Deepu Shyam Prakash, Managing Director, Aedium Design concurs that the built environment faces numerous challenges, including environmental, cultural, socioeconomic, and climate-related issues that will further intensify. “Designing for resilience is crucial as in the next decade, we can expect these challenges to intensify, with extreme weather conditions, urbanization, and population growth putting pressure on our cities and buildings. To mitigate these issues, we must adopt Net Zero buildings, incorporate inclusive urban planning, and address water scarcity and waste management. Additionally, we must leverage technology, including AI, evidence-based design, and data analytics, to optimize building performance and design processes. With unlimited power comes immense responsibility, and I believe that transformative change requires conviction, collective effort, and a participatory approach. What we lack is not ideas or resources, but conviction and a united commitment to drive meaningful change.”
Arnab Ghosh, Managing Director, Corporate Fitouts, Colliers India added, “To effectively address extreme climate change, rampant pollution and rapid urban- ization, which collectively exert immense pressure on our cities, it’s essential to explore innovative solutions. However, the question remains whether India is receptive to unconventional ideas in the urban built environment. Will the country embrace bold innovation and creativity, or will resistance to change hinder progress? If we can successfully implement a comprehensive vision plan and effectively enforce it, there’s a slim chance that we might be able to reclaim the cities of our dreams.”
Ajay Koshy, Head - Design Management, Brigade Group, said, “Innovation is critical across all spheres, from design and construction to sales, marketing, and sustainability. However, as we strive to be bold and innovative, we must remain cognizant of who we’re designing and building for -the end-user. We must ensure that our innovations meet their basic requirements. We need to create a comprehensive development plan for cities that would provide a clear roadmap for the city’s growth, addressing key issues such as mobility, segregation of commercial and residential spaces, and public transportation. The CDP would encourage sustainable development, discourage car dependency, and promote public transport, similar to cities like New York.”
Nagakrupa Srinidhi, Director – Development, RMZ stated, “As a developer and asset owner, I believe we have a huge responsibility to innovate and make a positive impact. With India’s commercial real estate stock expected to reach 1 billion square feet by 2030, we must prioritize people-centric development and social design. We must recognize that we can’t control natural disasters like tsunamis, floods, or rainfall. By accepting this reality and taking responsibility for our actions, we can then focus on creating a comprehensive development plan. However, while we strive to innovate, we face regulatory constraints that limit our ability to design and develop sustainable buildings. For instance, rigid power requirements and out- dated building codes hinder our efforts to reduce en- ergy consumption.”
Dr. Anup Naik, Founder & CEO, Urban Frame Pvt. Ltd expressed, “Firstly, buildings should provide continu- ous feedback, essentially becoming living organisms. Secondly, we can learn from cities like New York that are adopting “stop demolishing, start transforming” approach, repurposing commercial buildings for residential use. We must also acknowledge that our designs are often outdated by the time they’re executed, therefore aim should be to deliver cutting-edge, just-in-time solutions, making buildings smarter. Thirdly, resilience also means being off-grid as much as possible, and promoting sustainable practices. A sound resilience plan would provide a framework for the city’s development, balancing people, planet, and progress.”
Sowmya Prakash, Senior Vice President, Provident Housing added, “Before embarking on a project, research should inform our design approach, including technological integration, community engagement, and innovation. We gather feedback from existing customers to understand their evolving needs and pain points, and we use this insight to continuously improve and innovate across every project. In the housing sector, a major obstacle is the bureaucratic approval process, which is plagued by months-long delays and setbacks. Streamlining this process would greatly benefit the sector, and simplifying the system would enable us to better address the needs of the underprivileged, providing access to affordable housing, slum redevelopment, and rehabilitation, ultimately improving Bangalore’s hygiene and liveability.”
Ashwini K.T, General Manager - Research and Design Services, Vestian was of the view that the architecture and design industries have undergone a profound transformation, driven by the rapid evolution of technology. That enhanced manufacturing, materials, and design processes. “Today, we’re witnessing a new era of innovation, with automation, data-driven design, artificial intelligence, and augmented and virtual reality redefining the industry. But, as technology continues to shape the built environment, it also places a greater emphasis on human experience. The common thread emerging is the industry’s evolution from a fixture-based approach to a holistic integration of all fields of design and user experience. End-users are now seeking integrated solutions that cater to their specific needs, driving a huge demand for smart and connected spaces.”
