In 2016, the home construction industry in India witnessed a quiet revolution. It didn’t come from a big real estate player or a flashy startup- it came from someone who noticed how broken the system was for the average person trying to build a home. Today, buildAhome is a pioneer in organized individual home construction, with a clear focus on sustainability, transparency, and tech-enabled processes. We sat down with the founder and CEO Abhijith R Priyan for an insightful conversation about the journey, the innovations, and what the future holds.
What inspired you to start buildAhome?
The inspiration was both personal and systemic. Back in 2015, a close family member-my aunt- who worked as a college lecturer and earned about Rs 2 lakhs a month, decided to build a house. The project was supposed to cost Rs 1,600 per sq. ft. and take 14 months. Instead, it dragged on for 28 months and cost her Rs 2,650 per sq. ft. That experience opened my eyes to the sheer chaos and lack of structure in the individual home construction space. While there were organized players for apartments and villas, the common man was at the mercy of architects, engineers, and maistries- often managing the entire project themselves. In most cases, someone from the family had to quit their job just to supervise the construction. That felt like a problem worth solving. buildAhome was born to bring structure, transparency, and peace of mind to this process.
How did you identify the gap in the home construction industry and now address?
It was glaring, honestly. If you go to an architect, they work on commission and don’t manage execution. If you go to a mistri, there’s no professionalism or accountability. And if you tried to do it yourself, you’d need to become a full-time project manager overnight. We saw this huge vacuum- no one was offering end-to-end managed home construction services for individual landowners. That was our cue. We decided to create a new category altogether: organized individual home construction.
You have adopted environmentally conscious technologies like Porotherm blocks and Athangudi tiles. What drove that commitment?
Construction contributes to over 30% of the country’s total emissions- through waste, debris, and carbon-heavy materials like cement and steel. As a company shaping the future of how homes are built, we felt a responsibility to do better. Our first big experiment was a small house in Mangalore called Urvi, where we tested sustainable solutions- everything from reclaimed wood to passive cooling techniques. The goal was simple: reduce our environmental impact without compromising on quality or design.
Could you explain how Porotherm blocks function and their impact on home performance?
Porotherm blocks are a brilliant example of how simple science can lead to big gains. These blocks have hollow chambers, which trap air and slow down heat transfer. So during a hot day, while the outer layer gets heated, the inner chambers delay that heat from entering your home. By the time the heat reaches the final layer, it’s evening, and things begin to cool down. The result? Homes stay naturally cooler, which reduces the need for air conditioning. Plus, Porotherm blocks weigh less than traditional bricks, which reduces the steel and concrete required- making the structure both eco-friendly and cost-effective.
What does your mobile app offer clients? How has tech changed the customer experience?
The app puts the entire project in the client’s pocket. From architectural designs and structural layouts to plumbing plans, progress photos, payment updates, and schedules- it’s all there. Clients don’t need to chase anyone or wonder what’s happening at the site. Behind the scenes, we also built our own ERP during COVID. None of the market ERPs fit our workflow, so we designed one from scratch. Today, everything from material tracking to vendor payments happens on our in-house system. It’s paperless, seamless, and has brought a whole new level of efficiency to the business.
Having operating in 18 cities, how do you ensure consistent quality across regions?
Actually, we’ve streamlined our focus to just four core cities- Bangalore, Mysore, Chennai, and Coimbatore- where we have strong local teams and control over quality. That said, if a unique or exciting project comes up elsewhere, like in Coonoor or Karwar, we’re happy to take it up selectively. This helps us ensure that every home we build meets our standards- no matter where it’s located.
What have been some of your biggest challenges as a founder, and how did you overcome them?
Creating this category from scratch was the biggest challenge. We didn’t have a playbook to follow-there was no “individual home construction” industry to reference. Building the processes, workflows, and tools like our ERP and app took years of trial and error. Another big challenge is people. We’ve had folks leave to start their own companies. It’s part of the game. But we’ve built systems strong enough to keep running no matter who comes or goes. That’s been one of our biggest strengths.
How do you envision the future of home construction in India- especially in terms of technology and sustainability?
I don’t see 3D-printed homes becoming mainstream here anytime soon. Unlike the West, Indian homeowners love to personalize. A home here isn’t just a shelter- it’s a reflection of the family. People want a garden, a baithak, a terrace, a puja room- and every family member wants a say. But I do see sustainability becoming central. Whether it’s with Porotherm blocks, reclaimed wood, or newer materials like CSEB blocks and jallis, people are waking up to eco-conscious design. buildAhome is definitely going to be at the forefront of that movement.
Today’s homeowners want more than just a structure- they want personalized, future-ready spaces. How does buildAhomemeet those expectations?
That’s the heart of what we do. Our homes are designed not just for today but for tomorrow. From pre-installed EV charging points (even before they were popular!) to smart automation-ready layouts, we ensure every home is plug-and-play for future tech. And on the design front, whether a family wants a rooftop garden, an open kitchen, or a courtyard at the center- we build around them. It’s about freedom of expression through architecture.
With rising construction costs, how does buildAhomebalance affordability and quality?
We cut out the middlemen. That’s the biggest thing. Most companies subcontract everything- each adding their 10% margin. That alone drives up costs by 25-30%. We source materials directly from manufacturers and pass on the savings to our clients. We also use top-tier materials- Jindal steel, Ultratech cement, Class A wood- no compromises. Quality is non-negotiable. To ensure that, our QA teams, structural audit teams, and site engineers work round the clock to deliver nothing but the best.
