Ar. Prasoon Shrivastava - Arkiplan
Ar. J P Agrawal - Agrawal & Agrawal
Architectural Voices of India by Ar. Apurva Bose Dutta
Some excerpts from two chapters of the book:
In Pursuit of Nirvana: Christopher Benninger
Architecture in India
Apurva Bose Dutta (ABD): Are there any revelations of Indian architecture that are noteworthy and have caught everyone's attention?
Christopher Charles Benninger (CCB): I feel Indian architects have recently come to grips with the fact that there has been a gap in our history. There have been lost periods during the early invasions, colonial times, after Independence, and now with globalization. These times saw traumatic disruptions in our cultural continuity. Suddenly, India finds that it is the oldest civilization in the world, and simultaneously, the newest society. We have had to reinvent ourselves suddenly. But this loss has been a long process, and rediscovery is a long and continuous process. In fact, all societies need renewal and self-discovery. In that sense, we are path-setters.
But ours is not a loss due to stagnation. Rather, it is a loss due to disruption; multiple disruptions over centuries. There is an innate search for meaning, and for identity, a desire to prove that we in the sub-continent are different-not only in India, but in the vast erstwhile colonial world. We all struggled against waves of disruption; against colonialism, government regulation and the abrupt invasion by globalization. All these disruptions displaced our primordial roots, which lurk within our spirits, and we are trying to reconnect with them. I feel that "reconnect'" is what Indian architecture today is all about. But it is not about kitsch or ethnic architecture or decorating buildings with religious motifs. It is deeper within the nature of our culture and the way we live.
Architectural Education: In Need of an Overhaul?
ABD:Your contribution to education has been immense-from establishing prestigious institutions, to being on the board of governors of several, to designing world-class campuses. What do you feel is missing in architectural education today?
CCB: What is missing in architecture, as a whole, is a grounding in the fundamental problems of urbanization and objective reality. There are no courses in the social sciences imparting a knowledge of and promoting sensitivity towards the Indian people and the real stresses they are under. We are not addressing the crises of the urban masses who have no hygienic and humane shelter. Our educational practices are deepening this gap.
Flash Forward
ABD: There are lots of intentions that can be realized through architecture. How do you want your practice to make a difference to Indian architecture in the coming years?
CCB: I feel that architecture remains the "mother art", and that it allows humanity to have a direct interaction with culture and what we call civilization. Architecture, in the larger sense of space-making, urban ordering and logical planning, is what brings people together to employ logical and rational decision-making as democratic groups. This is the essence of civilization. This is how societies have matured and evolved into higher and higher states of existence. One of our intentions must be to create public spaces that attract people to come together for peaceful, intellectual dialogues.
Another intention must be to create beauty in the putative sense; create a sense of wonder and a realization that human beings are evolved, logical, magical, rational and poetic creatures. If one visits Madurai and other Chola temples, one realizes that mankind has an intelligence and a degree of magnanimity that is a gift beyond the natural world. One realizes that people or humanity is special. At such times of realization, people experience existential moments of ecstasy, and know it is great to be alive, to be a human being and to work for other human beings. This is called being civilized.
Spiritual and Progressive: Kamal Malik
Of Inspirations, Ideologies and Determination
ABD:Your approach to architecture is scientific, spiritual, philosophical and ecologically oriented. Your design concepts are known to be strongly influenced by yogic ideologies and your early years in the Himalayas. Please elaborate on this inspiration and approach to design.
Kamal Malik (KM): My childhood in the pristine environment of the Himalayas, my wonderment at the miracle that is nature, and my introduction to the books and teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda had an indelible impact on my life and my thoughts. The deep connection that I have with nature was made possible because of this spiritual master.
