www.insightssuccess.in NOVEMBER 2017
Sidhartha Talwar Pricipal & Co-Founding Partners
Ambrish Arora Pricipal & Co-Founding Partners
10
THE
BEST
Ankur Choksi Pricipal & Co-Founding Partners
CONSULTANTS IN 2017
STUDIO LOTUS: Delivering Enriching Designed Solu ons through a Value-Driven Process
Editorial
S
ome unique challenges are presented by an architectural practice when the owners decide it is time to engage in succession planning in order to assure the continuation of the firm and a smooth exit for the principals. Succession planning can be viewed as an art of structuring the transition of the ownership, management, and control of the architecture practice. Each of these elements requires careful planning, structuring, and implementation in order for the succession plan to be fortunate. Each option comes with its own challenges. The legal structure of the architecture practice limits the universe of potential buyers to other licensed professionals. In essence, this means that current key employees or a competing architecture firm are the most likely to be in a position to secure the practice of a departing principal. If key employees are the preferred target buyers, consideration must be given to the fact that few employees will have the financial resources to purchase the firm outright. Often the key employees will need to acquire ownership over time. That can be accomplished through a variety of tools, from stock bonus plans to buy-sell agreements funded with insurance or deferred compensation plans.
Succession Planning for Architecture Firms
Typically, an architecture practice has few tangible assets. Office equipment and systems are likely fully depreciated and may be in need of replacement. Absent tangible assets, intangibles are likely to comprise the bulk of the value of the practice. These intangibles will include such items as the anticipated future profits of the firm as represented by the volume of backlog of work, the skill level of the inplace work force, special areas of expertise, and market share. The target buyer (internal or external) can also impact the value of the practice. When transitioning the ownership to internal candidates, these small portions of ownership will often be subject to minority interest and lack of control discounts, resulting in a smaller payoff to the departing principal. Designing and implementing a succession plan does not necessarily mean giving up control of the firm. If an internal succession plan is preferred, the transitioning of the key employees into ownership and management of the firm will occur over time. Securing and monetizing the value that an architecture principal has spent a career creating takes careful planning and a long-term vision. Starting the process well before the need to exit the practice will help reassure the success of the firm, both in terms of the continued longevity of the firm and returning value to the departing principals.
Abhinav Chandrayan
Editor-in-Chief Pooja M. Bansal Managing Editor Abhinav Chandrayan Co-Editors Ashwini Deshmukh Nikita Doiphode Contributors Shweta Priyadarshini Ananda Das Art & Design Director Amol Kamble Co-designer Vanshika Mittal Picture Editor Alex Noel Art Editor Shweta Ambilwade Visualiser Savita Pandav Business Development Manager Akansha Garewal Marketing Manager Dhruv Apte Business Development Executives Priyanka, Divya, Joan Rutuja, Meera, Tarun Research Analyst David Circulation Manager Vivek Database Management Sharad Technology Consultant Swapnil Patil sales@insightssuccess.com
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COVER STORY STUDIO LOTUS DELIVERING ENRICHING DESIGN SOLUTIONS THROUGH A VALUE-DRIVEN PROCESS
ARTICLE Need of an Hour
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'Bridges,' Wonders Created by Engineers
TechStats
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India: The Fastest Growing Tech Hub in the World
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Modern Architecture Portable Structure: The Modern Container of Architecture
Expert Insights Reforms in the Real Estate Sector
Need of an Hour
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Virtual Reality: Transforming the Future of Architecture
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32 18 ARCHITECT NARAYAN & ASSOCIATES PVT. LTD. Crafting a Sustainable & Elegant World
IBA AND ASSOCIATES: Furnishing Topmost Creative Design Solutions
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42 RAVI GADRE AND ASSOCIATES Delivering Resolved, Dignified and Authentic Architectural Designs
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INVENTARCHITECTS
Genesis Planners
Pioneer in Crafting Iconic Designs with Contemporary Outlook
A Leading Architectural Consultancy Firm Pushing the Limits of Plausibility
Turning Ideas into Creative Tangible Structures
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reating a residential, commercial or industrial building is not an easy task to manage on your own. There is a need of consulting architect to help you develop your vision, manage planning details, and take overall responsibility for your design. The consulting architects are the business owners or managers who own or work for independent architecture or multidisciplinary design firms. These licensed professionals are employed in many variations of private practice. Some are sole proprietors that focus on residential or specialty work. Many are large enterprises, often taking on a wide range of public, commercial and industrial projects. The Architecture industry too is driven by some specialists who are planning creative and innovative design solutions for clients and turning ideas into tangible structures that meet the needs of clients. Here in the Insights Success magazine we are pleased to introduce experienced and skillful professionals to scrutinize your information in its special issue of “The 10 Best Architecture Consultants in 2017” As our cover story we have, Studio Lotus, a multi-disciplinary design practice whose work seamlessly weaves interior and exterior spaces, from master plans and large architectural ideas to the smallest of furniture details. Apart from this, we have highlighted one of the most renowned Architecture Consultancy firms, Architect Narayan & Associates, which provides sustainable, green and elegant architecture designs to their esteemed clients, Genesis Planners pvt ltd, a leading Architectural Consultancy firm that offers integrated architectural design services, IBA and Associates, an innovative design practice that goes beyond the paradigm of delivering design as a product, Invent Architects, a new generation design firm providing consultancy services in Architecture, Planning, Interior design and Landscape design, Ravi Gadre and Associates, providing consulting services for Architecture and Interior designing, Aijaz Hakim Architect, an architecture consultancy firm completing projects in architecture, landscape and interior design, Cobol A & P Designs Pvt Ltd, offering design consultancy to various reputed clientele, Modi Srivastava and Associates, a multidisciplinary architecture design practice, whose expertise includes architecture, interior design, planning and urban development, and SALIL RANDIVE ARCHITECTS, a firm providing comprehensive site planning, architectural design, and related interior design for 25-50-100 acre self-contained townships for corporate staff housing and real estate developers. Do not miss out on the articles on “Portable Structure: The Modern Container of Architecture” and “Virtual Reality: Transforming the Future of Architecture” from the editorial desk. So, do flip the pages of our magazine to uncover the insights of Best Architecture Consultancy Firms!
Sidhartha Talwar
Co-founding Principal Partner
Ambrish Arora
Co-founding Principal & CEO Partner
Ankur Choksi
Co-founding Principal Partner
“We find inspiration in ordinary things, everyday events & chance encounters”
COVER STORY
Studio Lotus: DELIVERING ENRICHING DESIGN SOLUTIONS THROUGH A VALUE-DRIVEN PROCESS
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t present, India is one of the key places in the world where architecture has the most impact. There has been little crucial reflection on the country’s architectural landscape, and architecture firms are struggling to explain its value to the wider population. Having said that, architecture always takes into account and adapts with the evolution of society and businesses. The most innovative architectural companies are also looking into their crystal balls and pioneering the manner in which the built environment is evolving and Studio Lotus is one of them.
Studio Lotus has also won awards in Hospitality Design and Commercial Architecture at Perspective Global Awards and been recognized as the IIID Design Practice of the Year for 3 years and Inside Outside Designer of the Year amongst several other achievements. The practice has been covered extensively in leading publications across the world including Architectural Review, Domus India, Architectural Digest India, Wallpaper, Elle Décor and the Forbes India Annual Issue.
