''With each passing day architects are brewing brand new ideas out of old coffee beans targeting to secure Earth and Environment''
A holy confluence of the intuition of architect and technology is creating the gems of this growing age of India. Architecture is the science which includes the specific techniques and art of construction. Architecture is that factor which defines a nation’s development and leaves a deep-rooted mark over the civilization. It always tells a story ahead of its time. Starting from the ancient ages of Hampi cave art or hanging gardens of Babylon till today’s stunning skyscrapers. The last decade showed a paradigm shift of architectural designs and art. Architecture as a profession brings a sweet flow of pleasure when the planned and drafted designs get executed really well.
Today’s technology driven world is coming up with new tactics and techniques to the architects. Today’s world is also profit driven. So, before stepping forward in a project an architect always estimates the profitability of that project otherwise it can’t contribute to the growth of GDP. A few influential pioneer architects of India of this age are
Hafeez Sorab Contractor
Born in Mumbai in a Parsi family, completed his Graduation in Architecture from Academy of Architecture, Mumbai. After that he pursued his Master’s in Architecture from Columbia University with Tata scholarship. After the completion he started his own farm in Mumbai, very soon it grew as the largest architectural farm in India. He is one of the most influential Architects of India who has designed the top three tallest buildings of India namely, The 42 in Kolkata, Lokhandwala Minerva in Mumbai, and The Imperial in Mumbai. He is called as the ‘Man of Heights’ as most of his architectural structures are skyscrapers with latest touch of urban designs. Besides designing the tallest buildings of India, he has designed one of the tallest residential buildings in the world, The 23 Marina in Dubai.
His key concern is regarding the lack of greenery in India, for that reason he designed parks and gardens full of lush greeneries so that people should avail being in the lap of nature staying in urban areas. This saved the green environment from being disrupted at the same time people of urban area can breathe in fresh air. His true work of architecture fetched him a golden position in the top 50 influential Indians by India Today. He received Padma Bhusan award from Government of India. His fame has outreached so voluminously that he has become ‘any home buyer’s first choice’.
Other than residential and commercial buildings he also designed few marvelous projects like DY Patil Stadium, domestic terminal of Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport, Turbhe Railway station, Navi Mumbai, Telengana Chief Minister’s official residence, Pragati Bhavan. With an annual income of $5 million he became the ‘richest architect of India’. Few of his famous skyscrapers are: The Imperial I, Mumbai, The Imperial II, Mumbai, Mumbai skyline, Bangalore skyline, Auris Serenity Tower, Mumbai, Orchid Enclave in Mumbai.
Chitra Vishwanath
India’s poor patriarchy always tied women with the door of a kitchen, as if it is their only place where they can show their skill. But today, India is witnessing a sea change in the position of women in terms of education and career. Women are coming up with golden feathers on their hats of success in every sphere of life. Chitra Vishwanath is one such name who has created a quake in this male dominated profession of architecture. She studied Diploma in Civil Engineering from Nigeria and a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the CEPT University in Ahmedabad.
She was very much connected to the soil of India and wanted to do something with the natural resources to maintain a balance between the ecology and human body. She has been running her own architectural farm BIOME Environment Solutions in Bengaluru in 1991 and already completed numerous notable projects in India and Africa.
Chitra is a strong believer of serendipity and the philosophy of architectural design, for her is a perfect blend of ecology, sound and natural resources in a build form which provide zero waste sustainable building. She has developed a unique concept of architecture introducing mud forms with new and interesting modern designs. She has designed an aesthetically designed beautiful house over 1450 squre feet of land following the concept of mud house and named it Brick By Brick. It was built in different layers with different earth-building techniques.
The walls of the house are made up of bricks without any layers of plaster that makes it look soft and soothing in the arms of nature. Water heating by solar panels and partial electricity by photovoltaic cell and water harvesting facility gave it a unique eco-friendly touch. The organic orchard and vegetable garden is the most serene corner of the house. The terrace has grey water treatment system and the Eco-san toilets that segregate liquid and solid waste automatically. Few of her notable works are Swastika Dance School, Olde clubhouse,Oland Estate, Eco resort, Hospitality Architechture Cabins and Lodges. She judged at Dezeen Awards. 2021, has been a Jury Member at 2A Architecture and Art Awards 2020 and Asia Edition of YTAA. 2020.
Raj Rewal
Raj Rewal is one of the pre-eminent architects and urban design consultant of India who was born in Delhi and completed his bachelor from Delhi school of Architecture and after completing he moved to London and there he attended Architectural Association School of Architecture for one year and did his master’s in Architecture from the Brixton School of Building for four years. He perfectly blended the urban modern design with a subtle touch of environment friendly natural materials and resources. Beautiful essence of his works were spread through the world and widely acclaimed by many architects around the globe. He founded his own architectural farm in Delhi in 1962. He was deeply influenced by the works of Swiss French architect Le Corbusier and his architectural style has a notable influence of Corbusier’s designs and geometric patterns.