I realized early that the frontiers of finite knowledge are reached very quickly, and then begins the journey of understanding and incorporating the intuitive and the infinite. This inner journey of self-realization culminates in the attainment of sanyama or balance-total inner silence, the absence of duality. It is beyond all theories and concepts and what we call conventional knowledge. Embarking on this journey leads to an inevitable re-analysis of one's beliefs. This creates a sense of detachment-not to be confused with insentience or apathy, but rather, the separation of the observer, the witness.
There is a possibility that this inner journey will influence what we do. I have tried in my own way to bring that sense of silence, serenity and even joy (that is, my experience of this thought process) into the realm of the people whose habitat I am designing.
We are blessed to be born on hallowed soil with tremendous depth of philosophy and thought. Marrying this spiritual foundation with a robust assessment and incorporation of essential design elements, such as climate, environment, social factors, function, local building materials and techniques, sustainability and ecological sensitivity, results in architecture that is dynamic, transformative, yet contextual to the region that it has evolved from.
Architectural Education: In Need of an Overhaul?
ABD:How would you describe the present status of architectural education of India?
KM: Poor, miserable and thoroughly inadequate is what comes to mind when I think of architectural education in India today. The curriculum is fixed, fossilized and anachronistic, and only serves to stunt creativity of any kind. During my school and college years, educational content, as well as the vehicles for disseminating this content, were wonderful: it was natural, afforded more latitude of thought and expression, and was not stressful. It was also much less myopic; we were learning so many diverse things. At SPA, we had faculty from all fields-IIT professors, famous doctors, artists. Our learning was experiential and tactile, as well as didactic.
Architecture in Changing Times
ABD: Your works have been characterized by a fascination with local materials, local crafts and sustainability. If you compare the present to the past, how different is the interpretation of the concept of sustainability in architecture?
KM: Sustainability as a concept incorporates a lot of common sense. Let me give you the simple example of our ancestors: they used to cut trees, make their houses out of bamboo and thatch, and burn the wood in their houses to prepare meals. They built courts to allow the sun to penetrate, kept smaller fenestrations on the south-west side and made more windows on the northern side. The materials they used were the ones available to them-clay, laterite; they couldn't travel 500 miles to go to a cement plant. These are basic things, and this is absolute sustainability.
I can, however, count on my fingertips the number of people who can understand and appreciate Laurie Baker's works today. Centuries of spiritual and empirical knowledge documented by our ancestors languishes, while superficial ratings such as LEED have taken centre stage in the discussion on sustainability. Most of the LEED projects today are, in my opinion, inadequate because they lack a common-sense approach to the subject.
Note: 'Architectural Voices of India' is published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing, UK. More information on the book is available on www.apurvabose.com/book/; the author can be reached at www.apurvabose.com.
Ravi & Nupur Architects
Ravi & Nupur Architects is a professional architect and interior designing firm, based in Jodhpur. The firm was established in 2009 by Ar. Ravi Jain, now principal architect, in 2009 and later joined by Ar. Nupur Patwa in 2013, emboldening its inherent design philosophy to a greater extent. The firm provides professional consultancy services in the field of architectural design, Interior design, Landscape design, engineering & services design, project coordination, estimation & management. Projects are executed with thorough research, understanding of site and user requirements and involving clients/developers in each stage of design and execution. The firm’s portfolio is a diverse one that includes design of individual residences, residential scheme, townships, offices, institutions, residential interior, commercial showrooms, restaurants, cafes, conservative design solution for traditional heritage building refurbishment & restoration. Within the last six years, the firm has developed a service oriented design practice approach which emphasizes on effective project management, agglomeration of architectural, interior, and engineering services. The firm’s design philosophy is based on prioritization of individual needs, but in coordination with the immediate built, social, and natural environment. The firm strongly believes in visible essential quality of nature, interactive bonding between mankind & the surrounding natural forces, understanding intangible forces for generating tangible states, preserving heritage and values while transformation of passivity to social and cultural activity, recycling & reusing of waste materials innovatively. Our objective is ideas & its implementation for soulful design. Thus, we at Ravi Nupur Architects, envisage designing buildings and environments that are aesthetic in nature, ordered, and harmonious. We endeavor to serve our clients with skill and sensitivity. We emphasize on total client satisfaction through professional excellence. Hence, design excellence and problem solving are at the heart of everything we do. We promote innovation within a disciplined design process that assesses analyses and synthesizes a project’s issues and objectives. We tend to grow with each project and try to create quality environment that transcends styles and has a timeless quality.
