This Keynote Speech from Elev8 Bangalore 2025 features architects Sandeep Khosla and Amaresh Anand discussing the design philosophy of Khosla Associates. They emphasize a contextual approach deeply rooted in site, climate, and local culture, promoting a sustainable and passive design strategy for India’s diverse environments. Throughout the talk, they share how their studio bridges traditional vernacular methods with a modern sensibility to create buildings that are both efficient and culturally resonant. By focusing on passive strategies rather than heavy technology, they demonstrate how architecture can responsibly harmonize with nature, providing climate-responsive solutions for the future of Indian construction.
Sunlight Management: The architects focus on protecting buildings from harsh sunlight while allowing diffused natural daylight. Examples include large overhangs and lyrical skylights in the Retreat in the Sahyadris, and louvered screens in the Gulmohar Clubhouse.
By understanding local breeze patterns, they modulate air through buildings. Notably, the DPS Kindergarten School utilizes terracotta jali walls and a stack effect in courtyards to cool classrooms without air conditioning.
They advocate for rainwater harvesting through recharging pits and storage tanks. In a project in Coorg, the designers use stored rainwater as a landscape feature. They also utilize graywater recycling with reed beds to filter water for gardening.
They promote sustainable choices by collaborating with local artisans and sourcing materials within a 5-kilometer radius for projects like the GreenPark Hotel to reduce environmental impact.
A major focus is on retrofitting and recycling existing structures rather than demolishing them. This is highlighted by the multi-decade transformation of the Tract and Book Society building in Bangalore, which has housed a bar, bookstore, and café.
In conclusion, Khosla and Anand advocate for building flexibility that considers a structure’s afterlife, arguing that buildings should be able to adapt to new uses over generations. Their dedication to sustainable architecture is evidenced by their use of local craft, intelligent sunlight management, and robust water harvesting techniques. By emphasizing adaptive reuse and retrofitting, they propose a path forward that minimizes environmental impact while celebrating India’s rich architectural heritage. Ultimately, their philosophy teaches us that responsible, contextual design is not just about aesthetics, but about creating enduring spaces that nurture both the inhabitants and the planet.
Editor’s Note: Some places feel rooted because they belong to their surroundings rather than trying to stand apart from them. Coffee Sangam in Andhra Pradesh takes this approach through a raw, tactile palette of brick, stone, teak, and mild steel. The random rubble compound wall extends the landscape into the architecture, while the Corten steel […]
Envisioned as a contemporary home rooted in Indian sensibilities, this residence sits on a south-facing urban plot. The design accommodates the evolving lifestyle of a multi-generational family. The project integrates architecture and interiors to create functional, climate-responsive, and emotionally connected spaces. Each level balances privacy with interaction. The design also allows flexibility for changing family […]
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A Mock-up That Became a Home – For an architecture practice, a mock-up often helps test an idea before the team translates it into a larger project. It allows architects to work at full scale, examine materials and construction techniques, and understand their limitations. The process also gives them room to test different brick bonds and […]
The house began not with a formal brief, but with a conversation about the kind of life the clients hoped to build within it. Set between the denser urban fabric of Kannur and the quieter residential landscapes of North Kerala, the project responds to a desire for openness and connection. At the same time, the […]
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Architecture font choices go beyond style—they shape how your work is perceived. From portfolios to presentations, the right architecture font instantly communicates clarity, precision, and personality. As architects, we design not just with space but with every detail, including typography. Selecting a strong architecture font shows your commitment to visual storytelling and design consistency. In […]
The Indian farmhouse accommodation goes on to capitalize on a mature evolutionary synthesis of ancestral aesthetics and contemporary features. With this, the outside and the inside of farmhouses became places of comfort with nature. In this blog, we delve into 15 incredible farmhouse designs that entail a harmonious blending. While they exhibit different spaces in […]