Our Endeavour Has Always Been To Create Buildings That Are Performative Through Their Architecture And Envelope

Naresh V Narasimhan and Dhiraj Chilakapaty are front-runners in architecture and urban design at Venkataramanan Associates, Bengaluru. The design firm of Venkataramanan Associates has reshaped the architectural landscape of many cities in India, especially Bengaluru. With its commitment to sustainability, functionality, and innovative façade design, the firm has achieved breakthroughs in design through its significant milestone projects.

Naresh, with 38 years of experience, is recognised for his urban contributions and progressive vision. As a co-founder of the Bengaluru Agenda Task Force and the MOD Institute, he drives experimental, culturally significant projects like the Bengaluru International Centre, shaping platforms that foster intellectual and cultural growth. A TEDx member, Naresh’s diverse interests in social innovation, art, and popular culture fuel his commitment to transformative urbanism.

Dhiraj, with 14 years of expertise, brings a pragmatic approach to complex projects across aviation, additive manufacturing, and healthcare. He is a part of the team that designed projects for global giants like Boeing and Siemens to plan advanced workspaces and has defined workspace strategies for commercial developments. Dhiraj’s notable public projects include Streetscaping for the Commonwealth Games 2010 in Delhi and Bengaluru’s Church Street redevelopment, underscoring his commitment to impactful public design.

WFM Team interacted with Ar. Naresh V Narasimhan and Dhiraj Chilapakaty of Venkataramanan Associates, Bengaluru, to know more about the firm and their projects. The architects spoke about the beginning of their firm and major milestones, most interesting projects, façade designs and much more. Here are the excerpts from the interview.

When Was The Design Firm Venkataramanan Associates Established? Please Tell Us About Your Journey So Far

Naresh Narasimhan (NN): Venkataramanan Associates (VA) was founded on the first of November 1969 – Karnataka Rajyotsava day, by my father, fondly called PKV by all. He had trained as an architect at the Delhi Polytechnic, which went on to become the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Delhi. My father had begun his career at a time when no one knew what architecture was. Buildings were designed by Maistri, Sthapatis and engineers. He never entertained the hubris of a star designer and preferred to dedicate his energies to his craft. Working at a time when everything was scarce – money, materials and choices, his architecture was driven by the necessity to detail rather than its conceit. Driven by his passion for architecture and honest ambition, in its early days, the firm built a series of houses, apartments, commercial buildings, cinema theatres, and institutional buildings, amongst many other typologies, particularly in Bengaluru.

VA has grown from strength to strength over the years and is one of the very few large, indigenously grown full-service architecture firms in India. Having completed fifty years in 2019, the firm has successfully pre-empted the economic shifts of the last five decades in the country and positioned itself as a driver of change. Today, with offices in Bengaluru and Pune, the firm has in-built expertise to deliver across various market domains and categories, but the core philosophy is rooted firmly in the belief that design is implicitly about human experience across all scales and hence needs to be outcome-based. Very early, we learned that to be resilient to external influences, the firm would need to diversify its competence across various domains, project typologies, and geographies.

Today, the office continues to push the boundaries of design and detailing in the traditional domains, while also pioneering novel typologies. Having delivered over 2000+ projects in diverse sectors, totalling over 160 million sq ft, VA’s association with Fortune 500 giants or the government in urban design and large-scale infrastructure projects is reinforced by an informed, collaborative and iterative process used by the teams of over two hundred professionals across the offices. Organised across diverse practice areas and a broad spectrum of industry sectors, science & technology (S&T), corporate, industrial & manufacturing, logistics & warehousing, institutional, residential, commercial & retail sectors, at VA we have developed the capability to deliver a range of project types for clients from around the world. Our interdisciplinary staff has proved time and time again that intelligent, evocative design can be realised within real-world constraints. The firm has also developed comprehensive capabilities in setting up facilities for both Indian and International best practices and codes.