Javier Sordo Madaleno Bringas
Sordo Madaleno has won acclaim and recognition, with countless honors both in Mexico and abroad, including: the appointment as Honorary Fellow of the AIA (American Institute of Architects) in 2017 for his significant contribution to architecture and society. The same year, The Legislative Assembly of Mexico City awarded him with the Medal for Merit in Arts and Sciences 2016, in the Architecture category. In 2016, he was awarded by the Real Estate Developers Association (ADI) for his outstanding career in Architecture. In 2015, he received the “Best of the Year” award from Interior Design magazine for the Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen’s SPA as the best project of the year in the category. In 2013, the “Trayectorias” prize was granted by the Colegio de Arquitectos de la Ciudad de México (CAM-SAM). In 2010 Javier received the “Judges Special Award” by the Design and Health International Academy for the CRIT project in Tampico, the same project was also recognized as “best building” in the health category, at the World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2009 held in Barcelona. Also in 2009, he received the “Gold Award for Development and Design Excellence” granted by the ICSC in recognition of the innovative nature of the Andares project.
Javier is also a member of the Mexican School of Architects, member of the Mexican Society of Architects, member of the National Academy of Architecture, honorary fellow of the American Institute of Architects, member of the Real Estate Developers Association (ADI), member of the Teletón Board, advisor for the Club de Industriales, advisor for the Intercontinental Hotels, advisor for Inditex Group, advisor for Centro University and advisor of major malls including: Plaza Satélite, Plaza Universidad, Antara Fashion Hall, Centro Comercial Angelópolis, Antea Lifestyle Center and Andamar Lifestyle Center.
The Material Palette
Compiled by Seema Gupta
Interior spaces in India have never been so uniquely designed and furnished. Along with the new products in the market, the age-old traditional time-tested and eco-friendly materials continue to find favour. According to Sachin Gupta of Beyond Designs, home decor is the best way to inject your personality into your home and make everything look like a reflection of who you are, so personalize and accentuate your house, apartment or workspace. “The contemporary eye combines objects and materials of the present with objects and materials from the past, not because of fashion but because of one’s own knowledgeable eclecticism - the result of one’s own varied experiences and cultivated taste,” he says.
Ar. Aditi Pai of The Purple Ink Studio opines, “The trend of being organic has infiltrated into every aspect of architecture from spaces to materials. Inclusion of green spaces in the interiors, while being sensitive to the outdoors is set to become a norm. With the advancing technology and ease in access to it, we look forward to seeing more work with better integrating of technology using natural elements with cultural influences making our cities future ready.”
The plain old concrete, for instance, once considered dull and devoid of any aesthetic value, now has a new upgraded, polished version, and is increasingly being applied in modern day interior and exterior designs. Affirms Ruchi Mishra, DGM (Architecture), REPL, “The industrial look in interior design has been around for a while now. One of the easiest ways to achieve this is to use concrete, a versatile material. In fact, many designers are now using concrete in unexpected and unusual ways from wall art to clocks and tables to wall claddings. Few would have thought that this mundane material can be transformed into a tactile and decorative surface for interiors, including kitchens. Lighting made from concrete has also made its mark with numerous designers taking advantage of the hard-wearing, utilitarian properties of the material, have created minimalist lighting designs.”
