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”

1. NOVEMBER 2017
www.insightssuccess.in
STUDIO LOTUS:
Delivering Enriching Designed Solu ons through a Value-Driven Process
CONSULTANTS IN 2017
THE
10 BEST
Ambrish Arora
Pricipal & Co-Founding
Partners
Sidhartha Talwar
Pricipal & Co-Founding
Partners
Ankur Choksi
Pricipal & Co-Founding
Partners

4. ome unique challenges are presented by an architectural practice
Swhen 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.
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 in-
place 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.
Editorial
Succession Planning for
Architecture Firms
Abhinav Chandrayan

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6. Contents
STUDIO LOTUS
DELIVERING ENRICHING
DESIGN SOLUTIONS THROUGH
A VALUE-DRIVEN PROCESS
COVERSTORY
ARTICLE
Expert Insights
Reforms in the
Real Estate Sector
20
08
'Bridges,' Wonders
Created by Engineers
Need of an Hour 40
India: The Fastest Growing
Tech Hub in the World
TechStats
Portable Structure: The
Modern Container of
Architecture
Modern Architecture
Virtual Reality: Transforming
the Future of Architecture
Need of an Hour
26
22
34

7. 18
ARCHITECT NARAYAN
& ASSOCIATES PVT. LTD.
Crafting a Sustainable
& Elegant World 28
18
32
38
42
28
32
IBA AND ASSOCIATES:
Furnishing Topmost
Creative Design Solutions
INVENTARCHITECTS
Pioneer in Crafting Iconic
Designs with Contemporary
Outlook
38
42RAVI GADRE
AND ASSOCIATES
Delivering Resolved,
Dignified and Authentic
Architectural Designs
Genesis Planners
A Leading Architectural
Consultancy Firm Pushing the
Limits of Plausibility

8. reating a residential, commercial or industrial building is not an easy task to manage on your own.
CThere 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!
Turning Ideas into Creative
Tangible Structures

10. “We find
inspiration
in ordinary
things, everyday
events & chance
encounters”
Ambrish Arora
Co-founding Principal & CEO
Partner
Sidhartha Talwar
Co-founding Principal
Partner
Ankur Choksi
Co-founding Principal
Partner

11. DELIVERING ENRICHING DESIGN SOLUTIONS
THROUGH A VALUE-DRIVEN PROCESS
Studio Lotus:
COVER STORY

12. At 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.
About the Thought Leader
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 Re-
Use 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.
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.
The Successful Projects of Studio Lotus
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.
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 40,000-
sqm 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.

15. 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.
Webelievethatinnovationisnotnecessarilyaboutabigidea.Itistheresultof
continualenquiryateverystage–smallincrementalinnovationseveryday““

16. 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
We explore ways to engage
the user, the way they move
through the space, discover
the layers as they unfold
and interact with it
“
“
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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19. Management BriefCompany Name
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
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.
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
Studio Lotus
studiolotus.in
Ambrish Arora
Sidhartha Talwar &
Ankur Choksi
Pricipal & Co-Founding
Partners
Studio Lotus is 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.
Cobol A & P Designs Pvt Ltd is a design consultancy firm
established in 1999 and has offered design consultancy to
various reputed clientele.
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.
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.

20. ARCHITECT NARAYAN & ASSOCIATES PVT. LTD.:
Crafting a Sustainable & Elegant World
rchitecture & Interior designing is a discipline
Awhich 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 well-
established 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
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 |18

21. ‘‘
Architecture
&
designing
is not
a business
but an
aspiration
of people
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.
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.
R L Narayan
Founder & CEO
| November 2017 |
19

22. Reforms in the
Real Estate Sector
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.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SANJAY JAIN
GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR
SIDDHA GROUP
Expert Insights
| November 2017 |20

23. he last year has been monumental for the Indian
Treal 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.
Real Estate has been widely regarded as an unorganized
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.
| November 2017 |
21

24. 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 self-
contained 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
echniques and technologies are always evolving
Trapidly 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.
Portable Structure:
The Modern Container of Architecture
Modern Architecture
| November 2017 |22

25. 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.
| November 2017 |
23

28. Tech 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 flood 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 flourishing startups
being churned out, displaying signs of a maturing
ecosystem. This scenario has led to an escalation in high
TechStats
| November 2017 |26

29. 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.
| November 2017 |
27

30. Genesis Planners:
A Leading Architectural
Consultancy Firm Pushing the
Limits of Plausibility
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
collaborations. The integrity in the
practice stems from the fact that
whatever they visualize, transforms
into reality.
Apart from the company’s main office
in Hyderabad, it has branch offices in
Vijayawada and Bengaluru. Over the
years, Genesis has evolved into one of
the leading firms with uncompromising
design standards. Besides engendering
the architectural ideas, the goal for
Genesis has been to push the limits of
plausibility and to think the impossible.
The Man of Belief
Belief is the magic key that unlocks the
dreams and Mr. G Chandra Shekar,
Founder and CEO, accomplished his
dreams through his belief that
echnology has accelerated at
Tan 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.
Embracing the Spectrum of
Expectations
Genesis was founded back in 1991 by
Architect Chandra Shekar in the city of
Hyderabad, which makes it the most
experienced firm in its field. The
company has over several years of
experience in Residential high-rise,
Villa communities, Commercial,
Retail, IT, Hospitality and Healthcare
design expertise. Today, it is known as
one of the leading Architectural
Consultancy firm for offering
integrated architectural design services
that also encompass the entire
spectrum of expectations. This ranges
from Concept Design, Schematic
Design, Client Presentations, Design
Development, Consultant participation,
Construction Documentation,
Tendering process, and Evaluation.
We provide
integrated
architectural
design services
according to
the client's
demand and
expectations
Chandra Shekar
Founder CEO
| November 2017 |28

31. 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.”
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 |
29

34. ‘‘Architectural
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
field of architectural design and construction industry as a whole.
| November 2017 |32

35. 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
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.
Akkhilesh Seth
Founder and CEO
| November 2017 |
33

36. Transforming
the
Futureof
Architecture
VIRTUAL REALITY:
Future Transformation
| November 2017 |34

37. irtual reality has received a major makeover in recent years and has
Vaffected 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 high-
level 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.
| November 2017 |
35

38. 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 non-
photorealistic 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.
| November 2017 |36

40. inventarchitects:
Pioneer in Crafting Iconic Designs
with Contemporary Outlook
lanning and designing plays a vital role in crafting
Pany 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.
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.
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.
Qualitative service along with credibility helps the firm to
maintain a long term relationship among its clients.
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.
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.
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.
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
Vivekkumar
Founder
Chief Architect
Nanda Devi
Principal Architect
Business Partner
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41. 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.
We deliver elegant designs while keeping
ingenuity and superior quality in mind
“ “
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42. W o n d e r s
‘Bridges,’
Engineering 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
Createdby
EngineersEngineers
Need of an Hour
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43. 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, Crane-
operators, 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.
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44. RAVI GADRE AND ASSOCIATES:
Delivering Resolved, Dignified
and Authentic Architectural
Designs
ndia is developing very fast and the social, economic,
Iand 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.
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.
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.”
Ar. Ravi Gadre
Founder/Proprietor
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45. The Road to Success
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.
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.
THERE IS NO
GOOD OR BAD
PROJECT, IT IS
THE ARCHITECT
RESPONSIBLE
FOR IT
‘‘
‘‘
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