About the Thought Leader
The successfully executed projects of Studio Lotus include the internationally-acclaimed hotel RAAS Jodhpur. Other projects in the Hospitality domain include a revamp of all lobby and restaurant spaces for the stunning Raas Devigarh hotel in Udaipur, the edgy interiors for the new Aloft Hotel in Aerocity Gurgaon and a luxurious understated design for the interiors of the public spaces of the new Taj Hotel opening soon in Theog near Shimla. One of the feathers in their cap includes the design of the entire Clubhouse facilities at Max Group’s Antara Senior Living project in Dehradun. In Retail, Studio Lotus has rolled out the Global Retail Identity for Royal Enfield and recently revamped the Retail Design Identity for Godrej Nature’s Basket with a spanking new store in Worli, Mumbai. They are also responsible for the design of the new state-of-the art Kohler Experience Center in New Delhi. Studio Lotus’ past work includes stores for Good Earth, Rohit Bal, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Ekaya and Gaurav Gupta among others. In Adaptive Re-use, the practice has designed award-winning projects Baradari at City Palace Jaipur and Godrej Imagine Studio at The Trees in Vikhroli, Mumbai and multiple projects at the Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur. In F&B, Studio Lotus has designed the identity for an upcoming brand in Dubai, the first restaurant for celebrity chef Jamie Oliver in India and prominent brands such as Hard Rock, Diva and Independent Brewing Co. Their work also includes art spaces such as the Devi Arts Foundation Gurugram and Khoj International Artists Foundation Delhi.
Studio Lotus is a multi-disciplinary design practice that believes in delivering enriching design solutions through a value-driven process empowering all stakeholders and the environment. The company was founded back in 2002 by Ambrish Arora, Ankur Choksi and Sidhartha Talwar. Today, the Studio is acknowledged as a thought leader in the country for their work in the domain of Architecture and Interior Design. The team at Studio Lotus consists of 60 dynamic people working in a highly collaborative environment. They combine distinct strengths over multiple domains to shape master plans, buildings, interiors and design schemes which are at the cutting edge of design thinking. The work of Studio Lotus is grounded on the principles of Conscious design, an approach that celebrates local resources, cultural influences, a keen attention to detail and an inclusive process. The practice follows an iterative and incremental methodology of innovation and roots its learning in history and local context. It aims to craft solutions that are benchmarks of sustainable design in the way it can address society’s changing ways of living and working. The Hall of Fame of Studio Lotus Currently marking its fifteenth year, Studio Lotus has close to a 100 awards in India and internationally. Some of its key recognitions include World Holiday Building of the Year at World Architecture Festival Barcelona and World Architecture News Awards, INSIDE Award Creative ReUse Category Winner at World Festival of Interiors Berlin and a nomination in the Aga Khan Global Architectural Awards 2013 cycle. They have also been part of the Architectural Digest India list of the 50 most Influential names in Architecture & Design for 4 consecutive years and received the Grand Jury Prize at Design For Asia Awards, an Honorable Mention at Fast Company Innovation by Design Awards New York, a Special Mention at the DOMUS International Restoration Awards Italy and Silver at the Asia Pacific Interior Design Awards.
The Successful Projects of Studio Lotus
Currently, Studio Lotus is working on projects of various scales and typologies in multiple cities. These include an all-suite boutique hotel near Dharamshala, an institutional building for the Government of Odisha, the new 40,000sqm Tech Center & Corporate office for Royal Enfield in Chennai, a clubhouse for the flagship Godrej The Trees development in Mumbai, master plan and architecture for Devanya - a fantastic new 88-acre Eco-development in Kumaon, a new Vilas hotel in a wildlife sanctuary for Oberoi Hotels, a boutique hotel in Lavasa, Retail Brand Identity development for multiple brands such as Cottonworld, Coverstory, Tribe by Amrapali besides several residential projects in different parts of the country.
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We believe that innovation is not necessarily about a big idea. It is the result of continual enquiry at every stage – small incremental innovations every day
“ The firm takes a deeply contextual approach to its work and combines this with a strong focus on the tactile and sensory qualities of the space. The design process looks at sustainability through the multiple lenses of cultural, social and environmental impact. There is an active engagement in integrating localized skills and resources with state of the art materials and technologies. The Remarkable Trio Studio Lotus was set up in 2002 by the remarkable trio; Ambrish Arora, Sidhartha Talwar and Ankur Choksi. They started the firm by pretty much accepting whatever work they got, which included a couple of small office interiors. There was a time when all work dried up and they had no money to pay salaries and were considering shutting down. Just at that time they happened to get a job to design a crafts festival at Patiala, where the appointed designers had backed out last minute. The fees from the project tided them over for a month after which a small stream of work started flowing in. A few of their early projects won some awards and also got some referrals, which helped the trio to start their journey slowly and steadily. Ambrish Arora is the Founding Principal & CEO at Studio Lotus. In his working career of 30 years, Ambrish has worked in diverse fields including boat building, cinema, museum, & exhibit design before immersing himself in the domain of spatial design. Ambrish has an active interest in the role of design in society and businesses. He has lectured extensively at various global design forums and served as visiting faculty and juror at design competitions & institutes internationally and in India. He is a member of the CII National Committee on design and on the governing board of the Jawahar Kala Kendra. Sidhartha Talwar, Founding Principal is an Architect with a domain experience of over 20 years. At Studio Lotus, he has developed various architectural, interiors, and master planning projects largely in the fields of hospitality/ resorts, public buildings, and residences. Sidhartha has also won the National Architectural Design Competition held for the National Police Memorial. He has been a visiting faculty member and juror at various design institutions and platforms.
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We explore ways to engage the user, the way they move through the space, discover the layers as they unfold and interact with it
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Ankur Choksi, Founding Principal has over 19 years of professional experience in handling diverse projects such as retail and hospitality environments, workspaces, brand experiences and narrative-based experiential design for events, exhibitions & Museums. He has designed for and explored multiple media while working at various design firms at the early stages of his career. Ankur has been a visiting faculty at design schools and presented at several design-related events in India. Delivering Services beyond Expectations Studio Lotus considers their clients as the most important stakeholders. They say, “In our engagement with clients, we don't limit our thinking to our role as Architects or Designers but more as partners to their brands in case of businesses or how we could add value to their quality of life in case of residential projects. It is important to us that we deliver beyond what is expected from us, that we are truly able to add value beyond the scope we were hired for. In the process, the relationships we form go beyond a transaction to a deeper engagement. We feel really fortunate that we are able to form lasting relationships with our clients. Today almost all our new projects come in through our existing client base.” Focusing on the Outcome For Studio Lotus the process of design and related engagement is very critical and determines that the outcomes have a sense of quality that is more than skin deep. For them it is critical that the process of design and execution be collaborative. This process is often iterative; allowing the project to be shaped in an emergent manner, introducing innovation at different junctures. This also allows the end result to be closer to the needs that emerge as the project is being built and allows for a much greater sense of ownership of the project amongst all stakeholders. The delightful advice of the company to the building startups is, “Believe in your idea and give it all you have got. Very often, success is just a step away from what seems to be your biggest point of failure. Secondly, do the small things well – very often it's giving all you have got to those little things you do every day that turn into great accomplishments. Rome wasn't built in a day.” Studio Lotus’ say on Industry Scenario Studio Lotus feels that the industry is poised at a very interesting cusp. Real Estate developers are facing a very challenging scenario as Real Estate is no longer a speculative industry, which is what had fuelled it in the last
decade. The focus is now on projects with a much greater focus on quality, which in the long term will be good for architecture in India. “For us the challenge is how to continue to learn and continuously improve, how can we add even more value to our clients and collaborators and continue to be a firm of choice for our team and clients alike. We are constantly asking ourselves - what will it take? What further value can we add?” A Memorable Experience of Studio Lotus Studio Lotus shared a memorable and successful experience they had with one of their clients. “One of our most memorable experiences was when we were designing our first hospitality project, Raas Jodhpur. It was a very challenging site and over and above that, was the fact that it was the first major architectural project for us and our collaborators Praxis Inc. and the first project the client was ever doing. After we did a full set of drawings, we kept discovering new constraints at site and of the contractors and local artisans. By the end of the project, the drawings were put aside and it was done almost entirely through a collaborative decision-making process with the client, artisans, engineers, architects and designers - arrived at the site through conversations and work on the ground. In spite of this very organic process, to date it remains one of our most successful projects.” Fearlessly Taking Challenges Studio Lotus is of a belief that challenges are what helps anyone grow. For them, the most exciting challenge is the nature of the future of the architectural practice itself. They see the emergence of a new kind of practice or organization that is based on the idea of a network held together by core values and processes, rather than owners and employees. They say, “It is going to be the ability and willingness to reinvent oneself ongoingly, which will determine success in the future.”