Builders and real estate developers look to interior designers and architects for information on consumer demand and market trends for the interior design of their projects. No doubt, product selection is based on factors like size of the project, budget and costs involved, eco-friendly approach of the developer, and the brand image of the project, especially in premium class of buildings. Mihir H Parekh, AVP Nilkamal Ltd, opines, “The construction industry needs to keep pace with the ever-growing need for innovative solutions that are fast and easy, considering the ever-growing time crunch and labour cost. For any solution to be profitable, it must be sustainable, which means that it must be designed such that it is not only re-usable multiple times but is also 100% recyclable, thereby helping users minimize their carbon footprint.”
Manufacturers of building products must take into account consumer preferences, including regional lifestyles, such that they can offer products that meet varying needs. Manufacturers who innovate to offer unique or customized solutions, have an added advantage and a competitive edge, provided their products ensure uniqueness in design, colour or features, technical strength and high quality, and give value for money. Says Alok Aggarwal, MD, Ozone Overseas, “Interior design now is all about creating spaces with more visibility and clarity. Designers are looking for innovative ways and materials to add a new dimension to the interiors in terms of energy-efficiency, utilization and comfort. Organic materials and products enable spaces to look larger yet offer privacy.”
Affirms Jimmy Mistry, “People are looking for uniqueness along with quality and affordability. The consumer’s understanding of interior design, brands, materials and quality is improving day by day. Modern-day consumers are looking to upgrade their lifestyle and are willing to spend more for quality.”
Arti Sondhi Malik
Arti Sondhi Living
Waxed polyester wood coatings are used either as base coats or exceptionally brilliant top coats for wood surfaces after specific sanding, brushing and polishing processes. Because of the high solid content, these products are particularly recommended for closed pore cycles. They are highly recommended for cabinetry in kitchens and bathrooms as the coating is resilient to shrinkage and removing. The high thixotrophy makes them suitable for painting shaped items and even upright structures.
Geeta Lunial
Gold Interio
The Wall Graphics at Kathi Junction in Noida is either through Customised Graphically Designed Wall Papers or Graphics on Raw Wood and Illuminated / Non Illuminated Frames
We enjoy working on Wall Graphics as they create endless possibilities to help enhance any space or environment. With limitless options, custom wall graphics positively augment the look and feel of office spaces, improve marketing and promotions for retail locations, and add a much-needed flair to restaurants. Just like every business is unique, every interior wall graphic is also unique.
Whether we are looking for an intricately detailed design or a minimalistic feel, there are many advantages to using wall graphics: Flat Vinyl Graphics are recommended for most interior walls and décor, especially with a matte finish and removable adhesive.
Illuminated / Non-Illuminated Framing Systems allow us to change the graphics so that one can refresh the space and showcase new promotions or seasonal messaging very easily. Further, one can use custom modular frames that can fit any space requirement.
Wall Papers are much more durable now because of the advanced materials and types of paper that they are composed of, and are easy to maintain and keep clean. There are many different patterns, textures and widths to choose from.
If we are going for a polished, futuristic 3D effect then acrylics and metals are ideal choices. To make a real impact, we can use any type of hanging hardware.
Custom wall coverings represent individualism and branding. Having a great design is also an important part of this goal. Whether we want to use them on their own or combine them to produce a multi-layered and eye-catching effect, to refresh the interior look, consider wall graphics to bring in originality.
Ar. Sabeena Khanna
Studio KIA
I love using Exposed Brick. Brick is a building material that has exceptional ‘thermal mass’ properties. Thermal mass is the ability of a heavy, dense material to store heat and then slowly release it. Even in the Brick Residence done by Studio K.I.A, the exposed brick external facade during the summer months keeps the house stay cool during the hottest part of the day. During the winter months, brick walls store the house’s heat and radiate it back to the resident. Brick is sustainable, durable, easy on maintenance, moisture-resistant, and looks better with age!
Devyani Gupta
Intrigue Designs
Wood is an eco-friendly material and consumes the least amount of energy when processed. At the same time, wood stores up carbon and has a very low carbon footprint. It also aids to form a relationship between density and strength.