According to Reema Bhandari, Director, M Moser Associates, AI, IoT, and other tools have enabled people to work comfortably from anywhere, supporting individual needs and flexibility. “Companies are rethinking their real estate spaces, aiming to create immersive environments that can accommodate 50% of their original headcount. Technology is being leveraged to enhance onboarding, biodiversity, and neurodiversity, ultimately prioritizing human experience and comfort. Technology has also accelerated the design process, enabling the creation of mood boards and visuals in a fraction of the time. Tools like Mid Journey and Mood boards facilitate collaboration with clients worldwide, ensuring their vision and preferences are accurately captured. By leveraging these tools, designers and architects can streamline their workflow, reduce errors, and deliver projects that meet clients’ expectations.”
Ananiah Livingston, Managing Director, Space Ma- trix, Bangalore & Chennai, emphasized “Technology has revolutionized the way we design and interact with buildings. Clients are no longer satisfied with just a few 2D views; they want to visualize the entire space in 3D. With software like Salt Mine, we can easily generate 3D models, providing transparency and avoiding costly surprises. Moreover, technology enables us to map user patterns, meeting room usage, and collaboration styles, allowing us to design spaes tailored to each client’s unique culture and needs. This dynamic approach boosts productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. We see three key demand from clients: design-driven solutions, sustainability, and increased productivity and efficiency. With the help of AI-generated tools like Google Gemini, we can efficiently manage hundreds of emails, prioritize tasks, and focus on what’s truly important. Company utilizes various software, to streamline project management, enable collaboration, and facilitate trans- parent communication. Technology has also revolutionized the construction industry, with 3D digital mapping, BIM, making it easier to manage complex projects.”
Akhil Kiran Ganatra, Director, Clancy Global added, “The adoption of digital twins was driven by the need to streamline the design development process and reduce human error. For instance, plumbing systems are now designed with a single line in BIM, which automatically generates a bill of quantity, bill of material, and shop drawings. This automation has eliminated the need for engineers to manually size pipes, reducing errors and increasing efficiency. The key to success lies in the accuracy of the bill of material and quantities, which has minimized budget overruns. Furthermore, a common data environment, enables real-time collaboration and transparency throughout the project lifecycle. The game-changer for the construction industry will be democratizing cutting-edge skills like digital twins to tier three and four cities, making them accessible and affordable. By adopting digital twin technology, labourers can complete tasks 30% faster, increasing their earnings or allowing them to work less.”
Nishigandh Gandhale, Practice Manager, Middle East-Architecture, AtkinsRéalis, said, “At Atkins, we leverage BIM platforms to create a common data en- vironment, enabling global collaboration and coordination. Digital twins, automation, and data-driven design have revolutionized our workflow, allowing us to upscale our teams and streamline the production process. For instance, our work on largest projects in Saudi Arabia, relies heavily on immersive digital ex- periences, Rhino models, and Revit drawings. While working on a park project in Rajasthan, I discovered the importance of circadian rhythm and its impact on local wildlife. Technology has not only enabled us to deliver high-quality projects efficiently but has also driven innovation, allowing us to push the boundaries of design and construction.”
Ranjith K Kartha, Director & Principal Lighting Con- sultant, Veda Lighting Design talking about lighting industry shared, “The lighting industry has under- gone significant transformations over the past 60 years, evolving from a purely functional requirement to a key aspect of architectural and interior design. The discovery of LEDs in the 2000s marked a major inflection point, enabling the development of tuneable whites, circadian lighting, and wireless lighting systems. Today, lighting is no longer just an object, but a material that can be integrated into architecture to create immersive experiences. The industry has also seen a shift towards human-centric lighting, with research focusing on the impact of lighting on human well-being, productivity, and health. Also, in real estate, sustainability involves product durability, circularity, and recyclability. However, the high cost of recycled products and lack of consumer demand hinder progress.”
Infrastructure Development For Liveability
Indrajit Kembhavi, Managing Partner, Kembhavi Ar- chitecture Foundation believes we are facing a serious issue in terms of decline in urban liveability due to inadequate infrastructure. “Our outdated master plans, designed for a bygone era of low vehicle traffic and high pedestrian movement, are no longer fit for purpose. We need radical thinking, such as de-urbanization and the development of multi-tier cities, to accommodate urban migration and create sustainable urban environments. We should strive to create an “Indic city” that balances vertical growth with the retention of cultural identity and natural beauty. This can be achieved by designing a “city with a garden” rather than a city surrounded by a garden. However, the implementation of such ideas is hindered by the lack of effective urban local government in India. The institutional mechanism to execute these ideas is missing, and the country’s urban planning is often controlled by state governments.”
