My architectural design style can be described as Indo-Centric Sustainability - a design aesthetic that is a blend of Indian-ness and is People & Planet friendly. It is a blend of traditional construction techniques, ornamentation, usage of materials, inspiration from crafts & weaves, and Indian philosophy with principles of holistic sustainability – that include socio-economic sustainability, resource and energy efficiency, passive architectural techniques, support of local economy and know-how, and hybrid/renewable energy-based mechanical systems for living comfort.
There are many questions I had to answer to myself during my architectural education and early practise that helped clarify the thinking of my design direction. After spending almost a decade away from India, the rediscovery of what makes Indian architecture truly unique became an obsession for me. The value of Indian-ness and all things that are culturally rooted in our daily lives became more apparent. Preserving and incorporating crafts as part of our contemporary architectural experiences made sense from a cultural sustainability point of view. Coming back with International sensibilities gave me the ability to adopt unique ideas that were culturally relevant. Things that worked for projects in Chicago, would not work for projects in Chennai – even though technically they were possible in both places. The unique geography and culture of people ensured that planning and detailing of architecture too would be unique.
Then began the quest to try and marry these two aspects of my experience. The question became – how do you change the approach to ‘traditional Indian design’ – find a way to work with tradition while being world-class and relevant? While this challenged the architectural landscape in India, which was driven solely by a ‘maximize site potential’ type of approach, the application of the sustainability filter helped shift the focus of the typical Indian project.
As we’ve seen in recent years, the focus on profits (above all else) has led to the destruction of natural resources and has had devastating effects across the world on vulnerable populations and wildlife. Climate change is the single largest demonstration of how much can go wrong when the pursuit of profits takes precedence. In most cases, clients are not willingly causing harm to people or the planet; while most of them generally care about the earth they seem stuck within a broken system. They are only trying within their constraints to minimize their negative environmental impacts and optimize their positive social impacts.
The focus on a triple bottom-line instead of the conventional bottom-line can help reshape this thinking. With sustainability being the over-arching element of my architecture style, I work to shift the focus onto People, Planet and Profits through every design decision that we are posed with. And through an integrated design approach it is possible to deliver projects at a lower capital expenditure and at lower lifecycle costs – making Indo-centric sustainability a holistically profitable solution!
Sangeet Sharma - Acclaimed Architect Celebrated Author Poet, Educationist & Motivational Speaker
An architect by profession, a poet by heart, an author by interest, and an educationist by choice, Architect Sangeet Sharma is a multifaced personality, well-known in all these diverse fields. In this article, he shares his early impressions of the
Designing Sustainable Healthcare Infrastructure
Green healthcare infrastructure, though still in a nascent stage, is gradually being welcomed by the stakeholders of the Indian healthcare industry as it promotes better healing environments, energy-efficient operations, and offers sustainable design
Spaces of Experience
The Eye of Noida (EON) is a mixed-use development project conceptualised by Design Forum International (DFI) for the J.M. Housing Group. Located in Noida, the project is designed using an approach of intelligent urbanism to help foster sociability
A Striking Landmark
Commissioned by De Vlaamse Waterweg, architectural studio ZJA designs the new Theunis Bridge over the Albert Canal in collaboration with Arcadis, Sweco, and OKRA Landscape Architects. The Theunis Bridge, linking Merksem with Deurne, has been awarded
Fusing Heritage With Modernity
Designed by Studio Symbiosis Architects, Hilton Hotel Kathmandu is a fusion of the rich heritage of Nepal interwoven with contemporary spaces offering breath-taking views of the Himalayan mountain range. The colourful Prayer Flags are an integral part of the
A Self-Sustained Township
Located at the Assam border, the Likabali Housing Development, a project of CEM Engineers, is yet another attempt of the Indian Government at stabilising the Northeast through Infrastructural Development and by reinforcing harmony in the urban
Empowering The Workplace
Setting up a sustainable, equitable, and empowered workplace is all about creating a softer, more adaptable environment with changeable elements which can offer different experiences for different people. It’s about empowering employees by providing them with the
Breaking The Monotony
There is a huge trend in collaborative workspaces, which are cropping up across the country. Spring House is one such co-working space, conceptualised by New Delhi-based interior design and luxury furniture brand Nivasa. Located in Grand Mall in Gurgaon
Meera Pyarelal - Temple Town
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in the field of architecture and design. There is a growing emphasis on responsible and sustainable design practices that prioritize environmental protection. At Temple Town, our sustainable projects achieve
Rashi Bothra & Ruchi Gehani - Azure Interiors
The push for sustainability is driving significant changes in the design industry, with a focus on reducing environmental impact and promoting sustainable practices. Lifecycle assessments are also becoming increasingly important in the design