Who we are
Manasaram draws its name from Manasara, the ancient sage who wrote the ancient treatise on Architecture, Vastu Shastra. This scientific treatise sees architecture as an act of balancing the five elements-The PanchTattvas namely Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Space for habitats for humans on this earth, using materials, nature, and cosmos through design—for their harmony, happiness, and prosperity.
We design with the five elements, to create spaces to meet human’s physical, psychological, and spiritual needs, to create enduring spaces which goes beyond mere functionality. Nature, society, culture and economy have always been our major determinants contributing to a wholistic multi dimensional approach to finding the right solutions. Right from day 1- Climate-responsive design has been our USP , always creating with responsibility for People, Planet and Profit- the 3P’s as they are called today.
Our solutions- For Clients: Economical, Aesthetical, and functional; users: thoughtful, happy, healthy ambience; For architects and partners: a practice grounded in research, craft, ecological sensitivity, and meaningful design;
At Manasaram, we respond to climate change with architecture using local, renewable, low‑energy materials. With 35+ years in sustainable design, natural materials, processes and systems reconnect us to our roots. Freely available on the site—sun, soil, air, water, space, and nearby materials—drives our designs. From that discipline, creativity arises: buildings are conceived to be born, grow, and mature on site. We aim to weave each building into its ecosystem, so it behaves like a living, adaptive entity in tune with seasons, light, and natural cycles—part of nature, not apart from it.
Awards & Recognitions
Sir M Vishwesvaraya Prize(2005)
IIA-Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheswara Award (2005)
Lafarge Invention awards (2011)
World Architecture Festival Awards( Shortlist 2011)
World Architecture Community awards, 2013,
World Architecture News Awards (2013)
Nomination- Aga Khan Award for Architecture(2013)
Lifetime contribution to the Bamboo Sector, Bangalore (2014)
Archi Design Awards for Sustainable Design, 2015
The Merit list (2015-16)
Rashi-Dinesh Verma Award for Social Architecture, 2016
ARCASIA Awards for Architecture 2017 GOLD
Rethinking the Future awards: Cultural, (2017)
Rethinking the Future awards: Office building (2017)
RTF Rethinking the Future awards: Transportation (2017)
RTF Rethinking the Future awards: Housing (2017)
WADe Asia-Sustainability Champion(2017)
Fibra awards (2018-2019)
ASADI Vastukala Mahati Award (2020)
Realty+ Women Of Vision Awards (2022)
Glitz Tejomaya Women in Journalism Award (2023)
Surface Reporter Salutes Award 2025
Global Challenge Award, A—D, Architecture in Development (2025)
Design Titan Award, Construction & Infrastructure Forum (C&IF) and Roof India, 2026