Prem Chandavarkar, Managing Partner, CnT Architect, was of the view that the issue of inefficient land markets in India is a pressing concern that affects not only the poor but also the middle class. “The current state of land markets is characterized by ambi- guity, bureaucracy, opacity, and corruption, leading to disproportionate increases in land prices. This has resulted in half of the city’s population being priced out of the formal land market, forcing them to live in slums, unregulated layouts, and informal settlements. The consequences of this situation are far-reaching. A large population is rendered invisible and excluded from the formal system, leading to vulnerability,degraded living conditions, and potential anger. The lack of spatial continuity also hinders the development of efficient infrastructure networks. In the context of urban migration, corruption, and greed, it is essential to address the underlying problem of land markets. India’s urban planning challenges stem from ineffective urban local governments, despite the 74th Constitutional Amendment in 1992 aimed at empowering these bodies. This has led to a lack of institutional mechanisms to implement urban development ideas. To address these challenges, regional planning is crucial, considering the spatial scale at the state level.”
Dr. Hariharan Chandrashekar, Trustee, Alttech.Foun- dation, Chairman IGBC – Bengaluru added, “De-centralization and infrastructure development are pressing concerns in India, particularly in cities like Bangalore. Bangalore is a city that boasts impressive revenue generation, with $3 billion collected annually, making it the second-highest GST payer in the country. The city’s GDP growth rate is higher than any other metro in India. However, despite these advantages, Bangalore faces significant challenges in terms of infrastructure and resource management. The solution lies in efficient resource management, reducing unaccounted-for water losses, and investing in sustainable infrastructure development. It’s not a question of resources but rather a matter of prioritization and effective governance.”
Ponni M. Concessao, Principal Architect & Founder, Ponni & Oscar + Rahul Architects, Chennai said, “Rural-urban migration is a complex issue that’s been ongoing in India, and it’s not something that can be prevented entirely. However, there are potential solutions to mitigate its effects such as reverse migration by developing secondary and tertiary cities into industrial hubs or canters of employment. This would encourage people to stay in their hometowns rather than moving to urban areas. Tamil Nadu is a great example of this approach. Cities like Pollachi and Ganeri Gundu have been developed, and while they’re not exactly cities, they’re thriving towns. The key to their success lies in the political will to develop these areas. By creating centres of economic growth, we can reduce the influx of people into urban areas. In Chennai, for instance, the Old Mahabalipuram Road area has been transformed into a hub for IT companies, leading to significant economic growth.”
Mahendra Mohan, Managing Director, MARS Archi- tects added “Taking Chennai as an example, we can see how areas like Oragadam and Sriperumbudur have transformed into industrial hubs, with developments like Hiranandani Park in Oragadam. However, it’s essential to educate the system. We can create cities within cities, like the expansion of Chennai into Oragadam or the development of industrial parks in Shoolagiri. Similarly, in Bangalore, areas like Hosur Road are transforming. Additionally, the notion that green buildings are always cheap is a misconception. While they may save materials and reuse resources, they often require additional investments in renewable energy and other sustainable features. To incentivize developers to adopt sustainable practices, the government could offer benefits such as increased Floor Space Index (FSI) or Floor Area Ratio (FAR). By providing these incentives, the government can promote the development of more eco-friendly buildings, which would be a step in the right direction.”
Decentralization and infrastructure development are global challenges, faced by many countries. The key to change is political will. Educating the elector- ate to elect leaders who prioritize economic growth can reverse rural-urban migration and create development hotspots across India.
Sustainability involves product durability, circularity, and recyclability. However, the high cost of recycled products and lack of consumer demand hinder progress. The key to unlocking technology’s potential lies in acceleraing its adoption and taking it to the grassroots level, rather than emulating other countries’ models.
The top three challenges facing cities are climate change, extreme pollution, and rapid urbanization, which collectively exert immense pressure on urban infrastructure, requiring urgent solutions. There is a need to educate all stake- holders to adopt a more flexible and innovative approach to building design and development.
