Equal involvement of stakeholders is always essential for any project.

Khozema Chitalwala

- Principal Architect & Designer, Designers Group

How do you assess the critical role of design & architecture in transforming cities into more of green and sustainable habitats?

An architect plays a prominent role in creating a sustainable environment. In today's day and age, we have IOPs that help the designers outline a sustainable environment. Such upgrades in traditional building practices cater to congenial areas for people to live in, ultimately fabricating connection in a larger social context. It is the responsibility of the practicing architects and designers to design and build a spectacular environment for the world to live in and for the generations to look forward to.

How seamlessly aligned is your firm's vision/philosophy towards creating greener and sustainable habitats/buildings/cities?

Designers Group specializes in hospitality projects. We as a team believe in a cohesive design vocabulary completely aligned with respect to sustainable development for the hotels we design. We are cognizant of the fact that the hospitality industry can produce an extensive amount of waste. Being architects and interior designers, the notion is to put a positive spin on the infrastructure in such a way that it reduces the carbon emissions and negative environmental impact. However, Designers Group's attempts to be eco-friendly while facing crucial challenges like lack of sustainable finishing material in the market. Therefore, we tend to assimilate the available sustainable materials in the overall interior grammar in order to achieve due workability.

What do you think are the major factors that should never be kept aside while designing such a habitat/building /interior space?

As mentioned in the previous question, Designers Group is well aware of the fact that the hospitality industry is not the most environmental-friendly industry. Energy consumption cannot be neglected and its effects cannot be minimized. Electrical energy is one of the major cost escalation factors in any hospitality project. Designers Group incorporates reliable sources of renewable energy in order to bring down the cost while making the project sustainable ensuring seamless and uninterrupted functioning.

What are the major pain points in this space - from ideation to construction and maintenance and how critical is the role of tech-enabled solutions?

The major pain point in this space is to educate the client about the benefits of a sustainably sound project. The notion is to make them aware that initially the project may be capital intensive but the long-term benefits of these projects include decreased maintenance costs along with a payback duration involved. Once the project is accepted, the client is more likely to approve of the use of sustainable materials.

Project completion is always a team effort. An equal involvement of all the stakeholders is always essential for any project. Each of them needs to be aware of the complete project cycle and phases. A constant dialogue is required between the consultants, the team, and all the stakeholders. This has a ripple effect which percolates sustainability in the overall project.

Could you enlighten us on the impact of disruptive tools/software that is redefining the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry?

Most of the BIM softwares used in the AEC industry are equipped to assist the architects and simplify the complexities of the projects. The technology has transformed from 2D to 7D today. Also, in order to ensure that the industry as a whole benefits from the softwares is through thorough use of digital monitoring. Such monitoring can be conducted with ease through these softwares.

There is a growing demand for environmentally sensitive construction, specifical the creation of Smart Cities in India. What is your take on this?

I think Smart Cities are the need of the hour. Given the situation of the pandemic, it would be the best option if a city would be smart i.e., equipped with accurate public transportation, equipped with affordable housing, and access to the internet by all. A lot of people have started to travel, and it will be everyone's best-vested interests if people can be connected through the smart cities, which will ultimately help us in the future.

Do you think the pandemic has a major impact on the way we conceptualize and design in the future? 

The pandemic has definitely altered the way architecture and interior design is perceived. Apart from the slow down of projects, major alterations have been incorporated in trending designs. Architects and interior designers are following the new SOP's enforced by the government. On the bright side, the pandemic made Designers Group realise the importance of the human interface. Everyone today is going collaborative and digital.  As we cannot directly help terminate the pandemic, the fraternity together should find solutions to the problems at the AEC level.

In terms of the hospitality design sector, technological advancements and user-interactive design strategies are being assimilated in order to refine design sensibilities.  From virtual meetings to remote working, the design process and operations have gone under conspicuous transformation due to the pandemic.

Please tell us about your core strengths and competencies.

Our core competency and skill set has become hospitality design. With three decades of overall experience and two decades of core hospitality experience, we have completed more than 200 hospitality projects of different topologies including greenfield, brownfield, and renovation. Apart from that we also dabble in doing conversions of retail, commercial sites into boutique properties.

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