong love for mother earth

[@spark9_]

This is why I watch KZbin. Truly educational and inspiring.

[@sathi6395]

Inspirational. Re-writing history of early Indus Valley before they discovered fired bricks. Awesome. An Applause for the women architects and masons involved. Shows that women have gone beyond their usual skills. Bravo . Best wishes from 🇲🇾🇲🇾

[@sathyanarayana1419]

MY NAME IS ALSO SATYANARAYANA FROM HYDERABAD INDIA NICK NAME SATI BRO RECENTLY MY BUSINESS IS A LOST IHAVE TWO CHILDRENS BOY STUDYING 10 CLASS MY DAUGHTER 8CLASS IAM TOTALLY NO INCOME CAN U HELP MY CHILDS EDUCATIONS : SPONSORS FOR THEIR EDUCATION I ALWAYS GREATE FULL TO U SIR

[@vivalaleta]

I love the emphasis on green materials. These architects are empowered!

[@dharshinisamaranayake2971]

What amazing women. What struck me most was their respect for each other and the intelligence with which they approached their work. The gave value to the concept and process as much as the outcome. Anyway nothing lasts for ever or no single family lives in a house for ever and what is important is did we enjoy building and living in the house without killing the planet. May the ladies go from strength to strength.

[@varshasuresh3927]

Feels soo good to know that my fellow Indian women are the drivers of this change! I do wish to contribute a small part to your journey from my end and I will get in touch with your team for my dream house. All the very best for your future endeavors!

[@arpanmandal7244]

Unproductive people

[@sk8queen]

@@arpanmandal7244What? Why?

[@aastha3428]

​@@arpanmandal7244How ironic when you are the one watching a video of these "unproductive" people and also taking out your precious time to comment on their videos.

[@ivaan005]

​@@arpanmandal7244Please don't spread Toxicity, it will come back to you only. Get yourself some healing, get well soon. It's 2024 my friend.

[@japersjolly8763]

The good old 'climate change' fraud. Amazing how many idiots have fallen for this NWO/WEF hoax.

[@thar4x4]

Mud Buildings last for multiple generations, I live in my ancestral house made of mud, lime, wood and stone , 80 years and still going strong. Its cool in the summers and cozy in the winters.

[@FairyWasabi]

Absolutely fascinating! Rosie Paul and Sridevi Changali are not just architects, they're eco-warriors wielding mud as their weapon of choice against carbon footprints and unsustainable building practices. Who knew that mud, that humble earthy substance, could hold such magic? Its ability to breathe life into a home, improving air quality and keeping mold at bay, is truly remarkable. And let's not forget its talent for playing the long game with thermal mass, giving us cooler nights without the need for power-hungry air conditioning units. But perhaps the most inspiring part is their commitment to empowering women in architecture and on the construction site. It's like they're building not just sustainable homes, but a more equitable future in mud and stone. Here's to the mud architects, the dreamers of sustainable dwellings, and the champions of a greener, more inclusive world! 🌿🏠💪

[@masonsinkstudio]

Thank you so much for your kind words !

[@lukramkenedymeetei9001]

Use of bamboo , straw, mud are less costly and maintain cold temperature during day and night. The outer coating of the wall are using desi cowdung and sand as plasters

[@streddy1334]

goose bumps while listening to her story. Nature will heal everything. Stay close to nature.

[@atamsingh1744]

Excellent. I am at loss of words to appreciate you. Social Responsibility and economics is something which majority of Architects do not think about. To cater for someone with limited funds and sustainable materials should be must for Architects. My complements to all of you. Wish you best. AP Singh Architect.

[@masonsinkstudio]

Thank you for your wishes!

[@satyaprakashrout3539]

I feel one thing after watching this video you guys are doing amazing 😍😍😍 ticking all the boxes which is very important for our society and environment..🙏🙏🙏

[@masonsinkstudio]

Thank you!

[@lekhapillai6301]

Congrats! Good effort! Hinduism considers human life sacred not sinful. Sin and karma are different concepts. Sin is an evil act while Karma is any action and its consequence. Hope you grow and expand to other states and cities.

[@imblueeyeboy1]

Thanks for stating it loud. As soon as I heard her saying..."Hinduism says we born with some kind of sin and then work your way to sinless life"..... I screamed...NOOOOOOOOO......;sin' is a Christian concept..... we are childern of Immortal/Pure.... Amritasya Putraha !!!

[@yash1152]

i didnt understand y u said this before watching vid. but @1:20 it became clear. yeah, she lacks understanding and is just following these just for sake of it. even that is good in general. but yeah, when u r on a bigger platform - like she here, u have to be proper in what u portray. if u dont know, then just dont say anyth rather than saying it wrong.

