An insight into Architect George Mathai’s design approach in an effort to blend nature and develpoment
Interview: Sangheeta Bhattacharya Text: Shalet James Photos: FWD Media & Terrafirm
Kochi is Kerala’s fastest growing metropolis, and a recently released report states that the city is becoming a highly-preferred real estate destination in the country. To accommodate the growing population, the housing sector is expanding expeditiously. Lack of basic necessities like a clean and healthy environment is a critical issue being faced by this expanding industry. With global warming as the greatest challenge, people have started realizing the necessity of green buildings to overcome the adverse effects of climate change and its impacts.
Architect George Mathai is one among the select few architects who introduced the Green Building concepts in Kochi. With over two decades of experience in architecture, George Mathai has become instrumental in creating projects that add to the aesthetic appeal of the city. Today, Mathai has emerged as one of industry’s best design masters with an exceptional range of exemplary works.
The first green project
Mathai incorporated highly innovative green building concepts through various projects he has handled. Riviera Suites, known as the first luxury apartment hotel in Kerala, is a venture of the Synthite Group, where Mathai was the principal architect and project director. Riviera is also known as one of the greenest apartment development projects in terms of open space, water conservation measures while credited with very high aesthetic appeal. Mathai believes that designs for buildings should be created to augment lifestyles.
Adopting an eco-friendly style in design while building a good relationship with clients is the philosophy that he follows in his profession. “I feel that architects are people with social responsibility and so while engaging in projects, the principles should be of prime concern,” adds Mathai. Mathai also designed the Ramada resort, which he says was a big opportunity as the plot was right alongside the spectacular Vembanad Lake and as a key design feature, the deluxe rooms of this 5-star resort had to be perched on stilts. Acknowledged as a signature design project, Ramada in all its appeal incorporates eco-friendly measures like mud architecture, processed bamboo and meandering corridors.
How it all began
While studying for the undergraduate program in Architecture from Kerala University, George Mathai’s thesis on “Urban conservation of Kowdiar Museum Avenue” received much appreciation even from the public. With an urge to learn more on the subject, he set off to Delhi where he was fortunate to have been trained under one of the celebrated architects, Bharat Bansal. “Mr Bansal guided me to take up challenging projects and helped me to align my thinking process in designing. I had two years of intense work experience where I gained knowledge on large-scale urban design and campus planning” said Mathai. Effectively engaging his experience, George Mathai designed the Vidyodaya public school, Thevakkal in a sprawling 12 acre hillock, blending the built environment with nature.
A beautiful house designed for V K Mathews, IBS Chairman, in Jawahar Nagar, Trivandrum is also a noted project. “I was privileged to design IBS corporate office interiors and also Vasundara Sarovar, a 5-star deluxe property where water is used as the key element and the buildings set in a thematic mix of tradition and modernity,” added Mathai. With the best projects to his credit, George Mathai aptly displayed his expertise in a selective range of project types in Kerala through his architecture, interior and landscape design which includes clubs, hotels, resorts, residential, institutional and commercial projects.“ I have done very selective projects only, but all of them stand out for their unique treatment on master planning and architectural designs” says Mathai.
Credits & Awards
The green building methods adopted brought recognition to George Mathai. He lays emphasis on interior designs that allow natural energy sources like air and sunlight to enter the houses for the occupants to live without air conditioners and other artificial cooling devices. High-efficiency windows, vertical landscaping, breathing walls and roofs are some of the other major highlights of his green building concepts which provides great and green living experiences. Vasundhara Sarovar Premier, deluxe resort in Alleppey district is a green certified campus by the Indian Green Building Council. The Synthite corporate headquarters which includes Synthite R&D centre and Synthite technology hub is another signature project.
This project which also is gold certified green building, has won various awards and accolades for its architectural and landscape design. In January, 2016, George Mathai won the state award for excellence in architecture from the Indian Institute of Architects for the design of the Synthite Building and also was the recipient of the “Best Worker Award“. “I create climate-responsive architecture. We achieve our objective when the end user is happy and content in terms of his aspirations and functional parameters, and the architecture is environment friendly and responsive” added George.
Giving back to Society
George Mathai has now launched his new initiative Terrafirm Global Academy of Design and Innovation “I have always had a yearning to give back my knowledge to the younger generation, so this Terrafirm initiative is the instrument to help prune their nascent design and creative skills and in the process become professionals with technical design skills and ability to create path-breaking concepts,” says George Mathai.
The Academy is a state of the art 20,000 square feet design learning centre nestled in a 5acre campus on the banks of river Periyar in Aluva . Coupled with a Kochi centre also , this venture is in technical collaboration with Pearson, the UK based world’s leading learning company, Terrafirm currently offers courses in Art & design, Interior design, Fashion design, Architectural technology, Graphic design, Lifestyle & Accessories Design, Photography, Design journalism, Fashion journalism with a target to add further courses like Visual communication, Animation, Digital media and Design management in the near future.
Terrafirm is an inspiring Design centre of excellence aiming to create high end professionals. Based on an experientially oriented curriculum and supported by inspiring faculty, the students write no exams but execute assignments and projects as basis for their evaluation. Terrafirm consultancy is now merged with the learning centre, thus allowing the students an opportunity to work with the Architect on his major projects. With an aim to elevate the learning centre as a “Design Hub” in the near future, George and his students are now busy planning to regularly host design conclaves in the city.