THE FEELING of Design

BRINGING YOU ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE AND ASK OF OURSELVES AND OUR FRIENDS IN THE DESIGN INDUSTRY, IN INDIA AND AROUND THE WORLD

- TINA THAKRAR

SACHIN RASTOGI

Design Principal & Director, ZED Lab

Passionate about propagating solutions for energy efficiency in architecture, architect Sachin Rastogi is the cofounder of Zero Energy Design Lab. His award-winning projects are the result of deep research into new and innovative architecture techniques, and building to suit context and climate. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, and a Masters in Science and Sustainable Environmental Design from Architectural Association School of Architecture, London.

How can architects use parametric design to address the issues, meet the needs, and respond to the climate and context of Indian architecture today?

For centuries now, mathematical and scientific tools have enabled architects to create distinct architectural vocabularies, balancing sacred geometry with engineering logic to engender both aesthetics and functionality within our built environment. Today, it is critical to revisit the past, and apply new methods and ways of thinking, and to derive forms that respond to the increasing complexity and dynamism of modern societies. The tools at our disposal now allow us to reinterpret old methods and learn new ones to plan and design better buildings. Parametric design (also referred to as computational design) and modern software, while still relatively untapped, has opened up new horizons for architects and designers. How can we realize the true potential of parametric design to improve building performance? Can such tools be employed beyond form-finding experiments, to address complex issues in the AEC industry? How can parametric design be integrated with the Indian vernacular and respond to climatic and contextual concerns?

The Rise of Parametricism