When we look at sustainability, we’re looking at environment-friendly building materials. People are becoming more local centric so much so that the local flavour of a city or state is again becoming more prominent. This is a very conscious shift in architecture – using local labor, local materials, and local design.
Clients are also ready to experiment and their mindset is changing. They are no longer just looking at making glass buildings and using Italian marble. This is helping architects to explore sustainability in a very different and local way. We’re looking at smart cities, and cultural consciousness is evolving. There is a new trend of mixed-use developments that include commercial, retail, residential, hospitality, etc.
India is fifth in the world in terms of growth and our GDP is growing at a phenomenally steady rate. We are one of the biggest market segments for international investments. And a young demography is working in our favour. I think India’s growth story are its innovations in terms of materials. AI is being integrated in projects now. We are seeing architecture firms collaborating with other firms, different industries, engineers, and people with specializations for designing great projects.
We are seeing better quality, higher speed, and sustainability in construction. Many big developers have started using prefab construction technology. High performance concrete, metal and steel, ready-made panels for instant erections, facades, 3D printing technology, etc. are being used in a big way. Use of BIM and 3D printing is leading to collaborations between designers and engineers. Automation is enabling monitoring of project sites and enabling higher quality of construction and faster deliveries.
Another beautiful thing is the human interface in design. We are looking at biophilic designs that foster communication between human beings and nature; community living like the erstwhile chawls and vadas, open houses with courtyards, flexible and modular homes, and smart homes. All these concepts are being developed in a big way.
