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. Why steel, why now 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, …