He believes in rasa of architecture, that means each building possesses a soul which is embodied with new aesthetics and unfiltered designs. He greatly respects the Indian Traditional architecture and his designs always emphasize local and raw culture and climate of the place. He believed that architectural designs should not overshadow the effect of natural resource but it should enhance every pinch of it. He always used forms and structure that helps and attracts natural lights by merging geometry with rhythm in his designs. Apart from creating designs he is a keen conservationist of nature and natural resources, owing to this quality he served as a member of Delhi Urban Arts Commission to promote the use of sustainable and energy efficient materials and biophilic architecture.
His designs are pleasing to eyes, light on pockets and harmless on environment. He was conferred with Padma Bhusan in 1991, Gold medal from Indian Institute of Architects, in 1989, Golden Architect Award by A+D and Spectrum Foundation, 2003, Chevalier des Arts des Lettres award, 2005 by the French Governmen, Knight of the Legion of Honour and so on. He has written many books on architecture and sustainable designs Humane Habitat at Low Cost, Humanisme Et Aechitecture, and Raj Rewal: Innovative Architecture and Tradition. His notable projects are: Hall of Nation, Parliament Library, National Institute of Immunology, Asian Games Village, and Lisbon Ismaili Centre, Portugal.
“Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness”, ~Frank Gehry
Abin Chaudhuri
Abin is a famous architect of City of Joy Kolkata, who believes that a building or structure becomes meaningful and illustrative when the walls get in touch with physical entities or architects. Architects only need brick stone-chips and cement for creating a magic to transform the building and it’s surrounding to become an emblem of generosity. He completed his bachelor degree of Architecture from Jadavpur University.
After that he founded his own studio in 2005 in collaboration with Jui Mallick. His philosophy of design is to bring the best within budget and connect the walls to the dwellers by exploring the unexplored and replace the obsoletes. His work focuses on holistic designs, which not only bundling up the art and culture of Kolkata’s rich heritage but it generates a soulful soul in the shell of concrete.
Abin Designer Studio not only challenges the whole landscape of old traditional architecture of city, on the other hand, it infuses a ‘think revolution’ against the age old thoughts of cityscape and replaced the old dilapidated city with modern urban contemporary city landscape. The works of his multidisciplinary award-winning design firm has been acclaimed by many national and international institutions. Abin designer studio was added in the list of top 40 architectural farms in the world.
Abin Designer Studio was bestowed with the prestigious JK ‘Architect of the Year’ title in India. His hallmark of creativity, innovation and experimentation was noted and published as a monograph by The Architectural Review, a renowned global architectural magazine, published in London. Few of his notable works are: The Newtown School, Kolkata, Gallery House, Bansberia, RP Sanjiv Goenka Group corporate headquarters, Kolkata, Pool House, Adisaptagram, House of Sweeping Shadows, and Bansberia, Lodha World School, Mumbai.
Dameem Ansari
Ansari Architects is one of the oldest farms of Chennai, which was founded by meritorious and qualified architect Dameem Ansari in 1996. He completed his master’s degree in Architecture from School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University. The firm specializes in high-end Turnkey projects and luxurious housing for independent residents, along with corporate interiors and commercial projects. The main motto of the farm is ‘creativity beyond imagination’. The farm always gives their best effort to fulfill the demand of each client who walks-in through the studio-doors and help them to achieve their dream of keeping their foot in the robust reality. The farm effectively uses the green energy cost efficiently and has made it possible to construct solar powered villas in Chennai and reduce the effect of carbon foot-print on environment. Customer satisfaction and quality are the key points of their business.
They always listen to the demands of the customers, and then assign a team to cater all the customization in architecture. The farm provides architectural design, building design, custom home, dining room design, living room design, and interior design. All their designs are made up of traditional, sustainable and organic materials to create high-end modern contemporary designs. Dameem Ansari was conferred with Dalmia Vijay TV Awards for Best House in Chennai 2013, A2B Awards 2014, a proud recipient of AAB Best Achievers, Best Houses Chennai Region 2013, given to 'The House of Boxes' in KK Nagar, Chennai, by Dalmia Cement and Vijay TV. A few of their notable works are House of Million Stars, House of Skylights, Award Winning Villa, Grand Pergola House, Pent House Villa, and Adyar Ananda Bhaban Tamilnadu.
Conclusion
Architects are the painter of modern civilization, who with their dexterous hands and aesthetic eyes has transformed the whole scenario of the society. The field is sparklingly bright with notable names that are fostering the infrastructural growth running down all the odds and constraints. They have been putting all their innovative ideas into creating spatial structures and holding the hands of these ideas, India is embracing the growth in Infrastructure, Design and Architecture fraternity.
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