Excerpt from NoPlanetB Podcast Episode no. 2
Interviewee: Amrutha Kishor
Interviewer: Shruthi Suresh
Date: 18th April 2022
Architect Amrutha Kishor is the founder of Elemental, an architecture practice that revolves around sustainable design and urban planning. She's a RIBA-nominated architect and believes in the concept of Critical Regionalism. After graduating from NIT Calicut, she went ahead to pursue her Master's in Architecture Design from the University of Nottingham. The interview explored the concept of Critical Regionalism and Comfort.
Shruthi: Let me start by telling you that I’m a huge fan of your project – ‘Ecohouse’. What according to you is Critical Regionalism and how is it different from Regionalism?
EcoHouse by Elemental (Source: Website elemental-architects)
Amrutha: Regionalism is something that is closely linked to tradition. Something traditional can also be considered regional. Vernacular buildings are considered regional buildings. When we think about this concept, like all our traditions, we kind of replicate the same processes knowing that it's tradition and we don't know why it's done. In the field of architecture, many things were done over the past which made sense then - that is probably the best material or the best solution they had at a certain point in time. Critical Regionalism is about being mindful. We must identify what we want to take away from what we already have. We don't blindly copy what is traditional, it's about understanding why it's done and then also figuring out if there is a better way to do it in today's time - better material, technology, etc.
Shruthi: What is your approach and what are your first thoughts when starting a project?
Amrutha: Sustainability is not something you add at the end of a building design. It's something you need to think about right from the beginning and it's all about envisioning your final product. While designing an energy-efficient building, it is important to figure out what nature has to offer. When we go to a new site, we first identify the site parameters such as where the wind is coming from. We work on the volume first and it's always done in such a way that it is specific to the site. Parameters such as sun movement, shadows, etc. are considered. It is always important to think about the end user. How do they find the space? How can we make it a comfortable space for them?
Shruthi: Comfort is a key to any good design. How do you approach comfort and how do you ensure that your building is comfortable?
Amrutha: One form of comfort is thermal, which means the building should be at a comfortable temperature inside for the users. To ensure that, we must be mindful of choosing the right building materials and giving the right amount of ventilation. It’s important to ensure the right amount of daylighting to enhance visual comfort. Another form of comfort which must be addressed is psychological. How much space do we need for a particular room? Is it sufficient? At our firm, before we start any project, we give our questionnaires to the clients to understand what comfort means to them. It's about understanding the end-user and being sensitive to what matters to them.
Shruthi: During the operational phase of any of your projects, have you witnessed lower energy bills than other conventional building designs?
Amrutha: In our project the Eco-House, there are no Air Conditioners anywhere. The house has been functioning well without ACs for the past two years now and it works on a passive cooling system. Usually in homes with an AC working every day, the bill would come up to a minimum of seven thousand Rupees, whereas for the Eco House, it has never crossed three thousand Rupees. People always look at immediate construction costs, but they must be mindful of the energy cost savings over the building's lifetime.
Shruthi: Who is your inspiration in this field of Critical Regionalism?
Amrutha: That would be Geoffrey Bawa, a Sri Lankan architect. He designed a lot of very beautiful buildings. I can imagine being in those spaces and feeling relaxed. Another architect I’ve been following over the last five years is Francis Kerry. He was awarded the Pritzker Prize.
Shruthi: What advice would you offer to aspiring entrepreneurs in the field of architecture and design who are keen on building a sustainable future?
Amrutha: I think it's very important to find your narrative. What is it that you stand for? Your work must tell a story and it's about identifying what are those things that you are interested in propagating. It has been climate responsive design for me.
Shruthi: What an interesting interview, Amrutha. Thank you so much for joining us.
Amrutha: Thank you very much for inviting me.
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