Sapna Khakaria
ANJ Group
While veneers are more expensive and exude richness, laminates are a more economical option to achieve aesthetics on similar lines. Both veneers and laminates are available in various shades, textures, specs and brands, and are more often used on wall panels, doors, reception backdrops, manager cabins, storage rooms, etc.
Ar. Cherag Bardolivala and Ar. Rooz Mehr Bardoliwala
RC Design Studio
The product used in this 8500 sqft sprawling duplex apartment is Smoked Oak from Shree Jalaram Timber. The rich dark tones of the veneer enhance the warmth and ambiance of the apartment. The entire space was planned in a way that the neutral tone of the marble and the muted tones of the wallpaper were perfectly enhanced by the rich dark tones of the veneer. In all our projects, the continuity of the space and design is emphasized by using the same species of veneer throughout. The superior range of veneers creates exciting options for us to experiment with.
Nehit Vij
Intrigue Designs
Kuntal Vyas Aggarwal
Resaiki Interiors
The shades, colors and flexibility of making Corian take any shape or form makes it a favorite. We do have the same freedom with wood these days, but I discourage too much usage of it.
Ivory and grey Corian are my favorite colors, which you will see in most of my furniture pieces such as tables, wall partitions with engraving, wall panels, reception desks, etc.
Minnie Bhatt
Minnie Bhatt Design
Vaishnavipratima
Vaishnavipratima - The Interior Store
Ar. Abhigyan Neogi
Chromed Design Studio
Sarbani Ghosh
As an architect practicing for the past 21 years, I have seen many building materials and trends in Indian and overseas markets. Some materials are evergreen and stand the test of time; some are transient – they emerge as fads and get completely wiped out from the market after a while.These are a few of my favourite things...
Exposed concrete is low maintenance and low cost. It is universally appealing and enhances the built form. Exposed brick is another evergreen material. Masterpieces of architecture in exposed brickwork exist in India. Nowadays, exposed brick is often juxtaposed with green walls to create sustainable structures. My favorite is the brick jali.
Filler slabs are awe-inspiring. The concrete in the slabs is substituted with unbelievable filler materials like recycled glass bottles, earthen pots, mud-bricks, etc. This creates interesting ceiling patterns, which don’t need to be hidden by expensive false ceilings.
China Mosaic tiles are back in trend with the original method of laying broken tiles by local workers being replaced by factory-made chip tile panels that are easier to execute.
Wood is a multipurpose material and provides a rich look. Semi-open spaces are often defined by a wooden pergola to provide shade and visually join the structures in a cluster formation. Wood in staircases and sloping roofs is abundantly used in India. It is also used in swimming pool or verandah decks.
Plaster of Paris is a versatile material. In addition to false ceilings, POP readymade panels form very interesting backdrops or fillers.
Semi-precious stones used as highlights or backdrop panels with illumination continue to be sure shot hits since the past two decades. Agate, Onyx and Mother of Pearl are often used in interiors, on tables, door handles, washbasin counters, etc. Floor and wall inlay work in precious and semi-precious stones has been used since the Mughal era and is still popular.
Wallpapers are popular as the application is instant and odourless. My favourite is the glass beads and Mother of Pearl finish wallpapers which add bling to sober interior spaces.
Leather has varied applications. In addition to upholstery, it is used in wall paneling and cupboard cladding. Studio Art is one such specialized brand dealing with innovative leather paneling ideas.
Glass is a widely used material in various forms. Sicis glass mosaic tiles of Italy create amazing floor and wall cladding themes. Back painted glass modesty panels are popular in office interiors. Deep acid etched glass panels are used in high-end residences and hotels as their design possibilities are limitless.
My creative intellect is challenged every time a new material is introduced in the market as I like to use a different material time and again and experiment with it in different ways.
