Mud becomes the new luxury in Indian homes

Anita Jayaprakash, a former corporate executive from Chennai, has traded her corporate life for a career in terracotta artistry. She now creates customized terracotta wall art inspired by Indian mythology, folklore, and architecture. Jayaprakash's creations start at around ₹3,500 for a 10-inch piece. Her intricate murals, made to reflect Kerala folklore, have garnered attention and are priced accordingly.

Architects and designers are also embracing terracotta in contemporary interiors, moving away from the traditional use of the material. Yashwin Dev, an architect based in Mangaluru, Bengaluru, and Delhi, incorporates exposed terracotta brick walls, jaalis, tiled roofs, and flooring into his designs. Terracotta flooring and Mangalore roof tiles are used as architectural features in projects like the BuCo cafe in Koramangala, Bengaluru.

Design firms such as ma+rs, founded by Anisha Menon and Sabyasachi Routray, favor natural materials over heavily clad, polished surfaces. The practice incorporates terracotta jaalis, walls, and natural finishes to add an Indian touch to spaces. Terracotta is also proving to be a cost-effective option, with cladding priced at approximately ₹55 per square foot, compared to Indian marble's ₹150-200 per square foot.

Despite its many benefits, working with clay presents certain challenges, such as getting artisans to experiment with unconventional shapes and sizes, consistency issues due to varying drying conditions and firing temperatures, and the risk of cracking and breakage. Nevertheless, designers like Ara Living Studio and Naaya Studio are pushing the boundaries of terracotta, creating innovative and sculptural objects for indoor and outdoor spaces.