The Hindu Business Line : Looking out for designing buildings

Architects in India are facing competition from overseas. Builders are signing on foreign architects to design new-age buildings, retail malls and integrated townships.

This, however, is not a new phenomenon. Le Corbusier designed Chandigarh, and Laurie Baker, known for eco-friendly buildings, is another popular name.

The new wave is driven mainly by the Information Technology (IT) sector and the demands of big-ticket brands. Some of the names circulating in Chennai are the Singapore-based Dr Timothy Seow's Studio, Architects Team 3 and the Uruguayan Carlos Ott of Carlos Ponce de Leon.

Importing fresh ideas

Builders say that foreign architects bring in fresh ideas and give an international perspective to the buildings.

Mr C. Subba Reddy, Managing Director, Ceebros Property Development Pvt Ltd, says developers were bringing foreign architects as they are used to working with new building material that are now available in the market.

Many IT buildings, which are aiming at the special economic zone status, are availing of the income tax, sales tax and central excise benefits and importing large quantities of glass, aluminium tubing and other building material.

Bringing in good practices

Mr C.N. Raghavendran, Partner, CR Narayana Rao, said that foreign architects have brought in good practices like time management and are systematic.

Many of the multinational companies have quality standards for buildings such as safety issues, air quality and lighting, which the builder has to adhere to. Foreign architects do lot more research on Indian sensitivities and culture. They are more design sensitive, according to Mr Raghavendran.

Not one-sided competition

But the competition is not all one sided, as many Indian architects are doing projects overseas. His firm is doing work in Mauritius, Malaysia and Guyana, he said.

However, not everyone is happy with the competition at home.

A Chennai-based architect, Mr Ravi Neelakantan, said that many builders were bringing in foreign architects for IT buildings more for the brand value. It is easier to market the building. It is not as if Indian architects were not good enough.

In most cases the foreign architects only do the overall planning, give the shell drawing and the elevation. They tie up with a local architect for site supervision, selection of contractors, passing contractors' bills and bidding for tenders, if need be.

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