Materials · January 2026 · 7 min read

Materialhonesty

We favour materials that age well, can be repaired, and carry a defensible carbon story. Honesty here means being candid with clients about what a choice actually costs.

By Ankith, Partner · Creative Director & Architect

Material honesty

Three questions before a spec

For every significant material we ask: what did it cost to make, can it be repaired rather than replaced, and how will it look in ten years. A finish that photographs well on day one but cannot be mended is a liability disguised as a feature.

Reclaimed timber, lime plaster and low-carbon concrete recur in our work not as a style but because they answer those three questions well in the Indian context.

Aging as a feature

Materials that patina rather than degrade extend the life of an interior and reduce the churn of refits. The most sustainable surface is often the one the client is happy to keep.

Being honest about this sometimes means talking a client out of a material they have seen elsewhere. That conversation is part of the service, not a departure from it.

Takeaways

  • Judge materials on embodied carbon, repairability and aging.
  • Repairable, patina-friendly surfaces cut the churn of refits.
  • Candour about material trade-offs is part of the work.

Next in the journal

Reading a post-occupancy report