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Company Name
Management
Brief
Aijaz Hakim Architect ahaworkspace.com
Aijaz Hakim Principal Architect
Aijaz Hakim Architect was founded in Pune, India in 1994. The firm has completed projects in architecture, landscape and interior design.
Architect Narayan & Associates architectnarayan.com
R L Narayan Founder & CEO
Architect Narayan & Associates is a renowned firm which provides sustainable, green and elegant architecture designs to their esteemed clients.
Cobol A & P Designs Pvt Ltd cobolap.com
Anup Lalwani Principal Architect
Cobol A & P Designs Pvt Ltd is a design consultancy firm established in 1999 and has offered design consultancy to various reputed clientele.
Genesis Planners Pvt Ltd genesisplanners.in
Chandra Shekar Founder & CEO
Genesis Planners Pvt Ltd is a leading Architectural Consultancy firm that offer integrated architectural design services, which encompass the entire spectrum of expectations.
IBA and Associates ibaconsultants.co.in
Akkhilesh Seth Founder & CEO
IBA and Associates is an innovative design practice that goes beyond the paradigm of delivering design as a product.
Invent Architects inventarchitects.com
Vivekkumar Founder&Principal Architect Nanda Devi Principal Architect & Business Partner
Inventarchitects is a new generation design firm, providing consultancy services in Architecture, Planning, Interior design and Landscape design.
Modi Srivastava & Associates modisrivastava.com
Amit Srivastava Founding Partner
Modi Srivastava and Associates is a Multidisciplinary Architecture Design practice, whose expertise includes Architecture, Interior Design, Planning & Urban Development.
Ravi Gadre & Associate architectravigadre.com
Ravi Gadre Founder/Proprietor
Ravi Gadre and Associates provides consulting services for Architecture and Interior designing.
SALIL RANADIVE ARCHITECTS semantix.com.br
Salil Ranadive Principal Architect
Salil Ranadive Architects is a firm providing Comprehensive Site Planning, Architectural Design, and related Interior Design for 25-50-100 acre self-contained Townships for Corporate Staff Housing & Real Estate Developers.
Studio Lotus studiolotus.in
Ambrish Arora Studio Lotus is a multi-disciplinary design practice whose work Sidhartha Talwar & seamlessly weaves interior and exterior spaces, from master Ankur Choksi plans and large architectural ideas to the smallest of furniture Pricipal & Co-Founding details. Partners
ARCHITECT NARAYAN & ASSOCIATES PVT. LTD.: Crafting a Sustainable & Elegant World
A
rchitecture & Interior designing is a discipline which only a few designers find success in. It’s a fierce sector and only the best, most creative & wholly artistic designers flourish and endeavor for years. One such thriving name in architecture & designing industry is Architect Narayan & Associates Pvt. Ltd. ANAPL has not only flourished over the years but has created many sustainable, adaptable, elegant & cozy “masterpiece” design for its esteemed clients & received accolades for the same, by many industry veterans. Architect Narayan & Associates is a globally celebrated & award winning firm in the field of design and creativity. Headquartered in Mumbai, Architect Narayan & associates firm is proficient in Architectural Design, Interior Design and Project Management Consultancy. Born as a startup in the year 2000, today, ANAPL has grown up to a wellestablished renowned firm with serving hundreds of highly satisfied clients across the globe. ANAPL imbibes cultural, sustainable, green & artistic proposition into their project, which assists a company to craft timeless design for its esteemed clients. The Leading Light of Architect Narayan & associates “Behind every design there is a Good Idea, behind every Good Idea, there is a Team led by Design Professionals, who bring in innovation, expertise and experience”. This is the belief and ideology of the leadership behind the colossal success of Architect Narayan & associates. Mr. R L Narayan is the Founder and CEO of Architect Narayan & associates firm. Mr. R L Narayan is a globally acclaimed award winning designer with an expertise in Architectural Design & Interior Design. He is also proficient in
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AutoCAD, space planning, sustainable design, residential design, comprehensive planning &urban design. Born in 1972, Mr. Narayan always has a keen interest in architecture and designing. He learnt the basics of designing while pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in Architecture. In the year 1997, Mr. Narayan started his professional career as a lead designer with a reputed firm styne doshi & bhalla. Later he honed his designing and architecture skill, while working with renowned architect Hafeez contractor. After gaining meaningful insight and vast experience of architectural and designing world, Mr. Narayan finally transformed his dream into reality by establishing his own architectural and designing firm, Architect Narayan & associates in the year 2000. Today, in 2017, ANAPL has become a renowned organization in the field of architecture and designing. The cult and prominent status of ANAPL in the business of designing and architecture is the result of great vision, high technical expertise & management proficiency of Mr. Narayan. Due to his immense contribution in the field of design & architecture, Mr. Narayan has been conferred with many prestigious awards. “Architect for Excellence (Business) Award 2006 & the “Bunts Sangha Mumbai” by Sharad Pawar in 2008 is some of those prestigious awards. Distinguished Services & Excellent Solutions Mumbai based Architect Narayan & Associates have expertise in all the fields of architectural & interior design projects ranging from five-star hotels, malls, corporate offices, commercial projects, residential projects, hospitals & institutional projects. ANAPL believes that every project | November 2017 |
is unique & the interior & exterior design should be based on observation and analysis of the ways people live, work and relax. Before designing a project, ANAPL explore the social, cultural & artistic perspective of each project so that every architectural project becomes a masterpiece. Design work based on a long term, sustainable, reliable, optimal & green building concept focusing on the services with a contemporary artistic flair distinguishes ANAPL with other contemporaries. Architect Narayan & Associates evolved the concept of green building those which suites the climate in Asia and commitment to the environment that is integrated in the building design. While shaping a project, Narayan’s laid the emphasis on the importance of correct space planning, lighting, color and texture. Architect Narayan & Associates involves the client in the creative process right from the beginning and cater to their demands throughout the life of a project; from concept to completion and beyond. The organization uses technology and advanced computer added tool apart from human creative trait to design a project. With its flamboyant, stylish, artistic & distinctive work ANAPL has already won many accolades from industry veterans by successfully catering to its eminent clients from across the borders. Aditya Birla, ICICI Lombard, Britannia, Reliance, Peter England, Future Group, State bank of India, HT Media, Monster India, Mannapuram, Adlabs are some of its highly satisfied esteemed clients. Architect Narayan & Associates are also doing many international projects in the countries such as Muscat, Sri Lanka & Abu Dubai. Till date, the firm has completed the design work for a total cumulative area of over 5 million square foot.