Please Tell Us About A Few Of Your Milestone Projects

NN: Prior to economic liberalization in the eighties and nineties, VA, under the leadership of PKV, built a lot of residential and institutional projects for some of the premier institutes in Bengaluru like Raman Research Institute, Indian Institute of Science and simultaneously the firm was also strengthening its portfolio by adding new real estate clients all the time. Some of the breakthrough projects that VA did in the residential real estate industry include projects like The Embassy, Adarsh Palace, and Purva Park. Alongside, VA was also breaking ground in newer typologies that were emerging in commercial real estate in Bengaluru with the boom in the outsourcing and IT industry, with projects like Embassy Point, a series of projects for Prestige developers like Copper Arch, Westminster, Ozone and others. We were very exposed to the real estate crisis of the 90s when it happened, post which we actively decided to pivot our attention to other sectors.

I remember a chance introduction to ABB (ASEA Brown Boveri) was our first breakthrough in doing architecture projects for corporate clients. We had made some utilitarian adjustments at their factory in Peenya, which led to a corporate office for them in Bombay. We also had an opportunity to pitch for a corporate office for a company called SmithKline Beecham, which resulted in a model office building with very early intelligent building controls. Simultaneously, we also won a project for Pharmacia, which produced intra-ocular lenses and needed very specialised clean-room technologies in their building. At that time, the knowledge and availability of such technology were scarce, but we persevered. That building had the first ice-tank-based air conditioning system in India, and it had some of the earliest building control systems using Johnson Controls.

We continued making a foray into sectors that were not only new to us but also to India. The late 90s and early 2000s saw a steep incline in the growth and fortunes of VA. The master plan for the first Infosys Software Park was developed and designed by VA. We eventually got offered their campuses in Pune, which led to the establishment of the Pune office. The John F Welch Tech Centre for GE was another research and laboratory facility that we designed, which presented a huge learning curve for us, but we ended up establishing the world-class standard in research labs for GE worldwide. This was a big breakthrough project that really crystallised our expertise and leadership in designing buildings that needed specialised environments. While the project demanded very high technical standards in environment separation, our innovative design thinking not only achieved this but also broke existing stereotypes by achieving “boundaryless, open office” spaces. Other projects in which we continued pushing boundaries were the Astra Zeneca labs, Reliance Life Sciences and Reliance Technology Centre in Patalganga. Gradually, we also designed facilities for Biocon, DuPont and almost every other top name in the Indian industry.

While the interior environments of these projects were crucial, in designing them, we were also focused on how the buildings interfaced with the outside. From the beginning and continuing with projects like the Infosys master plan, our endeavour has always been to create buildings that are performative through their architecture and envelope. The façade is not merely a boundary to be dressed up, but it’s the crucial membrane that can be used to express identity, control interior environments, and connect the interiors with the landscape. We have been focusing on employee wellness, experimenting with new technology and sustainability paradigms long before they became de rigeur.

Even while we were actively diversifying our design expertise and experience, we were introducing new technology in our real estate projects, which continue to be our stronghold. Embassy Heights, the first building in Bengaluru with structural glazing, was the result of a lot of research. Projects like the Nirlon Knowledge Park and the Wipro Kodathi campus demonstrate that our designs are unmatched in how meticulously we can incorporate climate-appropriate, technology-first solutions in diverse locations. In mixed-use real estate projects at the scale of Brigade Gateway and Prestige Falcon City, we can deliver at the same levels because, over time, our diverse, interdisciplinary, and multi-dimensional teams have nurtured the necessary talent and expertise. Throughout this journey, we have always believed in giving back and making a difference to the city and our immediate urban environment. Today, projects like the K100 Citizen’s Waterway, conceptualised by the Mod Foundation, which is VA’s not-for-profit sister concern, have had their beginnings in early projects like NGMA that we did in the early 2000s. I had begun getting engaged with civic activism with the O’Shaughnessy Road Park, which is right next to our office. I had also served on the Bengaluru Action Task Force (BATF) and always had an interest in urban design since college. We started proposing small interventions in the city, like Church Street, which we did pro bono. We brought all our experience in the private sector to public projects with the intent to deliver high-quality public space for Bengaluru. Today, I can confidently say that at VA we know how to design, design for effective construction and all kinds of complexities when it comes to buildings. Our new challenge and unexplored frontiers are the urban and the city.

