One of India’s true green architects Manit Rastogi of MD Morphogenesis has just been profiled in the London Guardian newspaper. Rastogi’s work - which includes the hull shaped headquarters for Ernst & Young in Gurgaon - has been recognized for being “cool” in more ways than one…
In a sizzling property market, architect Manit Rastogi at MD Morphogenesis has created some of India’s coolest buildings, using recycled water, wells, wind tunnels and sun screens to chill work places and slash energy costs.
Thanks to his designs, students in a Jaipur fashion school mill around classrooms cooled to around 25 degrees Celsius (77 F) without air conditioners, while the desert bakes at nearly double that temperature outside.
And guests at the Swabhumi Hotel in Kolkata feel a breeze as they step out of a building resembling sliced mushrooms fused together, and inspired by the way trees trap wind.
And then according to the man himself…
“In India’s booming real estate market, there are not enough professionals. And because mediocrity sells, it’s easier to do that,” Rastogi said in an interview in Hong Kong. “Architects are just doing what developers want. If you start taking them down the sustainable route, people start getting nervous,” he said. “They see it as wasted expense.”….
“When they move away from the standard box, we have to tell them it’s more efficient,” Rastogi said. “Many say fine, you’ve convinced us, but how do we convince the market?”
He seems to have overcome these challenges well…read the full article here