Architecture & designing is not a business but an aspiration of people
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Apart from architecture and designing, the company has their own modular factory with the latest machines which can produce high-end modular furniture for multiple sites. ANAPL believes individualistic character in design, professionalism from architect & turnaround time for any changes is the key to nurture a long term relation with client. Future Goals Desired skill deficiency in unorganized sector is the biggest challenge for the architecture and designing industry in recent times. ANAPL has seen many challenges in the past & with each challenge they have rediscovered, refined their services and coming out as a much stronger force to be reckoned with. The firm has the potential and aspiration to reach the pinnacle in the architect and design world with their flamboyant, creative and elegant designs. | November 2017 |
R L Narayan Founder & CEO
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Expert Insights
Reforms in the Real Estate Sector ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SANJAY JAIN GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR SIDDHA GROUP
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Sanjay Jain, Group Managing Director of Siddha Group is a commerce graduate from Calcu a University; he started his career by joining his family's business of Jute, Iron & Steel Trading and Cement manufacturing. When the real estate industry was thriving in 1993, his creative overdrive made him venture into the real estate development. Since, then he along with his peers has taken Siddha Group to a whole new level. He has been the creator of many firsts, like building Kolkata's first unique duplex residential complex at that time, introducing the idea of buying homes online via the Siddha APP, and the unique concept of Rooftop Skywalks. As the Group Managing Director, Sanjay Jain oversees the entire functioning of the company’s real estate development and ensures smooth-sailing of all the residential and commercial projects. He is currently focusing on the expansion plans of the group with new project launches in Mumbai. A voracious reader, he is also a world traveller. An accomplished and empowering leader of the Siddha Group, Sanjay Jain has more than two and a half decades of experience in the real estate industry. He has led the Siddha group to be one of the trusted and known real estate developers in the country. Siddha Group strives towards creating high-quality housing in India. Combining up market design skills, optimal materials and excellence in construction, Siddha is focused on delivering comfortable homes at convenient prices and within the commi ed time frames.
| November 2017 |
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he last year has been monumental for the Indian real estate sector. The sector, which was once disoriented and unorganized, has emerged as a mature and regulated sector owing to the slew of progressive policy reforms by the government. To name a few, Demonetization, Housing for all, liberalized FDI rules, RERA and GST, have cumulatively impacted the sector paving the way for a revival. In early November last year, India witnessed one of the biggest reforms with demonetization. The move aimed to wipe out the infamous parallel economy that worked on unaccounted currency. A bold move, demonetization initially created some chaos due to ambiguity however it has successfully achieved its goal to create a single economy. It has brought about transparency in transactions which has helped to strengthen relationships between developers and buyers. Demonetization also brought about an increase in fund inflows in the banking sector leading to a reduction in home loan rates bringing investments in homes within the ambit of most home buyers. There is still a long road ahead, but the move has served as a stabilizer for the real estate sector. Demonetization served to be the first step in the revival of the sector followed by significant announcements in the Union Budget 2017-18 on affordable housing and FDI rules, RERA and most recently GST. As India adjusted to demonetization, the Government provided some relief in the Union Budget 2017-18. The centre granted infrastructure status to the affordable housing sector showing its intention to make ‘Housing for All by 2022’ a reality. The status grant comes with a plethora of benefits to developers such as availability of prime land parcels, access to funds along with faster approval incentivizing them to develop affordable housing projects. Moreover, the increased allocation of expenditure will ensure the target is achieved well within the stipulated deadline. We can expect to see a rise in affordable housing projects owing to this development. Further, the government also liberalized FDI rules making it easier for NRIs and Foreign investors to purchase properties in the country and facilitate the generation of foreign exchange for infrastructure developments and strengthen the nation's economy.
sector; however, one landmark development is set to change the modus operandi of the industry. The Real Estate Regulatory Authority Act, recently implemented in May 2017 has been widely applauded by both, developers and buyers alike. The implementation of RERA has brought in the much-needed transparency and has infused accountability in the sector that has hitherto been unregulated. The act has not only encapsulated the interests of the home buyers but has also ensured speedy redressal of disputes which has helped gain confidence amongst the consumers. The act consists of a registration mandate, and strong penalties to ensure that the home buyers feel secure about their investments and further enhance the residential sales. It will play a vital role of a supervising authority for any land or house deal that takes place. Overall this act emphasizes in bringing in transparency, reliability, professionalism, and ensures timely delivery of the projects. Along with the above-mentioned reforms, the most recent one has been the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax Bill (GST) in July 2017. GST aims to dismantle the multiple tax system and make way for ‘One Nation One Tax’. It will help create a unified market and eliminate cascading of multiple taxes allowing ease of doing business. These reforms are sure to improve buyer's sentiment and spike sales in the near future. Buying real estate is widely considered a safe bet by the Indian investors. Like every other market, real estate too has its highs and lows. The sector was earlier considered to be unorganized therefore the implementation of such reforms by the government was the need of the hour. These reforms have strengthened the association between a buyer and a developer immensely. The real estate market has also benefitted from the cumulative effect of these reforms which will help propel the growth of the real estate sector going forward. It is safe to say there is a bright future in store for the real estate sector.
Real Estate has been widely regarded as an unorganized
| November 2017 |
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Modern Architecture
Portable Structure:
The Modern Container of Architecture
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echniques and technologies are always evolving rapidly in the field of architecture. Architects have to constantly educate themselves in order to keep up with the field, which makes it both challenging and exciting. Portable buildings known as yurts were used by the wanderers of Central Asia centuries ago. Today modern portable homes are designed so that they could be transported by lorry from one place to another and can be lifted and set down by a crane. Portable buildings have been in use since humankind first initiated to build, yet because of their transient nature, it is only recently they have begun to perceive as architecture. Familiar traditional building forms such as tents and yurt utilize sophisticated constructional techniques and complex habitation patterns that have not only retained their relevance for thousand years but are also linked to some of the most sophisticated building patterns of the present day. The Portable architecture consists of structures that are intended for easy erections on a site remote from their manufacture. Some incorporate their transportation method into their permanent structure and may be built on a chassis or a hull. Need of Portability in Today’s World Portable buildings are generally reduced in sizes due to the limitation in transport. Strategies can be made to build with many alternative constructional systems that incorporate panel, framed, tensile and pneumatic structural principals sometimes in combination, to create an infinite variety of built form. There is hardly a field of human activity that portable buildings cannot support in some way - medicine, education, housing, commerce, entertainment are few. The portability of the building to be built has been the main concern in the design selection rather than the speed of deployment. The mobile element in these projects, the design has not only been the driving force in the creation of their form and image but also an important factor in the operational success.
