Chandramandapa at Chennai by Benny Kuriakose

Benny Kuriakose

The Chandramandapa is the ancient Kuzhi Kalari of Kerala, transformed into a concept of twenty-first century Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Chandramandapa’s basic structural design starts in the traditional precepts. It is a“kuzhi” or pit, dug out of the earth, toa depth of 4 feet from ground level. The raised roof allows for a greater air flow and to take advantage of being on the seaside, to compensate for the absence of air conditioning, but providing natural coolness that is vital to all performers.

Hari Shree Vidyalayam at Chennai by Benny Kuriakose

Benny Kuriakose

Huge courtyards, verandahs and well ventilated classrooms , are the main highlights of the school. The class rooms have low windows, to provide ample lighting and cross-ventilation, to make comfortable the learning experience. Every class room opens out to large verandahs, and open to sky courtyards, thus enhancing the comfort level of the students in the school. Architecture emphasizes the freedom of the student and enhances the creativity.

Institute of Palliative Medicine at Calicut by Benny Kuriakose

Benny Kuriakose

IPM is a hospital for palliative care for people who are terminally ill. The patient blocks are all built in single storeys whereas the institutional wings are two storey structures. There are many verandahs and courtyards, the roofs are at different levels making the elevation interesting from outside and inside.

Springdale heritage at Idukki by Benny Kuriakose

Benny Kuriakose

Set along the river, the resort has small cottages over looking it, along with a swimming pool which blends with the flowing water near by. The restaurant, in the first floor, has large windows on all sides, thus making it airy and ventilated, at the same time giving a lovely view of the swimming pool and the river and the mountains.

Ananthya resorts at Kanyakumari by Benny Kuriakose

Benny Kuriakose

A silent, peaceful resort along the side of the Chittar dam reservoir. Very subtle, blended with nature cottages. The cottages are of exposed brick and random rubble masonry What makes the resort special, are the small details, the gateways, the niches for lamps, the thatched gazebo next to the lily pond and many such simple elements which becomes significant in the whole picture.

Mangalam heritage at Nagapattinam by Benny Kuriakose

Benny Kuriakose

Mangala Heritage home is perfect for a weekend getaway. The temple, along with the temple tank, around which the village is built, makes for a beautiful sight. The building itself is a restored, traditional Tamil style house with a very austere looking exterior which is in direct contrast with its cosy interiors.

MA001, at Ayroor, Kerala, India, by mamama

mamama

Located in Ayroor, Kerala this family home that sits on the banks of the Chalakudy river is nothing less than a mini-ecosystem within itself — self-sufficient and symbiotic. Using local masons, carpenters, contractors and construction methods, this home was completed with natural materials such as terracotta and laterite tiles, kota stone and terracotta jaali blocks. A generous verandah wraps around three sides and a large open terrace on the upper floor maximises the spectacular views out onto the river. The house is an extension of the clients’ (perfect) idea of living a retired life.

Boat Club Apartments, at Chennai, India, by SJK Architects

SJK Architects, Mumbai

Chennai is hot, dusty and mosquito-ridden – said Viju Mahtaney in his brief for luxury apartments in the posh Boat Club road neighborhood. A testament to urbanization in India today. Chennai has a river that is clogged with sewage that breeds mosquitoes. Traffic and construction create unending dust and pollution – and buzzing entrepreneurship needs neighborhoods like Boat Club Road to attract the talent and investment that churns the wheels of the city. – SJK Architects

Rejuvenation of Howard Plaza – The Fern, Agra, India, by ConceptSG Ltd

ConceptSG Ltd

Rejuvenation Project such as the Howard Plaza is perhaps a glimpse into the fate of many buildings in the near future. (fig 1) As countries develop, new builds seem to pop up everywhere, but once this brown field development starts to saturate and the economic growth stagnates, these buildings need to be revitalised. This is a sustainable solution, in-fact multitude of buildings in London are allowed to be rejuvenated with additional area(FAR) to attract investors. Whilst on the other hand functions are redefined at times when churches have been taken over by nightclubs and a crude example of Detlev Rohwedder House of berlin, the largest building in the world in1936, changed from an aviation ministry (under the Nazi), to houses of ministries (as east Germany) and stands as the finance ministry today. – ConceptSG

