Eco-friendliness begin at great design concept

Ar. Soumitro Ghosh, Director, Mathew & Ghosh Architects Pvt. Ltd. To mitigate the urban environment challenges, Ar. Soumitro Ghosh, Director, Mathew & Ghosh Architects Pvt. Ltd., shares with Built Expressions that urban environment need careful consideration, forecasting, planning & preparation.

BE: What are the several issues identified for sustainable urban built environment? How do we proactively address them?

SG: The intrinsic quantum of energy utilised in the making of buildings is most important as well as the recurring need for energy for comfortable living. The former aspect is the realm of design as much as the latter is. While the former is related to the choices of materials the latter is a lot more about understanding nature, light, ventilation, human psychology and lifestyle. 

BE: What are the effects of Urbanisation on environment? How do we mitigate this challenge in urban environment?

SG: We have come to love cities as places to live, work and enjoy. Density of built form, urban sprawl, infrastructure and many other parameters that affect the quality of urban environment need careful consideration, forecasting, planning & preparation. 

BE: As an architect, how do you visualize a future eco friendly city? What important parameters of built environment this city shall address?

SG: The prime objective is to create opportunities for a better quality of life & living and this is not negotiable. Neither is the idea of sustainability - not a theoretical idea but a living one which comes from design and not just through number crunching on materials & products which many a times lack serious commitment to the extension of life on earth. 

BE: What are the energy efficiency options that should be made mandatory in a building at the time of plan approval? Are there any steps initiated by the concerned authorities in this direction?

SG: Firstly it is not an engineering or technology solution that one needs to talk about as a do & other things not. It has to emerge from great design concept that is Eco-friendly and not be a gimmick / sham with add-ons that solve the problem of it meeting standards. This is one of the current problems that the green lobby is facing - it's more lip service than meaning & intention. The road to hell is placed with good intentions. 

The expertise of judging the credibility and performance to criteria is the role of experts from within the fold of the profession so the administering of this should ideally be reviews by experts from within the field and not the government departments.