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Highly Educated Designers A good designer approaches the task of creating permanent or portable architecture with the same set of priorities, balancing all the factors pertinent to the project. Portability is just another factor like lighting, security or access arrangements. Due to the possible circumstances of erection, portable buildings are composed of generally light- weighted materials. There is a characteristic that can be traced from vernacular and traditional examples through the latest computer-aided designs that are made in factories. Portable architects use a much greater range of innovative materials and constructional techniques than conventional building projects. It is, therefore, at the forefront in the exploitation of technology transfer opportunities in the building industry. Projects Serving People Through Portable Architecture There are various projects such as Mobile Dwelling Units that are successfully shipping containers which are a selfcontained home. Projects like this provide facilities such as push-out kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and storage facilities. These are designed to be located at any of the world's ports. They are transported on container ships and slotted into a specially made infra-structural frame at its destination. These projects allow the traveler to have a home at every port, a real dedicated and personal dwelling with the continuity of their own possessions. Practical benefits are relatively easy to understand once they are quantified. Portable buildings have low environmental impacts; they may be located in rural or urban situations with minimal long-term effect. It can make use of a temporary identifiable address that is of value to both the operator and the user. Designers Know No Boundaries For the designers who work in the field of portable architecture, there are no boundaries in the sources of inspiration between mobile and static design. These
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designers are invariably knowledgeable about other fields that impact on their own and have built up a network of professional consultants, specialist manufacturers, and constructors who have developed the expertise and resource to solve new problems. Portable architectures can be fitted in with solar thermal heating, solar photovoltaic panels, green roofs and other energy efficient features. The whole building can be powered by wind turbines as a stand-alone source of energy or as part of a grid. Think of any construction need and chances are any leading portable building provider company can answer the needs. Portable buildings are made of steel, built and designed specifically to meet the requirements which can be accommodated. They could be used as stand-alone construction or as stacked up buildings with metal stairs set outside. These are usually built on construction sites for the construction staff. Portable buildings are also used for offices, classrooms, daycares, doctor's clinic, washrooms or toilet blocks, and more. It can also be used for storage spaces and garages and even as commercial shops. They could also be used for temporary or even permanent residential units. Portable architecture encompasses autonomous and lightweight structures for flexible mobility and emergency situations. Comfortable living accommodations suitable for a range of climates and are tend to be made from environmentally friendly materials is provided by these modules. All the portable buildings should be judged by the same criteria as other architecture- appropriate for the context, fitness for purpose, beautiful in form and economy in use.
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TechStats
T
ech companies in India have created jobs, driven growth, and increased access to various resources, resulting in deteriorating poverty levels and enhanced lifestyles. The NASSCOM has already ranked India, as the 3rd largest startup ecosystem with 200 active angels, more than 100 accelerators, 150 VCs and around 4,200 startups operating in the nation. The country is at the vanguard of innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, and the last two years have only added more to the Indian startup ecosystem. Below is a snapshot of the deeds that took place with some insights on how it has evolved, and will continue to do so. Upsurging Connectivity and Consumer Spending In India, over 340 million people have access to the Internet, making it the second most connected nation in the world (behind China). India spent about three hours per day on their smartphones in last two years. The ood of low-cost smartphones and laptops, combined with relatively low cost mobile plans (wave of Reliance Jio) have inspired people across the country, especially in rural India to connect to the Internet.
Consumer expenditure has also been on the upsurge over the years. Driven by increased access, connectivity, convenience, employment and higher incomes, consumer spending is all set to hit 3.5 trillion by 2020. Home to a Young and Vibrant Startup Space With the average age of startup founders at a mere 28 years, the country is home to some of the youngest entrepreneurs in the world. The Indian ecosystem has witnessed a growing number of ourishing startups being churned out, displaying signs of a maturing ecosystem. This scenario has led to an escalation in high
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quality entrepreneurs, investors, and mentors with prior experience in helping shape and accelerate new businesses. Indian startups have witnessed a rise in access to funding and a decrease in the cost of building a firm from the ground. Many of these firms are adopted from foreign equivalents, by incorporating strategies in the faiths of making a business model that would work locally. “We don’t see them as clones, we see them as mutants”, said Shailendra Singh from Sequoia Capital. There will be growth in more tech companies with local inventions emerging out of India, but surely this will take time. Increasing Investments, Mergers and Acquisitions Data from Trak.in and CB Insights indicates that in 2015, approximately USD 8.5 bn funding took place in startups in the country, with almost 1,000 deals sealed. Interest from overseas investors, high net worth individuals, non-traditional investors and an increase in micro VCs have resulted in increased valuations. The participations from hedge funds and private equity funds in series C and D rounds were also the causes of this rise. Food tech, e-commerce, travel, FinTech and payments and startups based in Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi are the highest funded verticals over the last 12 months. However, the Indian tech companies have been making more acquisitions and mergers not only to expand the user base and operations, but also to have access to the best engineering talent available. Research suggests that more overseas tech giants will acquire Indian companies to enter the country. Opportunities and Future Trends l Increased tech adoption has given upsurge to the analytics industry in the country. Although IoT is yet to take the center stage, one can expect more startups from this space. l There is an opportunity to bring global startups in India, targeting the Indian consumer. We have already seen a rise of global players, like Alibaba and Google, who want to capitalize on the country’s growth. Over the next few years, more Indian startups will go global while making acquisitions and breaking into new markets. l Investments are expected to rise to a mark where valuations will reach its peak and rationality will kick in. A lot of speculation about a potential correction has been going on, and it may result in some companies downsizing or stopping operations. But companies which have strong fundamentals will strive through this period. l More Indian cities will emerge in future, which will churn out entrepreneurs to create mini ecosystems. With access to accelerators and incubators, angels and co-working spaces, this will be important in the early stages. Over the time, India has managed to beat multiple hardships, including the shift in economic environments, the dearth in infrastructure, and inefficiencies within the system with the addition of cultural and social barriers. The ecosystem has blossomed over the years and there are many platforms available for entrepreneurs to study, produce and develop great companies than ever before. The soaring middle class has also given the upsurge to a new kind of entrepreneurs: young, ambitious, educated, hardworking, smart and driven. The nation can only move forward from here.
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Genesis Planners: Chandra Shekar
A Leading Architectural Consultancy Firm Pushing the Limits of Plausibility
Founder & CEO
We provide integrated architectural design services according to the client's demand and expectations
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T
echnology has accelerated at an incredible pace and Architecture is not an exception. Since last two decades, the architecture industry has been subject to dramatic changes, paving the way for a future in which traditional spatial concepts are longer valid. Designs have now become increasingly popular approach to architectural projects, as there focus is on the importance of green infrastructure and energy efficiency. Genesis Planners Pvt Ltd is one such leading architectural consultancy firm, which believes in sustainability and eco-friendliness.
Genesis has an expertise to evolve sustainable practices and designs in large scale and premium projects, dispelling the myth that such projects are not eco-friendly or have a bigger carbon footprint. In addition, the company has also worked on several large scale master-planning projects involving the fields of Urban Planning & Urban Design.
