Sejpal and Raje Architects were appointed in 2021 to design the Organic Research and Training Centre (ORTC) in Bylakuppe, Karnataka. This is the second-largest Tibetan settlement in India after Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, and it comprises Buddhist monasteries, temples, and universities. ORTC is an important institution for the research and dissemination of sustainable farming and animal husbandry methods. It has established a heritage seed bank and is teaching the younger Tibetans about Indigenous traditional and organic farming methods and their relevance today.
Editor’s Note: “With mud bricks crafted from the local soil, this Organic Research and Training Centre in Karnataka offers a serene environment. Intricate brick detailing enriches the texture, bringing life through a dance of light and shadow. The filler slab, combined with the central courtyard, enhances the design’s cost-effectiveness while adding a touch of aesthetic charm.” ~Simran Khare
This Research Centre Imparts a Valuable Sense of Identity | Sejpal and Raje Architects
The building reflects ORTC’s ethos of organic farming and agriculture by using sustainable building materials and technology. This is to create a climatically appropriate building.
S&RA’s innovative and elegant design for the new building comprises facilities for Research, Development, Training, and Administration. The building serves as the gateway to the ORTC campus and imparts a valuable sense of identity and inspiration to the staff, trainees, and visitors.
The building is designed as a series of well-ventilated spaces with verandahs around a lush green internal courtyard with lawns.
Towards the road, an amphitheater for large events surrounded by groves of coconut trees is situated. The larger Tibetan community can also use both gathering spaces, even when the rest of the building is closed.
Mud bricks, crafted from the local soil, form the foundation of this eco-friendly centre. These bricks minimize environmental impact and contribute to the building’s thermal insulation, maintaining a comfortable interior climate year-round.
Besides the porosity for ventilation, the brick detailing provides rich patterns and texture to the facades, and the stepped brick structures make the walls come alive with the play of shade and light.
The load-bearing system using sun-dried mud-stabilized brick and filler slab helped in reducing the amount of cement and steel used in the building and also proved to be cost-effective.
The rhythmic sloping roof forms supported on slender beams give the building a buoyant and light feeling while responding to the region’s heavy rainfall and enabling efficient water management and harvesting.
Rainwater cascades down the chain columns gracefully onto the ground beneath, watering the grass and planting, thereby supporting the local ecosystem.
S&RA, along with SAPA our Associates on this project, welcome you to visit and experience the innovative and sustainable green architecture of the Organic Research and Training Centre to see the exceptional programs and training taking place at the Centre and meet the talented and committed members of the local community that work here.
Fact File
Designed by: Sejpal and Raje Architects
Project Type: Institution Design
Project Name: Organic Research & Training Centre
Location: Bylakuppe, Karnataka
Year Built: 2023
Project Size: 7211.82 Sq.ft
Principal Architects: Shraddha Sejpal & Rita Raje
Design Team: Pranita Sawant & Harshali Pande
Photograph Courtesy: Santosh Kardak
Structural Designers: Mrinmayee consultants
Project Management: SAPA Architects
Landscape Designers: SAPA Architects
Associate Architects: Noopur Sejpal, Zubin Parekh
Contractor: K N Amarnath Civil Contractor
Mep Consultant: K N Amarnath Civil Contractor
Manufacturers: Cera-duravit, Jaquar, MS windows
Source: Archdaily
Firm’s Instagram Link: Sejpal and Raje Architects
For Similar Projects >> A Vocational Training Institute in Aurangabad while Focusing on Improved Social Responsibility
Editor’s Note: Some places feel rooted because they belong to their surroundings rather than trying to stand apart from them. Coffee Sangam in Andhra Pradesh takes this approach through a raw, tactile palette of brick, stone, teak, and mild steel. The random rubble compound wall extends the landscape into the architecture, while the Corten steel […]
Envisioned as a contemporary home rooted in Indian sensibilities, this residence sits on a south-facing urban plot. The design accommodates the evolving lifestyle of a multi-generational family. The project integrates architecture and interiors to create functional, climate-responsive, and emotionally connected spaces. Each level balances privacy with interaction. The design also allows flexibility for changing family […]
Editorial Note: Some homes are shaped by the memories, objects, and stories their residents carry with them. Ungana in Chennai, meaning “merge” in Swahili, brings together a well-travelled family’s collection of antiques and everyday rituals within a narrow urban plot. A double-height living space becomes the heart of the home, connecting the kitchen and dining […]
House of the Framed Atrium explores how a contemporary home can revolve around light, connection, and shared experiences. The design follows the ideas of a Living Atrium, Living with Nature, Framed Volumes, Vertical Living, and Timeless Materiality. The residence connects a sequence of interconnected spaces around a dramatic triple-height atrium. The atrium forms the heart […]
A Mock-up That Became a Home – For an architecture practice, a mock-up often helps test an idea before the team translates it into a larger project. It allows architects to work at full scale, examine materials and construction techniques, and understand their limitations. The process also gives them room to test different brick bonds and […]
The house began not with a formal brief, but with a conversation about the kind of life the clients hoped to build within it. Set between the denser urban fabric of Kannur and the quieter residential landscapes of North Kerala, the project responds to a desire for openness and connection. At the same time, the […]
“Pravah” — A House That Breathes is envisioned as the main concept of this home revolves around a fluid, light-filled home where architecture becomes a continuous experience of movement, air, and connection. Located in Pal Gamtal, Surat, the project is a residential redevelopment on a 1,850 sq.ft. plot within a dense urban fabric. The site, […]
Timeless architectural features, such as courtyards, are always associated with bringing the naturally public forms to the world’s heart, building the most peaceful, secluded outdoor areas. These outdoor spaces maximize the living experience with their private space feature, which gives one the option for leisurely relaxation, recreation, or gardening. Furthermore, it has also been a […]
Architecture font choices go beyond style—they shape how your work is perceived. From portfolios to presentations, the right architecture font instantly communicates clarity, precision, and personality. As architects, we design not just with space but with every detail, including typography. Selecting a strong architecture font shows your commitment to visual storytelling and design consistency. In […]
The Indian farmhouse accommodation goes on to capitalize on a mature evolutionary synthesis of ancestral aesthetics and contemporary features. With this, the outside and the inside of farmhouses became places of comfort with nature. In this blog, we delve into 15 incredible farmhouse designs that entail a harmonious blending. While they exhibit different spaces in […]