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Personal touch
GEETA PADMANABHAN
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KV Rangaswami’s office reflects his flair for design and colour
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Aesthetic and functional Rangaswami in his office
For forty years he has been drawing and devising original ways to help this company “build nations”, but KV Rangaswami, Whole-time Director & President (Construction) at Larsen & Toubro, would have done well as a part-time interior decorator. With a T-square at IIT-Madras, drawing board in L&T, or measuring tape in his office, he has been a man with designs.
He is part of an extra-ordinary legacy – roads, ships, ports, airports, bridges (saw one in Bridge on the River Kwai?), buildings – and since 2005, this functional but elegant office has been the hub of executive planning for all this. “I meet people, review progress, conduct interviews…” The sofa, the small conference table and Rangaswami’s own L-shaped desk are blue-grey. The colour of construction? “I changed the upholstery,” he says. “Furniture is my choice too.” Chrome and leather, very comfortable. He also glassed the upper half of the door leading to the outer office, changed the interior mosaic and ceramic tiles and added a matching carpet.
As you glance at the DG Kulkarni paintings on the left wall, he picks up a remote. In a touch of drama, Venetian blinds on the three innocent windows on the right go up one by one. Wow! “The roll-up screens let me know what’s happening outside. I get to see the greenery, the road, the bustle, the commerce, the progress.” It’s a crane-shot of the curving, busy Mount Poonamalee Road. “Vanavasam, people said, when we moved here in 1980. Look at it now,” he smiles.
He catches my nomadic eye scanning the crowded shelf behind him. “What do I have here? Reminiscences of the past.” Photographs, mementos and major awards. The Leadership Award handed over by the Prime Minister, the FIP – Oscar in construction. There’s this picture with Dr. Kalam. “He’s been here.” It’s an awesome responsibility, managing L&T’s joint ventures and engineering execution.
This space must jog a world of memories. “Yes. When I walk in, I think of my predecessors, their work. I’ve been here often on important discussions, attended conferences a number of times.” He is proud of the leap in connectivity and conference facility during his three years. “Corporate office or divisional board — members come here for meetings.”
Modernising the workplace is a perennial priority. “When I succeeded, change in architectural thinking was getting palpable. And our expertise travels across the world.” That means visitors, clients from every continent. “You saw them outside, from Italy and Germany. The ambience, in line with current interior décor leaves a good impression. It’s like the airport, the first place a client sees. You don’t want the architecture to be dull and gloomy. It’s a positive vibe when people say, “It’s a nice office.” It is.
Among the trophies stands the small tricolour, on a lovely wooden mast! Rangaswami flashes a smile of satisfaction. “It’s a souvenir. In a smooth operation, we replaced the flag mast in front of Fort St. George. The 200-year-old wood went into making these mementos.”
Is there a futuristic office design? “Our future is underground,” he says. “Megatrends, you know. Connected offices below-the-surface, in two to three basements with a park above.” He’s ready to launch it from this regular office with a striking personal touch.
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