Transforming Visualization into Reality The enthusiastic team of Genesis consists of 150 people and professional designers, with global exposure, and has been part of several prestigious projects and international Embracing the Spectrum of collaborations. The integrity in the Expectations practice stems from the fact that Genesis was founded back in 1991 by Architect Chandra Shekar in the city of whatever they visualize, transforms into reality. Hyderabad, which makes it the most experienced firm in its field. The Apart from the company’s main office company has over several years of in Hyderabad, it has branch offices in experience in Residential high-rise, Vijayawada and Bengaluru. Over the Villa communities, Commercial, years, Genesis has evolved into one of Retail, IT, Hospitality and Healthcare design expertise. Today, it is known as the leading firms with uncompromising design standards. Besides engendering one of the leading Architectural the architectural ideas, the goal for Consultancy firm for offering integrated architectural design services Genesis has been to push the limits of plausibility and to think the impossible. that also encompass the entire spectrum of expectations. This ranges The Man of Belief from Concept Design, Schematic Belief is the magic key that unlocks the Design, Client Presentations, Design Development, Consultant participation, dreams and Mr. G Chandra Shekar, Founder and CEO, accomplished his Construction Documentation, dreams through his belief that Tendering process, and Evaluation. | November 2017 |
architecture will make the world an innovative and creative place. Chandra Shekar has completed his Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from JNTU Hyderabad in the year 1990. With his passion for detailing and flair for design combined with his entrepreneurship motivated him to establish this firm. He has imparted his knowledge, experience and expertise to lead Genesis Planners to where it stands today, as one of the largest in South India. Maintaining Long-term Relationships with Client In 25 years of practice, a majority of the clientele have availed the services of Genesis on a long-term basis through multiple projects. Being a good listener and understanding both the design and financial implications of the client at the initial level has enabled Genesis to be in sync with the client and their requirements. Also, appreciating the client’s vision and transform it into reality is its forte. This instills a certain level of confidence in the architect, and almost always results in a long-term relationship. Exerting Unique Strategies Genesis exerts some strategies that make them unique in this competitive market. Undying passion in the field of architecture and a constant quest to be innovative and implement the latest technologies, Unparalleled setup of infrastructure and regular updating of the latest equipment and software, Employment of skilled architectural professionals with a high learning curve, In-house expert teams from Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, landscape, interior design and 3D visualization, Regular collaboration with industry leaders in various associated fields, and Collaboration with Internationally renowned architectural firms are some of those strategies, which are helping Genesis to emerge as an experienced leader. The Industry Scenario Genesis describes the current industry scenario as- “There is an Explosion of construction activity in developing | November 2017 |
nations due to increase in industrial development and impact of globalization. This has led to a need for professional architectural services at par with established global standards, which would eventually lead to numerous collaborations with professional entities, from other countries and would turn a largely unorganized field of architecture into an organized professional corporate entity. The projects are also getting bigger and more complicated and technical, thereby increasing demand for specialists. Industry is therefore emerging as a robust and competitive one, pushing the benchmark higher.” Taking Challenges Positively According to Genesis, unfair practices by certain entities, misleading of clients by people, and promising them bigger yields, whether practical or not is a big challenge during peak competition. Also, the clients tend to become more demanding during this period. The most important challenge foreseen is the increasing use of technology and software to analyze designs, which needs continuous learning and upgrading of skills. Genesis provides an amicable environment to nurture these skills through upfront provision of software and infrastructure and also company sponsored training sessions for the employees. The Key to Success is Hard Work Building a team of professionals with global exposure in design as well as best practices in the field, enables the firm to grow stronger and robust enough to defeat or overcome any challenge. They say, “Success in the field of architecture is generally attributed to hard work, talent, perseverance and most importantly, team building, which results in the right people being assigned to the right job. Sticking to the project schedule and delivering on time is a process established over years of practice.”
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A
rchitectural design is no longer an isolated domain of professionally trained architects. Nowadays, while creating an architectural design of large projects, it is crucial to consult an extensive design team that includes structural and MEP consultants, social anthropologist and environmental scientists who help create a sustainable and meaningful environmental design in close coordination with the architects. Policy-makers are also consolidating with these teams in a view to create a more holistic perspective of an environmental build and create a comprehensive change. The architectural industry is currently witnessing a market maturity that would bring more mature design works and an advanced understanding of building performances. The recent technological advances have made it possible to re-imagine the ďŹ eld of architectural design and construction industry as a whole.
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IBA and Associates is one such pioneer with a comprehensive approach to design and with the most innovative design practices amongst the budding breed of design professionals. In a short span since their inception, they have exceled in creating design practices that go beyond the paradigm of delivering design as a product. At IBA, they understand and analyze the thought process of the clients and bring their ideas to fruition in the most professional way. IBA’s approach is considerate towards the place, its environment and the culture. They often combine the latest technological advances with practices drawn from age old traditions and believe in amalgamating their skills, enthusiasm and knowledge to that of the client’s needs and the surrounding communities to create a favorable habitat. A Leader who Inspired Change Akkhilesh Seth, the Founder and CEO of IBA, comes from a very humble background and has a passion of living close to the nature. Architecture was his preferred career of choice because his mother, who was an architect herself, showed him the colossal impact an architect can trigger. With IBA, Akkhilesh is living his passion and indulges in soul searching every time he creates a design. His design philosophy revolves around transforming client’s ideas into reality through innovative and functional design space parameters. His association and affinity to designing, execution and project management has imbibed in him a unique taste and understanding of design that is seamlessly acclamatory. Being the Principal Architect of the firm, Akkhilesh holds a huge responsibility to be constantly ahead of the trend and have enabled IBA to bring state of the art technology and experiences in market. Akkhilesh strongly believes that an efficient execution of the design is a must for the success of any work. He therefore, strives to complete and carefully execute the projects within the well-defined time-period after overcoming all the constraints of Cost, Scope and Time. He started IBA four years back with an idea to be different; this idea was just a genesis of his search towards creating a difference for his clients. Akkhilesh has experimented a lot with work and ideas, but one thing remains constant; the strive to achieve excellence. An Inspirational Philosophy IBA strongly believes in being agile, trustworthy and focusing on core competencies. Their business philosophy embraces the triple bottom line approach which enables them to function within three mutually independent bottom lines i.e., people, planet and profit. IBA considers success as a shifting goal post and that’s what keeps them motivated. Being in the company of veterans where the wealth of recognizing deceits, seeing | November 2017 |
Akkhilesh Seth Founder and CEO value in critics and doing work helps them touch the society reforms areas. This enables them to create a deeper and admirable benchmark leading them to success. Setting Benchmark with Remarkable Offerings IBA offers exceptional services in Interior Designing and Architecture. They believe that communication is the key to productive and meaningful relationships. Hence, they provide value to their clients by updating them on every single aspect of the project in real-time. They continuously strive to add value to their services by never hesitating to discuss a consequential idea of change, while keeping the long term requirement of the client in view. IBA strives to build their relations through simple yet effective actions. They emphasize on inculcating the value of honesty with accountability and transparency and deem that a good architect, when in a dispute, will always draw a path and design for a sustainable future. What sets IBA apart from others is that they are always willing to break the rules and design almost anything with a touch of uniqueness. “People are the reason for what we do, hence our design have always been people centric and will always be,” assures Akkhilesh. In today’s scenario, when the portfolio of services has enlarged so much, IBA is striving to become an indispensable part of this long value chain. Akkhilesh feels that this is the biggest challenge as well as opportunity, as it requires continuous learning and adaptation all the time. Forthcoming Intends “Future depends on you and so does the opportunities that it brings along,” says Akkhilesh. Currently, as architecture is no longer an isolated profession, IBA aims at working on creating synergies so that their end product can be admired not just by the client but also by the society. To make sure that they are ready to deliver more than what is asked for, IBA is building themselves as a solution provider rather than just being an architect.
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Future Transformation
VIRTUAL REALITY:
Transforming the
Future of
Architecture 34
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V
irtual reality has received a major makeover in recent years and has affected many businesses drastically. It has gradually evolved from being theoretical or notional to being omnipresent and a global phenomenon. Virtual reality (VR) is now being used by designers and architects to revolutionize the entire designing process. VR is thoroughly transforming architecture and is providing the option of virtually inspecting the properties so that the architects get a clear picture of the property before the construction begins. Constructing a building out of scratch and transforming it into a gorgeous home is not a matter of joke. It is a challenging task which requires tremendous hard work, brainstorming sessions and proper research to transform a high-cost dream into reality. One of the major challenges that an architect faces is communicating a design to investors, clients and developers. Bringing a large-scale architectural project to life requires numerous design and construction complexities, which makes things intricate. Therefore, VR can be used to simplify these intricacies. Traditional 2D and 3D models provide only limited visualizations. But the visualization level can be enhanced with VR intervention; it will help the viewer in experiencing the environment accurately. Conducting a Virtual Tour before Construction Clients can be asked to wear a VR headset to virtually inspect the property before the actual ground work begins. It will assist them in virtually stepping into the property and inspecting it, saving significant amount of time and money, and will provide the highest level of clarity to everyone involved in the designing process. With a VR-mounted head display, the viewers can experience a fully-interactive 3D environment, which virtually represents the building as a whole including each and every room, hallway, furniture, and so on. Some highlevel VR applications also let the clients go through the property, turn on a light switch, open doors and many such experiences. VR models can also be used to represent the interior design aspect of architecture in order to provide an accurate replica of the finished blueprint. With proper guidance and collaboration from the lead interior designer of a project, VR can depict the virtual environment of the house, including furniture pieces, floor designs and other components that would bring the design to life. VR not only depicts the specific details of the property like, granite floors, wooden furniture, lighting and property planning, but also provides scale, depth and spatial awareness. Architects can use the VR tools to model the blueprint as per the client’s specifications. It is important for every architect to get a clear picture of the client's vision and present their own designs before stepping into the ground.
