Studio Saar uses reclaimed materials for Gaushala dairy facility in India

Architecture practice Studio Saar has built a dairy facility in south Rajasthan, India, using 560 tonnes of reclaimed material including steel and rubble. Taking its name from the Hindi and Sanskrit word for cowshed, Gaushala is located in the heart of the Aravalli Hills on one side of a rocky outcrop – a site chosen to The post Studio Saar uses reclaimed materials for Gaushala dairy facility in India appeared first on Dezeen.

May 26, 2025 - 20:30

Studio Saar uses reclaimed materials for Gaushala dairy facility in India

Architecture practice Studio Saar has built a dairy facility in south Rajasthan, India, using 560 tonnes of reclaimed material including steel and rubble.

Taking its name from the Hindi and Sanskrit word for cowshed, Gaushala is located in the heart of the Aravalli Hills on one side of a rocky outcrop – a site chosen to preserve the surrounding farmland and trees.

Studio Saar, which has offices in Rajasthan and Somerset in the UK, designed the 800-square-metre dairy to accommodate a herd of 40 native cows called Gir.

The cows provide milk that can be used to make organic ghee and other products, providing employment opportunities for local villages.

Exterior of Gaushala dairy facility by Studio Saar — It is built from reclaimed materials. Photo by Studio Saar

Gaushala's form is derived from a steel skeleton of portal frames positioned around existing features on the site, meaning a mature tree and rock formation are incorporated within the building.

"The building sits beautifully in its landscape, with surrounding foliage shielding it from harsh sunlight and allowing for significant ventilation, even in summer," said Studio Saar co-founder Ananya Singhal.

"It is a building that the cows seem to love and have grown very comfortable with," he added.

Farmland in Rajasthan — It sits on a rocky outcrop to preserve the surrounding farmland

Its structure is designed in line with circular principles, with all building materials sourced within a 30-kilometre radius. This includes 360 tonnes of reclaimed structural steel and 200 tonnes of stone rubble and crushed concrete. Locally available waste granite was used for the foundations.

"The client was demolishing a nearby building, and we immediately seized this opportunity," said Singhal. "The structural steel for the project had to incorporate this material, which in turn drove our structural system," he explained.

"Reusing existing components and materials can be challenging but doing so can help us reduce waste while producing thoughtful buildings that are embedded in their context," continued Singhal.

The floor consists of broken traditional baked-terracotta bricks, laid out in a pattern created with the contractor to optimise drainage and provide sufficient grip for the cows.

A simple gravity system collects agricultural waste, which the studio said allows the farm to produce biofuel for power and make its ongoing operation self-sufficient.

dairy facility in Rajasthan — Broken terracotta bricks were used as flooring

A large undulating roof helps divert water away from the building, while its large overhangs protect the cows and the agricultural workers during rain and other extreme weather conditions.

One half of the roof incorporates space for traditional agricultural activities, such as making organic ghee and sun-drying spices and millets, which provide employment opportunities for local women.

The other half of the roof comprises a lightweight insulated structure that could one day accommodate solar panels, should the building's biofuel electric plant ever become insufficient.

To keep wild panthers away from the cows, the studio designed a chain-link fence – a low-cost solution that was tested to ensure it would not ensnare or injure them if they attempted to enter the facility.

Inside of Gaushala dairy facility by Studio Saar — Gaushala can accommodate a herd of 40 cows

Studio Saar was established by Jonny Buckland and Singhal in 2019 and has offices in Frome, Somerset and Udaipur, Rajasthan. In 2024, it won Dezeen's Emerging architect of the year award.

Its previous projects include the Third Space learning and cultural centre, and its transformation of a run-down park, which it updated with a canopy resembling a murmuration.

The photography is by Eshwarya Grover unless stated otherwise.

The post Studio Saar uses reclaimed materials for Gaushala dairy facility in India appeared first on Dezeen.