[@BESMARTER-il4kn]

EMPOWERING WOMEN KEEP FIGHTING TO MAKE INDIA GREATER THANKS TO YOU OM SHAKTI

[@supercut5fire505]

It's my dream to stay in mud house.Unfortunately I don't have land.....I searched a lot but....congratulations to the home owner...

[@alexi2460]

Smart women. Young Indias are tired of seeing people without the basics

[@Jatin2443]

don't generalise Indians

[@LeapHulk]

I fully support living sustainably. We've damaged the Earth for convenience and selfishness, clogging natural waterways with buildings and businesses. Our pursuit of wealth has left us emotionally impoverished. We've forgotten the simple joys of life and instead measure ourselves by our possessions. We're rediscovering ancient wisdom but have also brought irreversible challenges to the world. In short, we've lost sight of what truly matters while chasing after material wealth. Kudos to the Mason's Ink team. I live in Canada but dream of contributing to my hometown in Kerala, India. There’s a Native American saying: “When the blood in your veins returns to the sea, and the earth in your bones returns to the ground, perhaps then you will remember that this land does not belong to you; it is you who belong to this land"

[@Ahsan8472]

Empowered women empowering the community. Wonderful!.

[@damienrocher7125]

It's such an inspiring and beautiful video. It gives hope about the ecologic construction, and especially when we see the most important, the human part, with people are sharing and building together. And women can do all and you show it perfectly. Congrats for your work and project, and thanks for that.

[@masonsinkstudio]

Thank you!

[@ramsgeetha]

Extraordinary work done by these women. Great job.! I would like to build such a house in a 1200 sq feet plot I own in my native place in Kanyakumari district, Tamilnadu and live my retirement life there. I want it to happen in the next 5 years. Hope someone like these folks are there at that time to help me construct such a house there.

[@Manjunathnswamy]

Old Technics are good and sustainable environment friendly...

[@pramilapriyadarshini3500]

Hi...in 2005, a German Mason had come to Bangalore to teach women labourers masonry...I worked with him for a couple of years, unfortunately the project failed for the reason that women labourers at the end of the day are also in charge of their homes and children and being incharge at work too was proving too stressful for them and they could not travel to far away sites from their homes....but it was an interesting experiment

[@chikukumar-tj1ml]

Empowerment for the sake of pseudo sense of empowerment is gonna backfire. We have to just open about whoever comes, who want to contribute in whatever meaningful way should be appreciated irrespective of gender. Otherwise it will fail.

[@shahk9519]

From Hundreds of years , Indian living in a mud house, u can get many people in India who know how to build a mud house. Why do you want German teachers?

[@triconcert]

The magic of mud makes you fall in love with the philosophy of these women. Brava!

[@permaspace]

How do we connect with them? Please share leads

[@hrishikeshsarkar6513]

I am living in this type of mud house from my childhood. Great to see that this people promoting mud house.

[@geethamadhusudan7335]

Great work girls. I admire your enthusiasm & belief in your art. Its wonderful you are getting the local community especially the women to participate in the work. All the best👍👏👏

[@masonsinkstudio]

Thank you very much !

[@rimashree_]

Fun fact - I live in a mud house since 2001 hahaha... Love from Assam 🎉

[@prasad2899]

Team your work are inspiring, and definitely your efforts on climate change, sustainable construction definitely reach all and help in well being of future generation. 🙏🙏🙏

[@brucebosshardt3904]

Love the video. Using less carbon to build a home May I suggest if you are going to build a home from scratch, first dig underground to create air cooling tunnels. Air from outside cools as it travels underground and thru the tunnels/piping then the cold air goes up into the house. It keeps the homes much cooler when it is very hot outside. There are some good KZbin videos of layouts for air cooling tunnels.

[@anandsharma7430]

I'm hearing of this for the first time. I did some searching and came up with some interesting results: kzbin.info?search_query=geothermal+air+cooling+house For example, this gem for cooling: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rau4opamecZniNU Not what you are talking about but mud-related, and seems to work.

[@someguy7212]

I love the efforts you are putting, my sister is also an architect working with sustainable houses. We have a mud house which is 509 yrs old.

[@youtubeoffname]

These are materials humanity built with wherever we are found. Before greed came. Well done, ladies. Women do it better - as this so-called 'man' can confirm. Feeling, preservation and sustainability, with a smile. No guns anywhere close. Please spread your message to our bungling world. Best of luck.

[@diyguy5517]

This is not new. I’m living in a similar home for the past 24 years. There are plenty of houses built this way using mud. If one wants to have it, one can always find the right people to do this sort of a house. People do so much research and go in search of specific flooring material, wanting teak from Burma for main door. Similar effort is needed to have a home of this sort. Aping your neighbour will yield mundane, energy intensive, excess use of material & guady home.

