Overview Benny Kuriakose & Associates is an architectural and conservation consultancy firm established by Dr. Benny Kuriakose in 1991. Over the years the firm has grown to include a team of talented and creative designers, engineers, architects and audiovisual specialists. The primary aim of BK&A is to develop high-quality architecture that respects historical context and the environment. We believe that architecture is not just limited to the design and structure of a building but goes way past that notion. We have aimed to create a diverse oeuvre of work and we will continue to design sensitive and sustainable architecture from the very small scale to the large with immense attention to detail and respect to the craft. About Benny Kuriakose Born in 1962 in the small town of Koothattukulam and brought up in Thiruvananthapuram, Dr Benny Kuriakose started his career in 1984 and received basic lessons in architecture under the tutelage of the renowned Laurie Baker (1917-2017). In 1986, he received the Charles Wallace India Trust award that enabled him to complete his MA in Conservation Studies from the University of York. After backpacking around Europe he returned to Kerala and engaged in various activities, such as running a successful furniture company, before pursuing his true interest in architecture. He relocated to Chennai to develop the project that would become the cultural centre, Dakshinachitra. About Benny Kuriakose Born in 1962 in the small town of Koothattukulam and brought up in Thiruvananthapuram, Dr Benny Kuriakose started his career in 1984 and received basic lessons in architecture under the tutelage of the renowned Laurie Baker (1917-2017). In 1986, he received the Charles Wallace India Trust award that enabled him to complete his MA in Conservation Studies from the University of York. After backpacking around Europe he returned to Kerala and engaged in various activities, such as running a successful furniture company, before pursuing his true interest in architecture. He relocated to Chennai to develop the project that would become the cultural centre, Dakshinachitra. In 2001, he received the Inside Outside Designer of the Year award, and again in 2012, he received the Celebration of Architecture award. While practising he decided to pursue his research interests in mass housing and graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras with a doctorate in 2015. He has also worked as a consultant for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), UNESCO, different state governments, and non-governmental other organisations. He has worked on all sorts of projects, from small mud cottages to tsunami reconstruction housing. His deep knowledge and love for vernacular architecture and craftsmanship guide his design process and he tries to teach and pass on his knowledge to the next generations of architects and designers. He loves to travel, has visited more than 50 countries, and collects antiques in his spare time. Our Unique Approach We approach each and every project with a dynamic design methodology that we creatively tailor to the brief and context. Each project is thereby developed through its own unique process that takes into account sustainability, cost-effectiveness while incorporating and adapting vernacular architectural practices to a contemporary setting. This process considers our vast design experience, various parameters imposed by the context and its ecology, our responsibility to the environment, and the specific requirements of our clients. We value co-creating spaces with our clients, consultants and inhabitants. We enjoy this dialectical and dialogue-based process and it's our combined vision that creates truly creative and unique spaces that are tailored for the user and the environment. Our approach to managing projects is to always maintain complete transparency and trust as we conduct ourselves bound to the highest ethical standards of practice. We draw on our vast experience to creatively deal with any issues or challenges that arise during the process of realising the design. We value co-creating spaces with our clients, consultants and inhabitants. We enjoy this dialectical and dialogue-based process and it's our combined vision that creates truly creative and unique spaces that are tailored for the user and the environment. Our approach to managing projects is to always maintain complete transparency and trust as we conduct ourselves bound to the highest ethical standards of practice. We draw on our vast experience to creatively deal with any issues or challenges that arise during the process of realising the design. Our Vision for the Future Our vision is to transform and take an active part in creating a more humane and sustainable architectural landscape. It is important in a rapidly transforming country like India to take an active part in creating the built environment that is socially, economically and sustainably viable and bettering the lives of humans as well the environment and the ecosystem. We have always tried to do socially impactful projects and we would like to engage with more such projects in the future. We value co-creating spaces with our clients, consultants and inhabitants. We enjoy this dialectical and dialogue-based process and it's our combined vision that creates truly creative and unique spaces that are tailored for the user and the environment. Our approach to managing projects is to always maintain complete transparency and trust as we conduct ourselves bound to the highest ethical standards of practice. We draw on our vast experience to creatively deal with any issues or challenges that arise during the process of realising the design. Our Vision for the Future Our vision is to transform and take an active part in creating a more humane and sustainable architectural landscape. It is important in a rapidly transforming country like India to take an active part in creating the built environment that is socially, economically and sustainably viable and bettering the lives of humans as well the environment and the ecosystem. We have always tried to do socially impactful projects and we would like to engage with more such projects in the future. We aim to do this by constantly learning and trying to innovate our process of design. The careful need to balance the conservation of historic buildings and the design of new structures to new modes of living that are quickly becoming a reality is something we need to consider. A lot of the buildings that are being built do not reflect the lived reality of India. We are still stuck with colonial ideas of architecture and try to imitate western modes of living and building which are not suited for the climate or our ways of living. To this aim, we intend to continue our exploration of indigenous ways of building, reducing waste, using truly eco-friendly, local materials and making buildings that are durable and that enable inhabitants to lead their best lives. We value co-creating spaces with our clients, consultants