Suraksha Acharya

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Suraksha Acharya ("SA") for their original perspective and innovative approach to design as well as their creative lifestyle, we are very pleased to share our interview with our distinguished readers.

DL: Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?

SA : I graduated with Honors from the School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University, Chennai, India in 2007 and went on to practice at T.R Hamzah & Yeang Sdn, Bhd in Kuala Lumpur, under the mentorship of Dr. Ken Yeang. During this time, I was closely involved with the design phase of several large scale mixed-use, residential & commercial tower projects in Asia that were driven by sustainable concerns. In 2009 I chose to return to academics and pursued my Masters in Sustainable Environmental Design at the Architectural Association, London. In 2012 I joined a start-up firm Pomeroy Studio in Singapore as an Architectural Designer & later pursued my passion for ‘Green’ as an Sustainability Consultant with Design Partner Architects in 2013 & as a Green Building Analyst with Environmental Design Solutions in 2014. I am a LEED® Accredited Professional with a specialty in Building Design & Construction, a certified GRIHA Evaluator & Trainer, and one of the few design professionals from Chennai to achieve a Green Mark Manager (GMM) designation from the BCA Academy Singapore.

DL: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?

SA : As an architect, the profession embraces the individuality of each person. Designing buildings itself is a fulfilling and creative pursuit. Architecture always focuses on enriching one’s life and has the significant ability to touch on an integral part of a person’s life is a reason to be an architect.

DL: Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?

SA : I have been fascinated with buildings ever since I started playing with my brother’s Lego sets as a child. This spark eventually turned into a lifelong passion that would shape my career. My path started out in trying to balance my flair for engineering and passion for the arts which lead me to explore my creative side. Architecture is the product when art meets science especially when designing buildings and structures.

DL: What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?

SA : I have specialized in design of several large scale mixed-use, residential & commercial tower projects in Asia that were driven by sustainable concerns. At Midori, currently we are involved with the design of residential bungalows and interiors that is keeping the practice busy.

DL: What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?

SA : Building a business isn’t a singular act; it’s a series of small steps. For the most part it is people management, effective communication, and seizing opportunities when available, Design is a small portion in the journey towards becoming a design legend. The key is to think big, start small, and learn fast

DL: What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?

SA : Great designers do not bow down to criticism. Because they take every criticism in stride

DL: What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?

SA : Bringing that subtle difference into your designs is what separates a great designer from a good designer. Like any other art, you don’t design something because it’s required. You design something because it fulfills the gap between needs and requirement. It’s shaped by how well it answers “why we are doing this?” or how it solves the purpose.

DL: What would you design and who would you design for if you had the time?

SA : I would like to build zero energy homes

DL: What is the dream project you haven’t yet had time to realize?

SA : My dream project is to build a zero carbon zero energy home in the Indian context.

DL: What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?

SA : The youth are the future. Firms need to embrace the ideas, energy and enthusiasm of young people. This is the my idea of success.

DL: Who are some other design masters and legends you get inspired from?

SA : Frank Lloyd wright, Ken Yeang , and Norman Foster are some of the master architects that I draw inspiration on a daily basis.

DL: What is your greatest design, which aspects of that design makes you think it is great?

SA : Shanty-Scraper- Invisible perception is one of our award winning projects that secured the 2nd place at the eVolo Skyscraper Competition 2015. The rise of city’s squatters over the past decade indicated the struggle to cope with rapid urbanization and the lack of political will in improving slum dweller’s access to essential services. Shanty-Scraper aspires to provide a unique solution for the fishermen of Nochikuppam located at Marina bay beach. The vertical squatter structure predominately is comprised of post-construction debris such as pipes and reinforcement bars that crucially articulate the structural stability. Recycled corrugated metal sheets, regionally sourced timber & thatch-mould the enclosure of each dwelling profile and lend to their vernacular language. The double height semi enclosures serve as utility yards & social gathering spaces for the poor. I believe designing for the economically weaker section of society fulfills my purpose of becoming an architect!

DL: How could people improve themselves to be better designers, what did you do?

SA : Clearly, most of our decisions are based on gut level. A design that solves our problems, a design that adds value overpowers a design which just looks appealing. It’s head versus heart that allows us to differentiate between perfect and defective.

DL: If you hadn’t become a designer, what would you have done?

SA : If I wasn’t an Architect, I would have been a fashion designer or a product designer which would have satiated my creative side.

DL: How do you define design, what is design for you?