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They can work closely with the clients to make sure that every detail of the property is crafted as per their requirements. Using VR for Architectural Designing Architects can use VR at different stagesof the design process. At an initial stage, it can be used in a nonphotorealistic room to get an idea of spatial relationships and massing. It can play a very important role, from designing to construction process, from evaluating design options and demonstrating proposals, to designing out errors and ironing out construction and serviceability issues before starting on site. Interesting VR videos can be made for client presentations to make the experience hyper real. VR videos of soft sunlight piercing down through the windows, and chirping sound of birds can make the presentation worthwhile. Mobile VR architecture solutions using mobile phones and cardboard headsets are also popularly used these days. Efficient utilization of VR demands a fair amount of expertise in the field. One has to find the required time to learn and develop VR device handling skills while experimenting with the technology. VR application has reached another level with the arrival of many new VR technologies. These can be very much beneficial to architectural firms. VR applications can optimize the delivery of buildings by providing greater efficiencies at all stages of the building lifecycle. Currently, much importance is given on VR usage to impress clients, but its true power will be realized when the architect or engineer takes control, making it an essential and unified tool for design. Using VR to design the feel and function of the concept will take designing to a whole new level. Architects can be inside their own design and will be able to feel it first-hand. VR will add a new meaning to designing and prototyping while architects will incorporate it into their engineering procedures. In order to make it a closer reality, VR needs to be quick and easy, and should be easily controlled by engineers and architects. They should be able to take the building blue prints and designs to the VR environment at the click of a button in order to make the correct decision at the correct moment.
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Nanda Devi
Vivekkumar
Principal Architect & Business Partner
Founder & Chief Architect
inventarchitects: Pioneer in Crafting Iconic Designs with Contemporary Outlook lanning and designing plays a vital role in crafting any landmark structure. Meticulous attention while project planning and its execution, precise material proposition, listening to client’s needs, ability to create trendy, robust and sustainable design with timely delivery is something every client expects from an architecture firm. inventarchitects is one such organization which is fulfilling all the characteristics of an ideal architecture firm and has crafted many iconic structures for Residential, Commercial, Hospitality and Infrastructure projects across the length and breadth of the country.
P
Qualitative service along with credibility helps the firm to maintain a long term relationship among its clients.
Chennai-based inventarchitects is a contemporary design firm, founded in the year 2008 by the celebrated Architect Vivekkumar; with the vision of conveying cutting-edge consultancy services in architecture, planning, interior, landscapes and product design. The firm has vast experience in designing and planning and has been successfully transforming innovative ideas into reality.
Robust and Artistic Taskforce: For any organization, their personnel’s capability and strength, decides more about the Company’s future than any other factor. The firm has a robust team of young and dynamic personnel’s with a passion for innovation and deep expertise in designing. The team has an average experience of 9 plus years in design and project execution.
Meticulous attention in each project from its early stage of conception (regardless of its size and importance) along with the fusion of complex elegant design into the same projects makes inventarchitects a distinctive force in architecture industry. The organization also gives special emphasis on building personal rapport with its clients; since it believes that building personal connection helps them in better understanding of the client’s needs and this ultimately leads towards better service delivery and client satisfaction.
Along with these facets, timely deliveries of qualitative service without compromising onto the design quotient are some of the core strength of inventarchitects; which are contributing towards its success.
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Factors of Success Elegant and Innovative Design: The firm gives prime importance to “Design Process” in any project; they believe a contemporary design along with better client’s collaboration makes every project a huge success. Their commitment to design with a personal touch and looking beyond economics on a project are the main attributes for their success.
Creative minds are leading the Organization Renowned architect Vivekkumar is the Founder and Principal Architect of inventarchitects. Since his early age, he has developed a creative bent of mind with a deep | November 2017 |
“We deliver elegant designs while keeping
“
ingenuity and superior quality in mind
passion for crafting innovative designs; which led him to pursue Bachelors of Architecture. After honing the required skillset to become an ace architect from the school of architecture and planning, he started his professional journey by working with Rajendran Associates and managed the design and execution of industrial and infrastructure projects. Upon gaining numerous business insights in the architecture industry finally in the year 2008 with the passion and vision to create stylish and inventive designs, he founded inventarchitects. Apart from professional work, Vivekkumar has a profound passion for teaching. He has served as a visiting faculty and has been a jury member for numerous examinations in various institutions. Architect Nanda Devi is the other eminent personality of inventarchitects. She is one of the “Principal Architect” and crucial business partner in the firm. She became the partner at inventarchitects in the year 2010 and ever since she has been working as a principal architect along with Vivekkumar at this renowned architecture company. She has deep expertise in crafting residential architecture and interior design. She is a conceptualizer and spearheads the design team in the development, refinement and transformation for most of the projects at inventarchitects. Apart from her professional work, she has a deep interest in teaching and over the years she has inspired a lot of college students with her views and ideas. Nanda Devi is a versatile individual and has a natural skill as speaker and orator. She has operated as a presenter in several public functions related to architecture and has given numerous speeches at various institutions. Current Industry Scenario from the Eyes of Industry Experts For the past 10 years, the standardized construction rate for many specific ranges of projects has not changed much. So, the expected quality within the same cost has become a challenge for many firms. About the ongoing state of construction industry, the organization believes that the construction industry is slowly picking up and in the coming days it will become better; even qualitatively. Future Perspective The world is changing very rapidly; socially, economically and technologically. With this fast changing world, new sorts of challenges are also coming on the way of every organization. To deal with those challenges; any organization needs innovation, diligence and deep passion for learning as their core strengths. inventarchitects has these traits and is confident to face any future challenge to expand its business even into the unchartered territory and is passionate about crafting much more sustainable elegant designs for its clients across India. | November 2017 |
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Need of an Hour
‘Bridges,’ W
o
n
d
e
r
s
Created by
Engineers E
ngineering is all about creation. Creating small things to big things, creating things for pleasure to creating things for comfort! Everything around us is a marvel created by engineers. And every small detail in every small to every big thing has a very big motivation behind it. For example, tip of screwdriver possess magnetic properties so that it becomes easy for you to collect nails and bolts. And, thickness of tall buildings gradually decreases and get curvy along with its height not just because it enhances its appearance, but also to create an airfoil to reduce the effect of wind and hence to stand intact even in intense hurricanes. If we intend to understand all the reasons behind any engineered things especially about infrastructures, we will need hundreds of pages to get detailed information. Hence, in this article we will see the major issues involved while constructing bridges and brief explanation how engineers are taking care of those issues.