and inhabitants. We enjoy this dialectical and dialogue-based process and it's our combined vision that creates truly creative and unique spaces that are tailored for the user and the environment. Our approach to managing projects is to always maintain complete transparency and trust as we conduct ourselves bound to the highest ethical standards of practice. We draw on our vast experience to creatively deal with any issues or challenges that arise during the process of realising the design. As opposed to being luddites we prefer to think of technology not as the solution to all our problems but as something that needs to be carefully considered and incorporated with deep thought into buildings to enhance them rather than solve problems of our own making. Technology in other words cannot compensate for poorly thought-through design. We are constantly developing new approaches and solutions to finding out the best and most sustainable methods of construction to enable durable long-lasting buildings while taking into consideration local building skills and techniques. Good sustainable design for us combines clever detailing with solid workmanship. Lastly, we consider it very important to spread our message and our knowledge to the next generation of professionals. We will continue to strive to educate and raise awareness about our ideas for a better, more sustainable future for all. Our Social and Environmental Responsibility Our approach to sustainability in design and architecture is mindful of many dimensions such as social, economic, environmental and ecological. We as an organization are committed to improving our practice and integrating even more sustainable aspects of design into everything we attempt. This has been and will become an even more important component going forward as it is a vital issue we must address due to the human-driven climate emergency and ecological deterioration. The construction industry as a whole is one of the major drivers of this emergency and we must challenge our practices for a more sustainable future for all. The approach we have chosen to take towards sustainability goes beyond certifications which often function as general checklists and tools for greenwashing. We try to take a tailored approach based on the social and environmental context and try for even more ambitious outcomes than those set by these certification benchmarks. We try to take a context-driven, holistic approach that not only tries to minimize the impact of the life cycle of the building but try to think about how the building can have a net positive impact on our ecosystem. To this end, we are actively trying to research to try and quantify and improve our methodologies. High-quality durable buildings with high social value will always be more successful as the building will be able to adapt to changing times and we seek to ensure and preserve these goals through all the design phases and delivery. We aim to achieve in the most cost-effective way possible and drawing on our vast experience, we are able to advise our clients on what will be the most cost-effective in the long run. We are committing ourselves to do more research and development on better, more sustainable practices and usage of resources. It is a fine balance that we must strike between our needs as human beings and the needs of other more-than-human species and future generations. One of the key areas we look towards is the embedded knowledge in the vernacular architecture of different regions whether it is the design principles or the use of local and renewable materials. Looking to the Future, Learning From the Past Vernacular architecture is usually defined as a type of regional construction that uses traditional materials, resources and techniques that are local to the region where the building is located. It is hugely influenced by its context and its specific geographic and cultural features and this is one of the main wells we draw our inspiration from, especially concerning the question of sustainability. The fact that it is so influenced and specifically influenced by the environment and local ecology makes it a great source of knowledge and we see our role as interpreters of this knowledge, crafting and adapting these ideas to the modern era. For example in a region with heavy rainfall, it is never the sustainable solution to use concrete flat roofs even with extensive waterproofing as many have done in recent years for aesthetic reasons. On the other hand, this might be an excellent solution in an arid climate where local resources only allow for flat roofs. This fusion of modern techniques with traditional ideas is what we have been trying to perfect over the years. The wide regional variations within a state in India is something we must learn to appreciate and learn from and adapt to a modern context and our contemporary ways of life. We recognize that varied materials, climate, and culture in India are sufficient to provide us without varied ways of designing and constructing unique sustainable buildings and we wish to challenge the way the modern construction industry operates. Conserving Our Heritage Our approach to conservation has evolved over many years of experience conserving a wide variety of historic buildings from palaces to synagogues. We have evolved a sensitive approach that extends not just to conserve the historical structures but also the design of new adjacent buildings and extensions which are designed to work harmoniously with the current building without blindly mimicking it. We have to cater a unique approach to each project as each project has its own unique characteristics, goals and set of priorities to consider. We have to proceed with careful research, inspections, and reflection and follow a careful set of processes from start to finish so that the historical character of the building can be expressed in the best way possible. This approach could involve a mix of preservation, restoration, rehabilitation or reconstruction and we take a very considered and measured approach in achieving the best possible outcome. We also see conservation as developing the architectural sphere through adaptive reuse and as a means to create more sustainable architecture while preserving the building’s inherent heritage and historical values. These ideas are unfortunately not yet mainstream in India and our built heritage is disappearing rapidly and our mission is to change the direction we are taking because once it is destroyed it is almost impossible to recover it. The conservation of historical buildings often has intangible effects on the local population. It is merely not aesthetic enhancements that come into play but it creates a meaningful historical throughline and connects us to the past and creates a sense of belonging in the present. Conservation can educate and help preserve intangible heritage and knowledge and from our experience, it can teach us how to create better spaces and better more sustainable architecture.