Ar. Vistasp Bhagwagar, Principal Architect & Managing Director, AVA
'Creativity Counts' at AVA
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In a decade and a half, Architect Vistasp & Associates (AVA) has carved niche in design can never be repeated approach. Ar. Vistasp Bhagwagar, Principal Architect & Managing Director, shares with Built Expressions that it’s important to focus on more sustainable ways of designing buildings.
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Architect Vistasp & Associates (AVA) swears by its catchphrase 'Creativity Counts…' the projects designed at its best of creativity speak volume of it. It was incorporated in 2000 which is now known to be a boutique design firm that specializes in individual attention to client brief, which evidently has helped it to evolve as more creative firm. "Though we set up in the name and style of AVA towards the end of 1996, the architectural office was established a few years later in 2000, riding on the sustenance of the Interior division! This has been a practice that has started from Zero with no father or God Fathers in the industry," says Ar. Vistasp Bhagwagar, Principal Architect & Managing Director, AVA. Starting from scratch has its own drawbacks and yet its own unique set of advantages. He continues, "We are more grounded as a firm, more appreciative of client predicaments and start up ventures. Most of our clients are also similar and hence there is a unique synergy. We also bring to the table a rigorous process of enquiry based design, in place of stereotypical set solutions that commercial counterparts settle on."
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Philosophy of the firm
Ar. Vistasp believes that to deliver a good product it is required to have good processes in place. "Our major area of focus is "WHAT" we can bring to the table & "HOW" we can make it different from stereotypical solutions. We mostly believe in "Lateral & Diagnal Thinking". A sensible & pragmatic approach towards massing & zoning is often followed by an Innovative approach to expression," he adds.
AVA's approach to every project must project the individuality of the end user of that individual space for which the firm is commissioned. At AVA, designers are encouraged to ‘present new ways of thinking and think of new ways of presenting’ to clients so that every project has its own allows the flowering of new expressions and identities for every project.
In fact, every project is an opportunity to develop a building design that not just has its own character and functional requirements, but one that embraces greener modes of construction, incorporates ART as an intrinsic part of design and allows for the end user to enjoy creative spatial experiences! "We believe strongly that each building that replaces a portion of the untouched earth, must have an existential logic and justification for disturbing and otherwise beautiful piece of virgin soil! We like to think of ourselves as a Non-Commercial and Non-Conventional Office. Design can never be 'Repeated’ in our books. Our USP is that each project is distinctly different from the other," he concedes.
Design+Build
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AVA has its interior design wing, AVA Interiors Innovation Studio. Ar. Vistasp, says, "We have two different verticals and two different Offices that house them as well in the same neighborhood. It may appear to be a curious case of "Divide & Rule"… but we believe that the two verticals work better in isolation, as they share different timelines, different time pressures, different contexts and different age groups! Both studios are headed by diverse teams and have diverse clientele.
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Constant strategies are developed at AVA to meet the customer requirements and to enhance its creativity further. The firm is successfully rendering Professional Design consultancy services for architectural as well as Interior projects; we have lately also developed a "Design + Build" arm to facilitate a single window service for turnkey services to select clientele.
Evolution of architecture
Ar. Vistasp notices how the perception on architecture has morphed over the years. Earlier, architecture was a more hallowed profession than what it has been reduced to today. There have always been stalwarts, role models & icons in every era in architecture & design, who held their own and managed to steer an architectural idiom that was related to climate and context.
"In contrast, with few exceptions, the present generation seems to have overlooked all the climate and context and is actually a slave to a more Global Architectural style! Look around and see how many buildings actually relate to their immediate context, environment and bio climate?," he inquires.
You may find three of four buildings at best in any average city! Otherwise you will invariably find similar looking glass and concrete monstrosities that could actually be anywhere and yet are nowhere! But having analysed the situation, it is clear that it's not only the architects to blame; Not everyone can be an iconic cult figure that can hold its own against the demands of its clientele and steer the ship towards an architecture that matters! It is rather the change in dynamics and equations that allow builders and developers to call the shots and control the nature of the built environment to quite an extent.
According to him, students of architecture are well advised to read up and learn, in each context, WHY a certain type of architecture is practiced rather WHAT is done and blindly be impressed by that!
Trends in Architecture
The Current trend in architecture that needs to be followed is a climate and context sensitive architecture. It is not that every building needs to be LEEDS certified or GRIHA rated, but its important to ensure that similar thought processes are applied regardless of the ratings. With greater sensitivity towards issues like sustainability, reduced carbon footprints and Net Zero energy there is an acclimatization towards the right issues that must be now focused in schools and colleges.
It is important for schools and colleges to focus NOT on the end Product, nowadays, but rather on the correct Procedures, checks and balances towards environmental and contextual sensitivity. Going forward, Ar. Vistasp aims to stress upon more sustainable ways of building and designing architecture & Interiors.
Box item:
- Graduate of School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi (1991-92) with two Gold Medals.
- Graduate with Distinction in MA (Urban Design) from Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK in 1995 with a Thesis on Housing relevant to India.
- Associate Life member of Institute of Indian Interior Designers.
- Associate of the Indian Institute of Architects
- Registered member of the Council of Architecture since 1992.
- Registered member of the Indian Green Building Council
- Registered Member of the Fire Safety Association of India
- Elected Member of the National Executive Committee, Institute of Indian Interior Designers (2010-2012)
Box item: Projects:
Some of the key projects of AVA:
ZEE Corporate Office Building, Filmcity, Noida
Spread over 1,20,000 sft, this building houses broadcasting studios, offices, training centres and related facilities for this telefilms Giant! The building is characterized with the appropriate use of ribbed granite stone, performance glass and timber look ceramic; the feature being the 5 metre spindle shaped cantilever that floats over the entrance!
The Furniture Republic, Noida
The Brief was to create a Store that would provide consumers a more value for money proposition when it came to buying furniture. It was identified that there is a huge gap between supply and expectation of value for money furniture.
This project has a "GROUNDED to EARTH" kind of feel. It surprises you with the choice of finishes and palate of materials that is in stark contrast to the rather modern exterior facade of the building! There are some unique aspects to this store that are perhaps not seen too much elsewhere in other urban stores and lifestyle destinations.