Creating a landmark

In a candid and insightful conversation, renowned architect Ponni Concessco discusses her journey in designing the iconic Telangana Secretariat, a true landmark that stands as a proud icon of India.

Three years ago, the Chief Minister of Telangana Sri. K. Chandrashekar Rao organised a competition for architects to submit design presentations for the Telangana Secretariat. And more than a dozen meetings that lasted close to 9 hours later, the project was awarded to the remarkable architect Ponni Concessco and her firm Ponni & Oscar + Rahul Architects. Today, this landmark of a structure shines bright as a proud icon of India in Hyderabad, fusing beautifully the European and Hindu architectural elements, yet reflecting the local culture. “For me, it was important that when people from across Telangana and India see this building, they feel a sense of belonging and pride and thus we opted for a classical design,” shares Ponni in a candid conversation with Sumisha Gilotra, Editor, Architect and Interiors India.

HERE ARE SOME EXCERPTS FROM THEIR CONVERSATION:

The Hyderabad Secretariat is a landmark structure in India. Where does its design borrow its influences from? 

I am a student of history and a huge fan of classical design. So, the secretariat actually borrows influences from many regions. It has inspirations from the temple architecture of India, fuses Middle Eastern and European influences, borrows the courtyard concept from traditional Indian architecture and comes together as one stunning piece of architecture that feels truly local! The idea was to make an impressive building that was sustainable, practical, and well-ventilated and makes a statement for Telangana which, as the youngest state in India, has emerged as the top state in power, food production, and one of the states with the highest GDP. And I think we have achieved that.

What are the key highlights of the design?