Ar. Dhiraj Chilakapaty, Tell Us About Yourself, Your Education, And Your Career So Far

Dhiraj Chilakapaty (DC): I earned my master’s degree in architecture from Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain (Barcelona Institute of Architecture), where I developed a focused interest in energy and outcome-based design across scales. My graduate project, The Gold of Tordera, received the highest honours; it presented strategies to optimise Delta Tordera’s (Spain) productive and energetic capacities for economic and social sustainability. I completed my bachelor’s in landscape architecture at Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University, where my thesis addressed “Urban Voids,” exploring ways to activate neglected urban spaces with programs that rejuvenate public spaces.

With over 14 years of experience in architecture and urban design – primarily with Venkataramanan Associates—I’ve developed a perspective that champions inclusive, functional public spaces. My work includes designing large campuses and streetscapes, which has deepened my commitment to user-centric and participatory design principles. I’m passionate about challenging traditional development models, promoting public spaces as integral elements of urban life, and exploring innovative concepts for future housing and workspaces. By creating spaces that serve functional needs and connect with their communities, I aim to craft environments that are not only livable but also meaningful and resilient.

How Do You Define “Resilient Façades” In The Context Of Building Safety, And What Key Principles Do You Believe Are Essential For Achieving This Resilience?

DC: The notion of resiliency in buildings needs to be looked at holistically and using a bottom-up approach, which means every aspect of the building design should be guided by principles of building performance. Façades present the threshold where the internal environment of the building interfaces with the external environment, and like the human skin, they help regulate the internal environment while simultaneously responding to external stimuli. Hence, like in an organism, the façade must be part of a resilient building system. Façade design must be evidence-based and driven by the building’s energy performance targets. The performance parameters of the façade need to be evolved through data-driven design and, at the same time, through its design, establish an identity for the building, and allow it to communicate with the urban environment through place-making.

In the Earth Centre for Vista Spaces, we conducted extensive studies on the façade, gathering data on solar exposure and heat gain to arrive at empirically driven design decisions. The way the façade uses massing and integrates shading is a direct result of mitigating the solar exposure on the building faces. This also results in programmable landscaped terraces adjacent to indoor workspaces, promoting employee well-being in the built environment. The material choices of the façade conceptually invoke returning to earth, emphasising the symbiotic relationship between the building and nature. Terracotta tiles used as cladding not only speak to the above need but are recyclable and reinforce the sustainability aspects of the project.

What Role Do Innovative Materials And Technologies Play In Ensuring The Resilience Of Façades, Particularly In The Face Of Climate Change And Extreme Weather Events?

DC: Materiality isn’t about aesthetics alone; it is a language that speaks of tactile experience, durability and sustainability. Every material choice tells a story, shaping our built environment and our relationship with it. Material choices are also evaluated based on their embodied energy, even before they are used on site, as that determines the carbon footprint of the building. One must strike a very fine balance between the aesthetic needs of a project but also how materials contribute to the performance and life of the building envelope. Technology and material innovation need not always be high-tech, and often, ground-up innovation can be equally sustainable and resilient in the long run.

In the 3D technology centre for Peekay Steels, we have extensively used zinc as a material in the façade. Zinc is 100% recyclable and can be recycled indefinitely. One needs less energy to produce zinc than the other principal metals in the building industry, and hence it has a very low embodied carbon footprint. It also has exceptional longevity – rolled zinc can easily weather 70 to 100 years, depending on the environment.

In the Nirlon Knowledge Park, which is situated in Mumbai, where buildings must withstand fierce monsoons, we have used terracotta cladding in ventilated façade screens, which creates an additional breathable layer of insulation to protect while at the same time positively influencing the building’s energy balance. The terracotta’s uniqueness and adaptability helped maintain a coherent identity over the project’s long and phased development.

How Do You Approach The Integration Of Sustainable Practices Into Façade Design To Enhance Both Resilience And Environmental Performance?

DC: Before one looks at active design, a lot can be done with passive design. Factors such as orientation, location of the core, and a climate-responsive façade help bring down the impact of solar exposure and radiation on buildings. The performance of buildings needs to be looked at from every detail and not just as a retrofit or top-down solution. The envelope should be designed in coordination with eVAC systems to reduce the long-term operational and energy costs of a building. Today, one can leverage available technology to quantify and gather data and make informed design decisions. Even in sectors such as real estate, the approach to sustainability is changing and is being looked at holistically with a greater focus on user well-being and comfort.

