Anupama Kundoo

Anupama Kundoo (born 1967) is an Indian architect known for her research-driven approach to architecture, with a focus on material experimentation, sustainability, and socio-economic relevance. Her practice has engaged extensively with low-impact building techniques and the question of affordable, environmentally appropriate housing.

Background

Kundoo trained as an architect in India and went on to establish her own practice. A significant part of her early work has been associated with Auroville, the experimental township in Tamil Nadu, where she explored building methods that respond to local materials, climate, and skills.

Practice and approach

Her work is characterised by an interest in the relationship between architecture, time, and labour. Kundoo has investigated traditional and alternative construction techniques, including the use of earth, ferrocement, and locally available materials, with the aim of producing buildings that are both ecologically sensitive and economically accessible.

Beyond individual buildings, her research has addressed broader questions of urbanisation, housing for the underserved, and the role of architecture in human development.

Academic work

Kundoo has taught and lectured at architectural institutions internationally, contributing to discourse on sustainable design and material innovation. Her academic engagements have complemented her built work, situating her practice within global conversations on environmentally responsible architecture.

Significance

Anupama Kundoo is recognised among contemporary Indian architects who have foregrounded sustainability and craft as central concerns of practice. Her projects are frequently cited in discussions on alternative materials, vernacular knowledge, and the social responsibilities of the architect.

Related topics

• Auroville
• Indian architecture
• Sustainable architecture
• Vernacular architecture
• Women in architecture

References

• Wikidata entry: Q21174063