Created to Conserve

Indi Architecture is a social business with the aim of promoting and conserving traditional knowledge and skills related to vernacular architectural traditions. We believe the diversity, adaptability and sustainable nature of vernacular architecture deserves recognition and replication. Sadly the reverse is happening. In the race to be ‘modern’ traditional homes are being torn down and replaced with concrete boxes. In the process invaluable knowledge refined and adapted over generations is being lost.

Through our workshops, home stays and travel experiences we hope to raise awareness and appreciation for Indigenous architecture and the men and women who create it. We believe that once one experiences directly the comfort and ingenuity of a home constructed of locally available natural materials, in a manner suited to the local climate, they too will become advocates for its conservation.

Our Team

Kimberley Moyle

Founder & Facilitator of Indi Architecture. A world traveller whose heart lives in India. Kimberley grew up in Australia but left in her mid 20s to travel the world & has since cycled across seventy plus countries & has plans to visit many more. Her deep appreciation for the study of human cultural diversity & languages saw her dividing her time between her travels and completing a combined B.A. in Asia Pacific Studies & Development Studies. She then set off back to India to establish a social business with an 'alternative to development' vision. Her learnings from across the world, gleaned from the seat of her cycle, have inspired a commitment to promoting sustainable living whilst conserving culture & traditional skills through the lens of vernacular architecture. After years exploring and understanding regional architectural traditions & natural building the inspiration for Indi Architecture was born.

Liyakat

Master craftsman specialising in traditional Rajasthani lime work, including the specialised techniques of Thappi, Lohi & Araish, lime mortar construction methods & domes & arches. The knowledge Liyakat ji shares with his students has been handed down through his family for generations.

Dawood

Elder brother to Liyakat ji, Dawood ji has more than half a century of hands on experience working with lime. An experienced teacher he has taught at CEPT in Ahmedabad as well as in his hometown Sardarshahr. He takes pride in sharing his craft with eager students and in doing so hopes to raise awareness of and appreciation for these ancient techniques.

Bharmabehn

Bharmabehn is highly regarded for her intricate mud relief work. She has created stunning pieces at Hunnarshala in Bhuj & at Shaam e Sarhad Village Resort in Hodko. Bharmabehn is an experienced teacher having taught both mud work & clay painting at CEPT University in Ahmedabad. She is one of the few women remaining still practicing this traditional art form. Like all women in her community she is also an accomplished embroider.

Lama Thamo

Lama Thamo is famous throughout Spiti Valley for his precision rammed earth. We love him for that too but his calm & positive energy & spiritual inclination means that time spent in his company is rewarding on many levels. He is generous in sharing his life long learnings and observations both in the construction field as well as the Buddhist world. Lama Thamo became a monk at a young age and took up rammed earth construction in the Ki monastery at age 15. He left the monastery in his mid twenties to marry and have a family. He has been working in traditional construction for the last 45 years yet remains a Lama at heart and in nature.

Gurpreet Singh Mankoo

Gurpreet ji is a gifted artist who has dedicated himself to reviving the art of Mohrakashi, a lime fresco technique indigenous to Punjab. He has worked on the restoration & conservation of the Golden Temple in Amritsar as well as the Kishankot Krishna Temple in Gurdaspur district. For Gurpreet ji working with lime and natural pigments to create stunning murals is a form of puja. The uniting of the natural mineral pigments with the wet lime plaster being symbolic of the individual merging with the divine.

Suresh K. Nair

Suresh is a highly regarded Kerala Mural Artist. He has created numerous public art pieces across India as well as private commissions in hotels and private homes. After studying for 5 years at The Institute of Mural Painting at Guravayur Devaswom in Kerala, he undertook further studies at Shantiniketan where he gained exposure to a more diverse range of Indian & Western art traditions. He found particular inspiration in Italian & Mexican art traditions. Jaipur Fresco, Sgraffito, Terracotta murals are also a part of his regular practice. He is a humble and generous teacher highly skilled at inspiring the inner artists in all.

Karanbir Singh Bedi

Consultant and Collaborator. History buff & traveller at heart, but hotelier by profession. Karan's organisational & people management skills keep our projects running smoothly. His creative genius can be seen in the tour aspects of our workshops.

Lobzang Chomo

Lobzang is the proud steward of a traditional rammed earth home in Mane Village, nestled in the heart of the Spiti Valley. A highly skilled master craftswoman, she brings deep expertise in the region’s earthen architecture and a passionate commitment to preserving its traditional construction techniques. Her knowledge of local materials and time-honored building methods makes her one of our most valued sources of insight into Spiti’s architectural heritage. During our Spiti Valley workshops, Lobzang generously shares this wisdom—offering not just instruction, but a living connection to the land and its cultural legacy.



Lakpacherring

Lakpacherring is a living repository of traditional carpentry wisdom, affectionately known to us as Dubling Mei Mei—a term of endearment and respect that means “Grandfather from Dubling.” Now in his mid-70s, Mei Mei’s energy and passion for his craft continue to inspire and humble us; he often runs circles around those half his age. A master furniture maker and carpenter, he constantly surprises us with ingenious, time-honored solutions—handcrafted hardware, traditional joinery techniques, and structural innovations drawn from a lifetime of experience. His work breathes life into our buildings, transforming them into homes rich with meaning and soul. Mei Mei also carries with him a profound understanding of Kinnauri and Spitian ornamentation, revealing the deep cultural symbolism embedded in every carved motif. Beyond his extraordinary skill with timber, his heartful way of managing people reflects the quiet wisdom of a life well-lived. We are truly blessed to have him with us and remain committed to creating more opportunities for others to learn from his extraordinary legacy.