[@irilumi]

" This is not new" of course not, we can go back hundreds if not thousands of years and see we built with mud. we are re-learning what we knew but in our arrogance threw to the wayside.

[@b_uppy]

And used everywhere. Best if made from "cob" for better integrity. "Good shoes and hat" adds to durability, as does a hard lime coat. Some of the better looking houses are made from this.

[@aydansekerci5033]

UN are in the sleep...😂 hello from turkey 👋

[@alynlong]

Nothing new..I still see lots and I am still living in it

[@toluasaolu]

They also are not claiming to be the 'discoverers' of it. However these days, it seems we have forgotten the old ways and it is good they are reminding us that traditional methods are actually better

[@jaikishansmspl39]

Truly happy to have come across this KZbin post. Best of luck to the entire team.

[@HappyBeeTV-BeeHappy]

I get that the ladies are saying: Do something meaningful for life and the environment instead of looking to gratify ourselves personally in shopping and indulgences. That better feelings will come through doing better things for life. And I totally agree with that. And in places where working with mud is not possible so much, then work with plant life. Volunteer your time to worthy and natural causes.

[@ravikumarramannair1941]

Very interesting to learn that the small initiatives are gaining momentum. Looking forward to a brave new beautiful world

[@sandrock75]

Thank you for sharing and truly amazing display of hope and opportunity for a sustainable living for the future generation

[@animeshthapa2287]

loved the way ma'am are working. Example of women empowerment! 🌟

[@meadff1]

Excellent video, giving real insight into this women-led project - moving stories, a lot of humour -and a great subject.

[@sabinetemby1542]

Thank You and best of luck.....Have been researching sustainable ways forever thanks again and Namaste

[@iamgroot4706]

Wow, awesome & amazing, so much inspired, thanks for the video. 👍💞

[@umarali9888]

Wow, that's very inspirational! Following with love ❤️ from the UK 🇬🇧... Wishing you all the best!

[@cakrishnan9622]

Absolutely refreshing and inspiring.

[@yes12337]

I saw a video of a guy who built his house from straw blocks with wooden scaffolding and covered the walls with a layer of clay. What's weird is that the house looked normal, but I'm not sure what's the durability of such construction. Anyway I suspect there would be people happy to live in such homes in many countries in the world, because it costs almost nothing (depending on what's used to cover the roof).

[@roja7426]

I can imagine how a mud house can be cool in the summer. Nice!

[@HomestayOnHills]

In Uttarakhand Rural area we used to build homes with mud, stone and wood. Full on Environment friendly but now People using cement, iron,bricks and forget that it is bad for environment and for people.

[@estebancorral5151]

You are mistaken. They never forgot it. It is much worse. They never contemplated it in the first place.

[@HomestayOnHills]

@@estebancorral5151 agreed.

[@amareshroy7732]

Mud house is cost effective,cosy, cold in summer,hot in cold.we have two storied mud house 100y old with straw roof which is easily repaired at low cost.cow houses are always a mud house.

[@Biz2746]

Very inspiring! Great houses! 🎉

[@nam070]

Good i hope we use our indus valleys methods again

[@SiddharthaJoshiFilms]

Beautiful video! Such an inspiring story...

[@MountpeaceshelterKedari24]

Who can help me? I also want a mud house in my Village in Uttarakhand...

[@anitarajendran2856]

,congratulations🤝

[@mrudulas.p.j6151]

Amazing effort guys❤.

[@sureshshenoy6393]

Excellent. Very happy to see the house of nature. We have an ancestral house built in mud built 100+ years old. Little renovation done, very nice to live in that house.

[@sz4179]

Thank you for sharing this beautiful and inspiring message of hope and empowerment.

[@puldingmagbuhos9368]

Snappy salute and much respect to you and all those people who are doing their best for the good of our environment. From Philippines

[@jeremy0488]

Great video and kudos to the person who did illustrations & animations for this video. Thank u

[@magdalenalisiewicz5222]

Love this!!! Great project and also gives me the new point of looking for the subject of building a home: woman can also do it! That is super, gives us more posibilites.

[@popasaci7103]

Keep up the good work girls❤❤

[@kartikeyakaushik4881]

This is beautiful, on many different levels.

[@fauzianalwoga1002]

This is the most luxurious mud house. We also have mud houses in Uganda but not this style obviously but i hope people who stay in simple mud houses can be helped across

[@karthiksampya4909]

This is not new to India ,but this is new to English and more than that it is new to Architects . In vilage to build a house there are set people who work professionally . But there is no engineer no architect no English , just heard work, great emotions and feelings, respect, and value for money, retrievals life and life building.

