Property Plus
Coimbatore
Green architect comes visiting
|
Karan Grover is the man behind the CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre in Hyderabad
|
— PHOTO: P. V. SIVAKUMAR
Making a point: Karan Grover
Disillusioned with his 30-year career in architecture marked with westernised building ethos, he had in time re-discovered himself and the lost fibre of his country. Assigned with the task of designing the CII- Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre in the city that was inaugurated in 2004, he displayed a fusion between the conventional Indian wisdom and the modern technology.
In a chat with the media, Karan Grover, the internationally renowned ‘Green’ architect of India, opened up his vision for environmentally sound and geographically relevant construction concepts.
“Working on the preservation of the ancient city Champaner which was declared a World Heritage site later, I had spent the best part of my career juggling between heritage and architecture. However, I least realised that there could be any connection between the two,” Mr. Grover said sharing the concept of his presentation ‘Be Inspired’ that was to be organised in the workshop.
After realising the possible connection between the past and the future and its significance to the well-being of Mother Earth, he experimented with the newfound knowledge while designing the CII-Sohrabji Godrej Business Centre. He had a resounding success as was evident in the Centre becoming the first structure outside the United States to receive the prestigious ‘platinum’ LEED rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.
“Most of the ancient houses had big courtyards in the centre where hot air would accumulate, cool down and then circulate into the inner spaces. Verandas and jaalis acted as the wind catchers, while a pond beneath a wind catcher would be a perfect coolant.”
While stressing the geographical significance in architecture, Mr.Grover cites the examples of ABN-AMRO Bank in Ahmedabad, Fort Hotel and Garden of Paradise at Oman which he designed according to the demands of the region. Architecture of place, he says, should be the choice of the future.
SWATHI. V
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Property Plus
Coimbatore
|
