For future, create a design that is timeless: Design experts
To ensure sustainability, the need of the hour is to create a design that is timeless, it is for the next 50 to 100 years. This was the view of the design experts, who were speaking at a session on Innovative Design Revolution – Crafting Sustainable Hospitality Spaces for Tomorrow, at the day 2 of the BW Hotelier Indian Hospitality Summit and Awards on Saturday.
Talking about how design can play a pivotal role in ensuring zero carbon footprints, Ar Reza Kabul President, ARK Reza Kabul Architects said, “when we design anything, we have to keep in mind we are designing for the future. You need to design something that can be converted. That is the best way to design. Orientation of the building is very important. It is important to build and design with the surroundings in mind.”
On being asked about what the approach and strategies should be to have a balance of innovation and sustainability, Bobby Mukherji, Chairman, Bobby Mukherji and Associates said, “I think it starts with being as Indian as possible. Indians know the material, they understand the weather, geography, limitations of a good project, getting the best out of Indian artisans. Locally made is the key. India has grown leaps and bounds in recent years. Earlier, there was a big dearth of quality products in India. Now great quality at par with the best of the world is available here. Give an opportunity to the community. We do a lot of hand holding also. Try and create a product that is timeless, and you can reduce the carbon footprints to a good extent.”
Adding to this, Rohit Wangnoo, Executive Director, Wang Hospitality Equipment, gave an example of the Morbi model. The Morbi city of Gujarat has become the ceramic capital of India with nearly 390 factories. Wagnoo said that there was a time when tiles were imported from China for being cheaper and from Italy for their quality. But now in Morbi, the tiles are better than Italy and cheaper than China. He added that there are many Europeans companies who want to collaborate with the companies from Morbi.
The moderator for the session was Reema Diwan, Vice President, Design & Technical Services, India & South Asia, Accor Hotels. She said that India has always been sustainable and we always had paper bags and small sustainable things like this. But it is interesting to know how we lost contact with this, trying to modernise and now when the West is talking about sustainable measures, we are going back.
Talking about use of locally available materials for sustainable options, Vandana Dhawan Saxena, Design Principal, Studio IV Designs said, “When we start an interior project, we want to choose material with a long-life cycle. Annual cycle of refurbishment in a hotel or a property is generally five years. If you can treat your hotel or property as a material bank, it means whatever comes out can be reused or recyclable. Less is more in today’s time, efficiency is the key.”
However, Klaus Kienzler, Studio Head India, Hyatt Design Services had a different view. Kienzler said that a brand has to evolve, it has to change, it has to note what is happening in the market. “The more senior and corporate people travelling will have an impact on the design. The generation which has the money to spend wants to explore other cultures. The hotels need to check on the demand and the need. Hotel brands for youngsters have a lot of examples. There is a market for different demands,” said Kienzler.
When asked about how sustainable designs can be executed keeping in mind the innovations and the cost involved, Wangnoo said, “In kitchen and laundry space, we still have to rely on not so cost-effective products. It needs to be seen what bargain we are getting. From the hotel owner's perspective, we need to save on the energy costs. Prudent decisions will enhance productivity and profitability.”
