In the eyes of the world, architecture and design may appear as just another profession, but for those actively pursuing it, it’s nothing short of endless passion. With all the thought and deliberation that goes into realising a sketch into a built-form, many firms today prefer to take up the project in its entirety – from concept to execution. Design and build, also known as Integrated Project Delivery, is definitely not a novel concept in the industry – but the work done by architect-led, Design & Build (D&B) firms is as innovative as it is impressive.
One of the pain points in the design sector has always been the management of different stakeholders in delivering a single project without compromising on its design integrity and original vision. For clients, the design brief needs to be met through seamless execution with minimum to zero hassles, delivered in a cost-effective manner. The D&B model has the best interests of both parties in mind, offering a win-win scenario for all involved. And when it is an architecture and design firm leading the D&B service – as opposed to solely a turnkey contractor – the expertise on board is certainly unmatched.
Whether it’s a multinational company relocating to the Silicon Valley of India, or a large corporate looking for a standardised replication of its offices, a boutique office with creative spaces, and even sustainable residential bungalows and buildings, architecture and design firms in India are utilising this delivery strategy to create award-winning projects in a fraction of time. Here’s a glimpse into one of the most notable firms in the country and the exceptional work they are doing using the D&B advantage to fit their design ethos.
Lofty goals rarely translate to pragmatic success, but when JTCPL Designs set out with the “dedication to service the workspace industry through good design” in 2002, it was anything but wishful thinking. The Mumbai-based design firm has visualised and built work environments for big names such as Standard Chartered Bank, Cushman & Wakefield, HDFC Ergo, Axis Bank, Emirates, Bisleri, Visa, Bank of China…and with each project they have established themselves as experts in corporate interior D&B.
JTCPL Designs excels not only in the breaking down of the complex brief into liveable, productive designs – but also delivers these projects through an efficient timeline and actionable schedule. However, at the heart of it, JTCPL Designs believes they are in “the business of people – after all, the business of business is people” – citing a quote by Herb Kelleher.
For the firm, the founding principal Ninad Tipnis is the “anchor and captain of this ship” steering them to success. He believes that, “D&B is a refined way of collaborating for a successful project, where we assume the role of curating relationships based on our unique abilities and incorporate these into the project. The client has the luxury to interact with one entity and, when it’s an architect-led D&B firm like ours, it ensures design fidelity at all stages of the project.“
His personal design philosophy is characterised by simplicity, distinct lines and forms that incorporate a sense of flexibility as well as scalability. However, it is the architect’s positive attitude and enthusiasm for always delivering the best that pervades throughout the team, while his ability to work under pressure is an inspiration in itself.
Together, the architect and his team thrive on three principles or “Design DNA” as they call it: mainly being creativity at every step, practising integrity through ethical working and transparency, and being humble task-makers. In the end, their purpose is to leave people in a better environment than they found them in, and create a niche for the practice by simplifying work life through collaboration.
Case study – Fractal’s office
Fractal is considered a major disruptor in the HR space and the challenge for JTCPL was to demonstrate how the company’s distinct values could be translated to the workplace. The team came up with a design concept that revolves around the experiences of four major user groups – clients, Fractalites, recruits/trainees and families of Fractalites – after observing each group in action.
Of the various colour concepts being proposed, Fractal preferred a Scandinavian palette; and from a program perspective the design had to incorporate features like sit and stand desks, wellness rooms, all-faith prayer room, lactorium for nursing mothers and a children’s play area.
With LEED Gold certification from USGBC (under LEED CI v4 Program), the Mumbai-based workspace incorporates many pro-active Green measures: efficient lighting fixtures, integration of daylight and occupancy sensors, efficient HVAC systems, low flow fixtures in washrooms that save upto 40.21% water, among others.
Specialising in D&B helped JTCPL Designs to prevent more than 85% of the construction waste from reaching the landfill. “Construction waste management plan was finalised at early design process which allowed sufficient time for planning, coordination, identifying appropriate agencies and finalising contractual agreements for waste diversions,” Ninad Tipnis explains.