As land prices rise and lifestyles shift across Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula, the idea of what makes a “modern home” is quietly changing. Speed, sustainability and smarter use of materials are beginning to matter as much as square footage and façade. At the centre of this transition is a growing interest in prefabricated steel housing, and among its early champions in the region is architect Ashutosh Mukherjee.
A partner at Metamorphosis Architecture, Mukherjee has spent over a decade designing residential and commercial projects. His turn towards prefabricated steel construction came not from novelty, but necessity. “The question was how to build faster, cleaner and with far less waste, without compromising on design,” he says.
For decades, RCC construction has dominated Indian housing, often bringing with it long build times, heavy site disruption and significant material wastage. Prefabricated steel construction offers a clear alternative. Structural components are manufactured in factories under controlled conditions and assembled on site with precision.
“The biggest advantage is accuracy,” Mukherjee explains. “Factory manufacturing ensures better quality control, minimal wastage and much faster execution.”
In the Tri-City, known for its planned sectors and increasingly eco-aware residents, the idea has begun to find steady acceptance. As sustainability and efficiency move from buzzwords to priorities, steel housing fits neatly into the region’s evolving architectural mindset.
Time is perhaps the most compelling factor. A conventional RCC house can take 12 to 18 months to complete. A prefabricated steel home is usually ready within three to five months, depending on size and detailing.
Durability, Mukherjee stresses, is often misunderstood. Properly designed steel structures can easily last 50 to 70 years or more, comparable to RCC buildings. They are resistant to termites, develop fewer structural cracks and demand lower long-term maintenance.
Concerns about heat in summer or cold in winter are common among prospective clients. Mukherjee says advances in insulation and thermal design have largely addressed these fears.
“Modern prefabricated homes use high-performance insulation, thermal panels and smart orientation,” he says. “When designed correctly, they can be more comfortable than conventional houses.”
What began as a niche solution has expanded rapidly. Metamorphosis Architecture today works on prefabricated steel homes, farmhouses, weekend retreats, studios, site offices and commercial spaces, each customised to the client and the site.
The strongest response, Mukherjee notes, has come from younger homeowners and professionals who value speed, flexibility and cleaner construction.
Chandigarh’s strict architectural byelaws add another layer of complexity. Integrating prefabricated construction within the city’s rigid planning framework requires careful detailing and innovation. Some of Mukherjee’s most challenging projects have involved aligning modern building systems with these guidelines, proving that contemporary methods can coexist with the city’s original planning ethos.
From an environmental perspective, steel construction offers clear advantages. It generates less waste, allows recycling and reduces on-site disturbance, resulting in a smaller carbon footprint. Mukherjee believes prefabricated and modular housing will become mainstream over the next decade.
“With greater awareness, policy support and demand for efficient housing, the Tri-City is well placed to adopt this approach at scale,” he says.