[@paraelwares]

Where can someone get the Brick Press used at the beginning? Is it possible to get the plans to build it oneself? Thank you.

[@joshuacherian6718]

If not directly exposed to elements.. mud can be very cost effective. Lime of course is good binder and has its own merits... Good work👍

[@fathimarauf5377]

Great going .love you girls for your love for nature.

[@Celestialkarma]

Kudos Thanks for sharing God bless All

[@ivaan005]

This is the new version of India and i am 100% sure that our future is safe. Slowly we will beat all odds & will be back to nature way of living. Masons Ink's name will be written with golden mud in the history. Kudos to the rockstar team!

[@user-vl1tx1zz1s]

came across this video and could not click next button. love for earth, love for human being and love for community. Very genuine emotions

[@AJDC0106]

this screams women power and mother nature collaboration! Wow !❤‍🔥👏

[@ushav7458]

Excellent 💯

[@sharabobo2007]

You are the HOPE. Keep up good work.

[@sudheerswaraj242]

Good article really great work keep it up doing good job

[@jeemit_parekh]

The concept is amazing and I don't know why but the animation explaining the mud wall was very comforting for me.....Have seen it like 10-15 times....

[@hildaayoo6853]

This is what I call "use what's available in the environment" then make something beautiful. Good job. Dnt mind your age, just focus a head.

[@arvindxalxo4944]

I have lived my whole childhood in a village style mud house and i can surely say that in summers our house used to be cooler than our other neighbours . The only con was during rainy season our house used to get really wet and attracted lot of insects ...but more or less those are some good old memories having special place in my heart

[@sumitpandey8604]

Hands give joy. Totally relatable 🫣😁

[@alialibay6639]

Excellent way of construction with local materials.❤

[@veenaprasadprasad5363]

This is the confidence all girls should have Great work keep going 👏👏👏

[@heytherepretehlady]

No one talking about the cute cute and friendly dog. Clearly it was raised in a loving and nurturing environment by how it treated its owners acquantances.

[@md.rakibhasanrajkib1339]

Wow..Lovely... excellent. I want also make sustainable world

[@marinathomas7820]

This is why we need more women in every field. Their bodies and minds are tuned to nature - so they instinctively orient their profession toward nature's rhythm and essence.

[@yash1152]

i used to think so too. that majority of them is better than majority of males in their orentation. but i think the greed, jealousy, capitalism and bad influence of males has been growing a LOT on them lately. i have ssen at my institute, in family, family or relatives, neighbourhood, in movie cultures etc etc. and i came to same conclusion again, its okay to have presumptions, but never follow the presumptions. start afresh with each case with balanced caution & hope. > _"Women's bodies and minds are tuned to nature - so they instinctively orient their profession toward nature's rhythm and essence."_

[@marinathomas7820]

@@yash1152 Greed, jealousy, capitalism - these are not distributed according to gender - all have it. Men don't have it more or less - it has more to do with upbringing, experiences and learnings. I am only saying that women are naturally tuned to be in rhythm with nature. Their hormones and cycles that are in tune with nature, seasons and time and their natural tendency to nurture and take untold pain for that - all of these are assets of a woman's personality. How much each woman actually makes it shine may vary, but all have it. A woman who has evolved well into her true feminine self brings that aspect into her profession as well. And that does not mean that she will not experience greed, jealousy, etc. But something has to be said about how much women are judged more for having it and men aren't. As women enter the free and competitive world, these aspects become more glaring to observers and some are shocked like you.

[@decendantofgreatest]

proud of you ladies! love from Malaysia

[@Justanurse357]

Oh how much I love this.

[@vidyaram2761]

Loved the architects vision and mission

[@3CCC385]

There is plenty of inspirations in your Arts.❤

[@pasadobhikkhu8440]

Excellent article and very inspiring, well done. I wonder how well hemp would go as a replacement for the dung. It has so many qualities both in growing it and using it in building such as an excellent insulator and very fire resistant.

[@blackmamba3427]

Awesome video ❤

[@ambalastores]

Strength comes from Action of Compration 👋👋 Arch Rosie Paul and Sridevi Changali

[@dsmmdn6133]

Great job 👍👏👏👏 Bravo

[@CreekLocseed]

Keep going! Never stop!!

[@lesliekwan6654]

This is absolutely wonderful. I would love to have my home built with this material.

[@rockynong4388]

nice video with good thought.

[@ashokdilliwalashow]

Very interesting and informative video

[@sanjaykoul7979]

Thank you for wonderful story

[@ASKWildeHilde]

What's old is new every 15 years.. when it comes to good ideas/designs it's probably a good thing. I just wish we could get these materials approved in the USA