Rejuvenation of Dilli Kali Badi, by conceptSG Ltd

ConceptSG Ltd

A lady in a pink saree and a mauve shawl was sat in front of a large sculpted wall, soaking the winter sun with her head bowed. Strangely enough, there are many spaces around this public place designed to relax, but she chose a spot that was not intentionally designed for seating. As architects, we design spaces for use, yet there are uses such as this which is hard to comprehend but it exists as a result of something else. In this particular case it happens to be the Rejuvenation project of the oldest Kali Badi Complex at Mandir Marg, New Delhi

Balador Athena, A Sanctuary for Green Living, by IMK Architects

IMK Architects

The 3,18,000-sq.ft. residential complex comprises nine five-story buildings oriented around a central landscaped courtyard, a clubhouse and play areas of children. A hierarchy of stepped landscaped courtyards marks a sense of entry with a free-flowing cascade of water along one side of the green. These serve as the communal heart of the complex and have been designed to host multiple configurations of gatherings and activities in order to successfully respond to changing social demands within a close-knit community. – IMK Architects

Zostel at Panchgani, A backpackers’ hostel at Panchgani, by Madhav Joshi and Associates

Madhav Joshi and Associates

Zostel at Panchgani, the hostel for backpackers, designed by Madhav Joshi and Associates, is situated near a hill station Panchgani, the strawberry capital of India in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra. Design has evolved in response to the need of backpackers (18 to 40 years of age) for safe, comfortable and hygienic place to stay at a scenic location while traveling on a shoestring budget.

TIFR International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, at Bangalore, by Venkataramanan Associates

Venkataramanan Associates

Planned as an international science hub that would transform scientific research and education in India, the design of the TIFR-ICTS campus reveals an innate understanding of a high-tech institution in how it accommodates large open grounds for collaboration while providing spaces that foster focused scientific studies. – Venkataramanan Associates

Belmont Club, at Indore, by Anuj Mehta Associates

Anuj Mehta

The building responds to its context by using the existing site gradient to create multiple levels. The entrance level has a library, card room, party hall and a double height reception lobby. This lobby overlooks the double height launch with a view of swimming pool, which is the focal point of the club. – Anuj Mehta Associates

MERF, at Chennai, by Murali Architects

MURALI ARCHITECTS

This building located in a small urban property at the heart of Raja annamalaipuram is an effort to give the hospital building a urban façade with the integration of landscape at various levels. The building has integrated an inviting landscape with a small plaza in the front for patients and children. – Murali Architects

Architecture and Design Projects

Chandramandapa at Chennai by Benny Kuriakose

Hari Shree Vidyalayam at Chennai by Benny Kuriakose

Institute of Palliative Medicine at Calicut by Benny Kuriakose

Springdale heritage at Idukki by Benny Kuriakose

Ananthya resorts at Kanyakumari by Benny Kuriakose

Mangalam heritage at Nagapattinam by Benny Kuriakose

MA001, at Ayroor, Kerala, India, by mamama

Boat Club Apartments, at Chennai, India, by SJK Architects

Rejuvenation of Howard Plaza – The Fern, Agra, India, by ConceptSG Ltd

Rejuvenation of Dilli Kali Badi, by conceptSG Ltd

Balador Athena, A Sanctuary for Green Living, by IMK Architects

Zostel at Panchgani, A backpackers’ hostel at Panchgani, by Madhav Joshi and Associates

TIFR International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, at Bangalore, by Venkataramanan Associates

Belmont Club, at Indore, by Anuj Mehta Associates

MERF, at Chennai, by Murali Architects

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