In the Earth Centre, simulation studies helped understand the impact of aspect, orientation, and radiation. Passive design strategies were incorporated to develop the form with recessed balconies and lobbies for shading and comfort. The design was able to reduce overall heat gains to 30%, due to the climate-responsive building form and low window-to-wall ratios on the lower floors, as against 50% in an all-glass building. Shaded and landscaped terraces resulting from the inherent geometry of the building helped reduce incident solar gains by almost 12%.

How Do You Navigate The Balance Between Aesthetic Considerations And Safety Requirements When Designing Façades For Different Types Of Buildings And Contexts?

DC: Safety is paramount and non-negotiable. Making a building climate-responsive without compromising on safety is just a basic functional need. Given increasing incidences of inclement weather in urban habitats due to worsening climate change, safety and resilience have gone beyond just structural and fire safety. Buildings need to withstand the vagaries of nature and not just basic wear and tear over time to be resilient. Materials need to consider context, program, stability, longevity, and performance. Metrics such as embodied carbon and operational carbon also need to become part of the design conversation to make an impact. Simultaneously, the aesthetic and visual impact of a building is the paramount requirement for architecture. Finding the right balance between all of these is critical. The best way to achieve this is to look at design holistically and engage in collaborative conversations with the various experts who bring diverse expertise to building design today.

What Strategies Do You Employ To Ensure That Façade Designs Comply With Relevant Building Codes And Regulations?

DC: Compliance with the relevant statutory codes is mandatory for envelope design. Apart from the actual design of the façade, these codes also dictate the construction, fabrication, and assembly of façades. Today at VA, we can competitively negotiate various diverse codes as required by the project, from the NBC (National Building Code) 2016, ASTM/EN (American Society for Testing and Materials), CWCT (Centre for Window & Cladding Technology), amongst others.

We also consider green building standard compliances, such as IGBC and USGBC, when designing our buildings. With many corporate clients demanding certifications to ensure they meet their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals and opportunities with respect to sustainability, it has become a standard practice in design. With Earth Centre, we have targeted LEED platinum certification, and we are on track to receive it. Today, increasingly, even in real estate developments, compliance with green building standards results in favourable marketability and finance avenues for clients.

How Do You Collaborate With Other Professionals, Such As Engineers And Sustainability Experts, To Optimise The Resilience And Safety Of Façades Throughout The Design And Construction Process?

DC: Architectural design is increasingly becoming more collaborative and needs timely multidisciplinary inputs from various subject matter experts. Architectural designers can no longer follow hierarchical processes, with consultant input being restricted to retrofitted solutions to an existing design. In fact, the process has become completely iterative with different consultants giving input in the design as early as site analysis. We engage façade and sustainability consultants at a very early stage in the design of buildings for their input in achieving building form that can optimise for site orientation, solar exposure, structural and functionality needs. The design of building envelopes is measured against performance, beyond just aesthetics. As architects and design leads, we are constantly trying to find the balance between aesthetic ambitions, constructability and sustainability targets in collaboration with the other experts.

In the Prestige Shrihari Khoday auditorium, the façade and envelope were a result of pushing the functional possibilities of the project with the rooftop terrace. This resulted in a façade that had to be structural and load-bearing as well as provide optimal comfort in the internal spaces. This was achieved through the necessary inputs of the structural and façade consultants. Fine-tuning the structural solutions through design helped us achieve the visually stunning façade.

With The Increasing Frequency And Severity Of Natural Disasters, How Do You Future-Proof Façade Designs To Adapt To Evolving Climate-Related Risks And Ensure The Long-Term Safety And Durability Of Buildings?

DC: It is well known that the construction industry has been one of the biggest contributors to climate change. Traditional ideas of envelope design had to factor in seismic conditions and wind only, but today, with increasingly incremental weather conditions, one must look beyond the standard needs. Urban flooding has become very prevalent in all our cities, and unpredictable rain and ingress of water are also concerning. A watertight envelope is critical for building performance and longevity. An airtight envelope is very important to support the performance of HVAC systems. For Nirlon Knowledge Park, the façade was designed as a ventilated screen, which allowed the envelope to breathe in the extremely humid conditions of Mumbai and to weather its severe monsoon. This would mitigate the weathering of the building, making the maintenance of the façade easier and countering solar gain by shading the glazed expanses.