Heading to India
Discover the sixth stop
on our 360th anniversary world tour!
We’re off to India! Our 360th anniversary world tour takes you to the world’s most populated country.
Throughout the land, tradition and innovation go hand in hand. Everything is accelerating: the economy, technology, and above all... urbanization. With over 1.4 billion inhabitants today, India’s population is set to continue growing, reaching 1.7 billion by 2060. The construction sector must keep up with this demographic trend, while designing buildings that are sustainable and adapted to the sub-continent’s climate.
How can the city of tomorrow meet the demographic challenge?
Our reporter Charlotte Kan takes you to meet our teams and customers to find out how Saint-Gobain is developing local solutions tailored to the country’s climate and population challenges!
TACKLE THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHALLENGE WITH THE CITY OF TOMORROW IN 360 SECONDS
Today, almost 36%* of India’s population lives in urban areas. From New Delhi to Chennai, as well as smaller cities like Lucknow, Saint-Gobain teams are developing solutions to meet the expectations of a growing urban population: low-carbon materials, high-performance insulation, smart glazing... The country is in the midst of a major transformation, and the Group is helping shape the city of tomorrow to make the world a better home.
TO GO FURTHER
3 questions for Sreedhar N., Senior Vice-President, CEO Asia-Pacific & India Region - Saint-Gobain.
Discover the solutions developed by Saint-Gobain Research India and tailored to the country's climate and demographic density.
THROUGH THE LENS OF CHARLOTTE KAN
Join Charlotte for an in-depth look at the country's demographic and environmental challenges!
India: Building Tomorrow’s Cities Now
More than a destination, India is a stream of consciousness - a swirl of chaotic traffic, rickshaws, scooters, trucks, honks, old temples and skyscrapers, fragrant food and radiant smiles. Paradox and spirituality in motion.
It is a country full of life, a multisensory experience, that invites visitors not to try to understand or judge, but to surrender and embrace its flow of life.
Incredibly, it works – and very well at that. With 1.4+ billion people and nearly 15% of projected global GDP growth in 2025, India isn’t just rising - it’s reshaping scale, purpose, and possibility.
So how is the Subcontinent building the cities of tomorrow— while facing one of the greatest demographic challenges of our time, coupled with the pressure of climate change?
That’s the question we set out to explore in this special edition for Saint-Gobain’s 360th anniversary. Over six intense, inspiring days, we crossed three cities— New Delhi, Lucknow and Chennai —each offering a glimpse into how India is reimagining urban life at scale.
In New Delhi, at the striking Unity Amaryllis project, vertical living is being redefined with intelligent glazing and acoustic insulation — bringing modernity, comfort and efficiency to one of the world’s most crowded (and hot!) capitals.
In Lucknow, we witnessed world-class healthcare delivered at the heart of local communities at Medanta Hospital. An inspiring and scalable model of care.
In Chennai, one of India’s most dynamic cities, the World Trade Center by Brigade Group shows how business infrastructure can be ambitious, green, and future-proof — earning the project LEED Platinum certification and setting a high bar for sustainable development.
Still in Chennai, at Saint-Gobain Research’s cutting-edge center, we witnessed innovation tailored to India’s unique context: extreme climate, rapid urbanization, and evolving lifestyles, with high-tech solutions designed not just for efficiency, but for resilience, comfort, and sustainability.
What struck me most was that India doesn’t just adapt to growth, it does it its own way.
Not chasing perfection—but building with purpose, at speed, and with soul, in a way that is working for people.
In India, I found something deeply hopeful: a future being built — not in theory, but in practice. Every single day.
JAIPUR LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE
Welcome to Jaipur, one of India’s jewels and a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
In the heart of the “Pink City”, it’s hard to miss the Hawa Mahal - the breathtaking “Palace of the Winds”, built in 1799. Beyond its striking pink sandstone façade, the building holds a unique architectural feature: its 953 small windows allow air to circulate freely throughout the building, creating a natural cooling system.
More than just a monument, it embodies both the country’s historical heritage and the profound transformations shaping it today. Across India, cities are expanding and becoming denser. With this growth come new needs for comfort, resilience, and sustainability.
SAINT-GOBAIN INDIA IN 3 FACTS
1996
Year the group first set up operations in India.
9,900
Number of employees in the country.
Integrated solutions
Gyproc (plaster and plasterboards), Weber (mortars for facades and flooring), Saint-Gobain Glass (high performance glass solutions), Vetrotech (fire resistant and high security glass), Norton (abrasive solutions)…