Neeta Kumar
Inhabit
This luxury Jewellery store called L Bajrang Pershad Jewellers in Hyderabad, has been furnished in collaboration with Interior Designers Aamir & Hameeda. The furniture designs were created in sync with the architectural concept and colors. The furniture is of reclaimed teak wood and its styling is modern neo classic with charcoal grey blue polish. Leather is used for seating keeping in mind the durability and functionality of a jewellery store. The 4-seater sofa and single seaters of cane add a touch of distinction, while the brass lotus coffee table lends the store a luxurious look. The console tables are a contrast of teakwood and marble top. The focal point of the store is the 12-feet jewellery showcase with velvet detailing to offset the glittering jewellery.
Ar. Mukesh Bhatia
SSB Architects
A variety of glass is available in different colors, designs and patterns, and with properties such as fire resistance and noise control. Glass is a classy material that makes interiors more stylish and contemporary, and can be used in signage, lobbies, staircase, display areas and showroom counter tops.
Greenbuild India
More than 20 years ago, the USGBC started as a vision; today, it is an unparalleled community of sustainability-focused and like-minded people responsible for anchoring one of the most important environmental movements of our time. In 2000, the very first LEED green buildings were certified, propelling the multi-billion-dollar global green building industry and spurring explosive growth in energy-efficient, green buildings across the globe.
In 2008, USGBC created GBCI, an independent certification and credentialing organization, to accelerate the mission of USGBC and the adoption of LEED. In 2015, USGBC incorporated GBCI in India and opened an office in Gurgaon, to provide stronger, on-the-ground customer support for regional project teams. This new operational hub better positions GBCI to deliver full-service onsite certification and verification.
GBCI works with business and government officials to help address and meet the priority needs of a rapidly urbanizing India. Its new office improves India’s access to resources, helping accelerate the greening of the nation’s built environment.
Today, LEED is the most widely used green building rating program in the world, and one of the single most powerful economic development tools for revitalizing and scaling sustainable buildings across the globe. LEED has become a full-scale global movement, with nearly 90,000 registered and certified projects and more than 19.15 billion square feet participating in LEED across 165 countries and territories. Every day, 2.2 million square feet of building space certifies to LEED.
Buildings are responsible for an enormous amount of global energy use, resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. As the demand for more sustainable building options increases, green construction is becoming increasingly profitable and desirable within the international construction market.
In the United States alone, buildings account for almost 40% of national CO2 emissions and out-consume both the industrial and transportation sectors. But LEED-certified buildings have 34% lower CO2 emissions, consume 25% less energy and 11% less water, and have diverted more than 80 million tons of waste from landfills.
The market is responding to these cost savings and environmental benefits at a dramatic rate. According to a Dodge Data & Analytics World Green Building Trends 2016 SmartMarket Report, the global green building sector continues to double every three years, with survey respondents from 70 countries reporting 60% of their projects will be green by 2018.
Green building is cost-effective
- Upfront investment in green building makes properties more valuable, with an average expected increase in value of 4 percent. By virtue of lowered maintenance and energy costs, the return on investment from green building is rapid; green retrofit projects are generally expected to pay for itself in just seven years.
- Green buildings reduce day-to-day costs year-over-year. LEED buildings report almost 20% lower maintenance costs than typical commercial buildings, and green building retrofit projects typically decrease operation costs by almost 10% in just one year.
- Between 2015 and 2018, LEED-certified buildings in the United States are estimated to have $1.2 billion in energy savings, $149.5 million in water savings, $715.2 million in maintenance savings, and $54.2 million in waste savings.
- The green building sector is outpacing overall construction growth in the United States and will continue to rise. By 2018, green construction will directly contribute 1.1 million jobs and $75.6 billion in wages by 2018 in the United States. The industry’s direct contribution to U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is also expected to reach $303.5 billion from 2015-2018. LEED building construction projects are estimated to contribute 386,000 jobs and $26.2 billion in wages by 2018.
- As of May 2017, more than 19.1 billion square feet of building space worldwide is LEED-certified and an approximately 2.2 million square feet achieves LEED certification each day.