SA : We believe in design which aims to protect the environment and natural resources, recreating urban areas and buildings that are designed in order to fully cover their energy requirements without induce environmental damage. Natural cooling, compared to air conditioning, not only provides energy saving, economic and environmental benefits, but also constitutes a different approach, having as its goal, human comfort and well-being.

DL: Who helped you to reach these heights, who was your biggest supporter?

SA : My family has been my biggest support through all my successes and failures. I am thankful for their love & support throughout my journey.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

SA : Everyone needs guidance and support as a young designer. Throughout my journey, Dr. Ken Yeang – ‘the Father of tropical design’ has taught me to look back and evaluate my career, to discover that architects have different experiences, backgrounds, and objectives.

DL: What were the obstacles you faced before becoming a design master?

SA : I do not consider myself to be a design master, I hope to be one some day! There are many obstacles as a young designer faces such as gaining respect from your peers, public speaking and embracing failure as a stepping stone to success.

DL: How do you think designers should present their work?

SA : Designers should present their work in a clear and simple manner such that the common man / masses can easily understand. It is important we show the public initiatives that each of our initiatives seek to improve the built environment and to preserve, and even restore, the natural environment for future generations. We believe in time management of design and deliverable which manifests in our projects to utmost perfection.

DL: What’s your ultimate goal as a designer?

SA : Ultimate goal is to inspire design which aims to protect the environment and natural resources, recreating urban areas and buildings that are designed in order to fully cover their energy requirements without induce environmental damage.

DL: What people expect from an esteemed designer such as yourself?

SA : MIDORI follows a comprehensive approach combined with an organizational systematic platform. Our qualified and innovative research complements a whole new creative side of integrative design process that enhances our design & decision making.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

SA : Chennai has been selected as one of the country’s sustainable smart cities; however, a lot needs to be done to improve the quality of life of its residents. Improving the public transport system and providing alternatives to mobility is another aspect that architects and town planners need to pursue rigorously.

DL: Where do you think the design field is headed next?

SA : The future lies in smart building industry, where computers can learn to recognize patterns ranging from people in the room to room temperatures that correlate with high performance and efficiency—and then recommend these conditions. Its solutions like these, that help building managers to reduce wasteful energy use by learning the preferences and occupancy patterns of employees and adjusting energy use throughout the day.

DL: How long does it take you to finalize a design project?

SA : Many of us struggle to bring products from that initial idea phase to actual completion. Projects are started and then quickly abandoned, never fulfilling their potential. And as a result, great opportunities for business growth are lost. Aero Hive – Sustainable Office tower took about 3-4 moths to bring to fruition from initial concept

DL: When you have a new design project, where do you start?

SA : There's always one part of a project that you absolutely love to do. Maybe it's picking out the colors, or developing the details, but try starting with this single element first. It may not always make sense to start with the task you love, but you might find that the rest of the project is more enjoyable or turns out differently than you would have expected.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

SA : The bottom line is that designers should always keep in mind that they are designing for their clients and not for themselves. The best design meets a client's needs and leaves the designer's ego out of it. Design will continue to evolve, and trends will come and go, but constantly honing your ability to produce great work based on exactly what a specific client is looking for is the most valuable skill to have as a designer.

DL: Do you think design sets the trends or trends set the designs?

SA : Good design has existed throughout time, but it still undergoes major changes and shifts from time to time. Changes in technology, the shift to mobile and other factors influence how design works and is implemented. Good design has adapted to the current state of technology and will continue to over time. If all designers had followed existing trends, we wouldn’t have experienced the same leaps and advances in design that we have. It’s thanks to the designers who thought outside the box and created new technologies and practices that design has made the progress it has.

DL: What is the role of technology when you design?

SA : Technology plays a vital role in the design process as it helps to simplify environmental complexities so that our clients can become part of the design transpiration and the larger sustainable solution.

DL: What is the role of the color, materials and ambient in design?

SA : Color carries emotional resonance with it, when we see a color, we have an emotional response towards that color. Colors connect to our feelings in a unique and memorable way, which makes them a powerful marketing tool to keep in mind for your design projects. The colors in your design need to be purposeful and have meaning in their use.

DL: Who is your ideal design partner? Do you believe in co-design?

SA : Every now and then, you come to a point where you need to select a designer to join your team. They are the key-makers, those with the ability to catapult your product and/or services to new heights. Making a well-informed hiring decision is no different than choosing a life partner or a new flat. It is one of those complicated and stressful challenges a leader can face.