Types of Bridges After reading the title “Type of bridges”, you must have thought that this paragraph is just about introduction to bridges. But choosing the right type of bridge is the first and the most difficult part of the problem statements. As there are different type of bridges like, Beam bridge, Truss bridge, Cantilever bridge, Arch bridge, Tied arch bridge, Suspension bridge, Cable-stayed bridge, etc. They all are different because of their structure, their way of fetching support, the material they use, the load they can carry and the maximum length they can cover. Because of all these types of bridges and their differences the engineers learn all the types in detail and they opt for the most preferable type of the bridge. Availability of Material Responsibility of an engineer is not to design the best possible structure, but to design the best possible structure within
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the budget. Also, the types that have been listed in above paragraph need different materials, hence engineers keep the record of the material available near the site, the manufacturers who will manufacture the parts and the transport medium which is least the expensive. Also, material should be rust free, or supplementary mixtures which eliminates rust and degradation of material is used. Self-Weight and Support for Bridge A bridge is used to carry a very large load, but the self-weight of bridge plays a significant role as the quantity of steel and/or concrete used to build the bridge is excessive. Hence, engineers try to minimize the weight of bridge as must as possible. Before even starting the design of bridge, the engineers choose a site which could provide enough support for bridge which carries thousands of tons on it. The properties of soil, type of rocks and the crust of earth is studied in detail before choosing the site. Impact of Fire Bridges are used to improve the transportation, hence, every type of vehicle hauls through it and traffic intensity also remains high. Because of this there always remain chances of accidents, and trucks carrying inflammable substance like gasoline extends the probability of blasts that advances fire. Also, the bridges which are used for trains can get fire due to sparks generated by friction between train wheels and track. Hence, the material like wood is not used for building bridges nowadays; also soft steel which has melting point is avoided. But also because hard steels has high density, it increases total self-weight of bridge, hence, engineers finds the most compatible solution. Bridges near Water Bodies: Most of the times, bridges are made over water bodies like lakes or rivers to create a quick alternative for transportation. For such bridges water force is another parameter to consider. Also, extra efforts are needed to make the available land bear the load of bridges, by filling them with layers of rock or with the technique of riprap. At such places effects of floods are also considered by the designers. In floods, water carries scrap, soil and tree parts with it, which gets accumulated at the beams of bridges and can destroy the bridge. Most of the time, bridges don’t get collapsed during the flood, but after months of flood, because flood damages the bridges. Because of this after floods, bridges are examined by the inspectors and necessary steps are taken. Immunity from Earthquakes: To build a bridge in an earthquake prone area involves a few more complications. Because of seismic effect not only the bridge itself but its foundation gets sway, this may cause destruction of whole bridge. Bridges are built to withstand the maximum credible earthquake. Suitable place is discovered to build the supports, or by using tremor absorbing materials to the foundation. Material used for constructing bridges is comparably less hard than traditional bridges. Bearings, shock absorbers, shear links are additionally installed for further safety. Furthermore the lengths of bridges are reduced so that the complications get minimized. Aesthetics Bridges are so massive that they represent the power and capability of that territory. Most of the bridges act as tourist attractions. Hence, even governments motivate engineers to make it symbolic. To construct a successful bridge out of all these complications, many experts like Design Engineers, Archaeologists, Contractors, Skyway Engineers, Bridge Engineers, Superintendents, Safety Managers, Carpenters, Pile-drives, Craneoperators, Laborer, Iron Workers, comes together. When right type of people meet they take bridges to next level, and constructs Movable bridges, Double-decked bridges, viaducts, three way bridges, etc. Collapsing of bridges doesn’t only affects the self-esteem of all the engineers involved, but also affects lives of the people trapped in the accident. These things make a bridge a social, cultural and political heritage. Hence, just like other infrastructures, building great bridges are great achievement for all the people involved. | November 2017 |
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RAVI GADRE AND ASSOCIATES: Delivering Resolved, Dignified and Authentic Architectural Designs
I
ndia is developing very fast and the social, economic, and cultural values are rapidly changing. People are in a dilemma between ‘Tradition and Modernity’ which has created many issues and restrictions also in architecture. In the contemporary times, Indian architecture is converting ‘Restrictions’ into ‘Limitations’, Architect Ravi Gadre’s architectural journey can be called as An Enjoyment with Adversity.
Ar. Ravi Gadre
Founder/Proprietor
A Company Inspired from Nature M/S Gadre Limaye and Associates, a partnership company was Founded by Ar. Ravi Gadre in 1979 and later he founded Ravi Gadre and Associates in 1998. The company provides consulting services for Architecture and Interior designing. They strongly believe in ‘Modernism’ for its capacity to generate new forms and spaces with rationality. It is clearly evident in his designs, the use of geometry and pure forms. This makes the structures dignified, resolved, and authentic. The inspirations taken from nature, makes his structures stand out in the surroundings like a flower, not necessarily merging in it. Climate responsive logic, beauty and dignity, and truthfulness are the lessons Ar. Ravi learnt from the nature. Drawing caricatures and cartoons is also a source of inspiration for his architectural thinking. For climate based issues, Ar. Ravi often thinks of vernacular architecture that proved its efficiency in the past with an intelligent use of available building materials and techniques. The effective transformation of traditional aspects and values, in essence, in the spaces created are physically as well as psychologically comfortable. His structures are easy to use and may be complex to look. They are user and also viewer friendly, responsive to the climate with unconventional combination of contemporary conventional materials and techniques with economy. The Born Architect Right from his childhood Ar. Ravi was fascinated about architecture. When he was young, he used to get awards for making Killa in Diwali from the local municipality.
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Therefore, when he was in the middle school his father decided that Ar. Ravi should pursue a career in architecture. Today, Ar. Ravi Gadre is the Founder/Proprietor of Ravi Gadre and Associates. He has over 3 decades of experience in the field of architecture and interior designing. He graduated from A.K.V. College of Architecture Pune, by receiving a special medal for Throughout Excellence in Design in the final year. Prof.Ar. Vaikunth Sardesai and Prof. Ar. Vijay Padhye were his GURUS in college. After working briefly with local Architect Shashikant Chavan, he started a practice in 1979. For last 35 years, he has designed and executed projects ranging from houses to temples, factories to hospitals, hotels, and resorts to educational buildings. He is an amateur caricature and cartoonist, and also a recipient of several Architectural Awards like JK, JIIA, AESA, AICA, IIA, DURIAN, and many more, at national and international level. Patience is the Key Ar. Ravi says, “If the client have faith and belief on my design philosophy and gives liberty to my designs, then the results are fantastic. My design style and working pattern makes me different from others. I have developed a distinctive language of my own, and give personal attention in designing and attendance on site. In building industry there are ups and down. But remaining balanced and having patience is the key to sustain for long time practice. In this case I take lessons from nature. I believe that nature changes and modifies itself as per the climate changes but still sustain.” | November 2017 |
The Road to Success
Ar. Ravi accepts any projects whether it is small or big and executes it without compromising in the quality and service. He also refrains from any illegal practice, but accepts the work on his terms and ensures the design freedom. Desire to Create Architectural Culture According to Ar. Ravi Gadre, future architecture will be more relying on technology, irrespective of its location, social and economic conditions. He says, “It is becoming more global and universal, and iconic; especially the public buildings. India being in a tropical zone, still we believe in natural form of living than in controlled environment. At least in metro cities it is becoming more artificial and superficial but in rural India we still have better chances to live with nature. These are the challenges I am trying to address in my designs.” Ar. Ravi is all prepared for the future and the challenges, but along with this he wants to design buildings which will create the best Architectural Culture of his home town, the city Pune.
| November 2017 |
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THERE IS NO
GOOD OR BAD PROJECT, IT IS
THE ARCHITECT
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Ar. Ravi thinks that he is not in a rat race and at the same time doesn’t bother about the competition. He believes in his ability, capacity and knows his weaknesses, and thus takes advantage of his strong points and performs accordingly. He accepts any work offered by the clients at his will and not through competition.
RESPONSIBLE FOR IT
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