- LEED is the international standard of excellence in green building, with more than 90,000 LEED projects in 165 countries and territories.
- LEED projects are getting results across the board, scoring an average Energy Star score of 89 points out of a possible 100. In a study of 7,100 certified construction projects, more than 90% were improving energy performance by at least 10%.
- Buildings are positioned to have an enormous impact on the environment and climate change. At 41% of total U.S. energy consumption, buildings out-consume the industrial (30%) and transportation (29%) sectors.
- Buildings use about 14% of all potable water (15 trillion gallons per year), but water-efficiency efforts in green buildings are expected to reduce water use by 15% and save more than 10% in operating costs. Retrofitting one out of every 100 American homes with water-efficient fixtures could avoid about 80,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, which is the equivalent of removing 15,000 cars from the road for one year.
- Standard building practices use and waste millions of tons of materials each year; green building uses fewer resources and minimizes waste. LEED projects are responsible for diverting more than 80 million tons of waste from landfills, and by 2030 that number is expected to grow to 540 million tons.
Greenbuild India
Every year, USGBC produces Greenbuild - the largest green building conference and expo in the world. This is where the contributions of USGBC, GBCI and our community members come together. Founded in 2002, Greenbuild brings together industry leaders, experts and frontline professionals dedicated to sustainable building.
This year, the event will make its debut in Mumbai for the first time ever on November 2-4 at Bombay Exhibition Centre (BEC).
Why India?
India is a high performer in green building, ranking third among the Top 10 Countries for LEED green building. In 2016, nearly 650 Indian building projects earned LEED certification. Greenbuild India is where you can learn about current research and best practices to elevate your business; connect with sustainability experts; and see innovative technologies and products first hand.
Greenbuild India is presented by the USGBC and ABEC Exhibitions & Conferences.
- It brings together thousands of future-minded building professionals from all over the world.
- Features an exhibit hall that showcases new and innovative products.
- Special LEED workshops and seminars.
- Inspirational keynote sessions where some of the best and the brightest speakers explore the issues of our time.
- With many on-site educational offerings, it is a one-stop shop for maintaining LEED professional credentials, including the LEED Green Associate and LEED AP.
- A remarkable place to network – attendees cite that the Greenbuild networking experience is one of the top reasons they attend every year.
- A unique opportunity to learn the latest about LEED v4 strategies involving energy, water, ecosystems, human health, and more.
- Offers important information on the other GBCI rating programs.
For information on Greenbuild India: www.greenbuild.usgbc.org/india
Ar. Hiren Patel
In my quest for excellence, I have poured into my work passion, commitment, wholehearted enthusiasm, hope and my energy and I hope to maintain such a level of integrity and commitment in all my work as long as I live.
Hiren Patel architects started out as a small firm that has grown exponentially by accepting every challenge that came its way. Our initial success came from designing high rises in Ahmedabad, our base. Thereafter, we have not looked back by aiming ever higher.
It is our belief that the first duty of our firm is to upload respect and dignity for the individual. Our core staff walks out every evening mentally and physically tired. But we make sure that these assets of our firm return well rested, energetic and enthusiastic the next morning.
A strong team is essential for every architectural experiment to succeed and Hiren Patel architects bring together a set of complementary skills, expertise and experience.
Our team is a collection of people who has experience in time and project management, advanced computer skills in addition to sound architectural skills.
Our office is a workshop for experimentation where innovative ideas and unusual solutions thrive. Our work creed is speed, imagination, and excellence in execution. In fact, a collective scintillating imagination has been our most crucial success factor.
We proudly say that we have struck a wonderful balance in melding all strata of employs from a peon to the architects into a powerful team that works for you.
Today our pallet of work covers everything from a small residence to heritage buildings and palaces to huge entertainment complexes, from an individual shop to large commercial megaliths. But the driving force behind the success has always been the openness to continuous learning, the sheer joy and pride in our work, and embracing change as the only constant in life.