DEC/APR

Official Bi-monthly Newsletter of VOL 1, ISSUE 6 Habitat Technology Group

EDITOR’S CORNER Reflect more, improvise

In the wake of COVID-19 there are very clear indications that the construction sector will pass through a period of severe crisis. We do not know how long the crisis would last, but one thing is certain, these are trying times unprecedented in the history of mankind.

We cannot look at this crisis from a narrow Kerala perspective because COVID-19 is an international catastrophe which has national and global repercussions. I have faced many a crisis in my life, but none as severe as this. This is a period where uncertainty knows no bounds and no solution presents itself before us.

For a company like the Habitat Technology Group, where over a 100 people work, these are downturn days, abounding in the scarcity of everything - lack of money, projects and work. For a building to realise, first of all we need money and then a healthy environment to work, both of which are absent now.

Crises I have faced many in my life. But I had faced them with equanimity and moved on. That is what we should do at present, find opportunities in this crisis, devise new methods and explore new technologies and materials.

Do it Yourself, prefab construction and the like are some areas we should explore. We need to reduce expenses, make us more productive, find new domains and resort to economi- cal planning. Above all we need creative thinking – think different, act different and build something that will look different and feel totally different.

These are days when we have more time on our hands. Use it to read and write, learn about new trends in architecture. Whenever I find time I visit the unique buildings created by Laurie Baker. Once inside them, those buildings motivate me, recharge me and bring me happiness. There is no place for ego in this field. We have many things to learn from what others have created. REFLECT We should realise that we are not the last word in creativity. Take the case of the architecture created by Antoni Gaudí, a Barcelona-based Spanish architect whose free-flowing works were greatly influenced by nature.

MORE, A Catalan architect known as the greatest exponent of Catalan Modernism, Gaudí's works have a highly individual- ised, one-of-a-kind style. Gaudi’s works were definitely not low-cost, but they were magical. I consider him as the IMPROVISE God-incarnate in architecture, because only God can create the wonders that he delivered to man. Learn from masters like him. For all of us this is a time for reflection, take time to do an EDITOR'S CORNER COVER STORY online course, become IT-literate. All these will keep you in Page 1 Page 2 good stead once the crisis passes.

PHOTO FEATURE PROJECTS Page 3 Page 4 Warm regards, G SHANKAR NEWS CONTACT FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN Page 6, 7 & 8 Page 8 HABITAT TECHNOLOGY GROUP COVER STORY ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 'CHALAI HERITAGE STREET' PROJECT PHASE ONE INAUGURATED

Habitat is proud to complete Phase 1 of Kerala Tourism's ambitious Chalai revitalisation project within the stipulated time and in the allotted budget. The first phase includes the vegetable market renovation, the construction of an amenity centre and the face-lift of the main entrance arch.

On 25th February 2020, Tourism Minister Shri. Kadakampally Surendran inaugurated the vegetable market at a small function, where Shri. V.S. Sivakumar, MLA, Tourism Director Shri Balakiran IAS, Padma Shri Dr. G Shankar and representatives of traders and trade unions were present. Shri. Kadakampally Surendran said: "Chalai Market embodies the heritage value of not only but also the entire erstwhile Travancore state." He added that the revitalisation of the Chalai market without compromising its heritage was an imperative aim of the current government. Shri. V.S. Sivakumar, MLA added that Dr.Shankar is the right man for architectural endevours that combine development and heritage.

Dr. Shankar recalled that Habitat faced several challenges while restoring the market’s vitality. Through its eco-friendly, sustainable and energy efficient construction methods the Habitat Technology Group has made the best effort to imbibe the emotions, nostalgia, heritage and cultural elements relating to the market.

Scheduled to be carried out in three phases, the ‘Chalai Heritage Street’ project will give Kerala capital’s storied Chalai market a complete makeover with painted walls along both sides of the street. The walls will depict past incidents and characters associated with the long history of the commercial hub. A walkway along the street with roof overhead, resting benches at vital points and a decorated street with flowering plants are some of the key features of the conservation project. Habitat is already working on phase two of the project.

Chalai market was established by the erstwhile Diwan of Travancore Raja Kesavadas, during the reign of Karthika Tirunal Rama Varma in the late 18th century. During the last few decades, it has deteriorated to an over-crowded market with congested and filthy alleys. Habitat has given a total uplift to the renovated vegetable market which comprises 233 shops. It was designed to give a fresh lease of life to the market that had lost its appeal with the emergence of glitzy shopping malls.

...... 02 PHOTO FEATURE ECO-FRIENDLY THAMPANOOR POLICE STATION

On New Year’s Day Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the new building of the Thampanoor police station, the state's first Smart Police Station. Designed by Padma Shri Dr. G Shankar and executed within the stipulated time by the Habitat Technology Group, it is the state's first multi-storeyed police station.

The building is designed to fit policing of the modern era. A separate room for armoury, halls for holding conferences, a room for questioning suspects and a case diary file stockroom are part of the building. In addition, there are sufficient rooms for the police personnel. CCTV camera surveillance has also been set up. The lock- up rooms have been designed in such way as to prevent incidents of convict suicides by hanging.

Shri V S Sivakumar, MLA, the Hon'ble Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram, K Sreekumar, Shri Lokanath Behera, IPS, State Police Chief & Director General of Police, Dr. B. Sandhya IPS, Additional Director General of Police were the dignitaries present among others.

...... 03 PROJECTS ...... ERNAKULAM CYBER RENOVATION OF POLICE STATION KOLLAM COUNCIL HALL BECOMES FUNCTIONAL Padma Shri Dr. G Shankar was honoured during the The Cyberdomes of inauguration of renovated Kollam Council Hall on 25th intended to detect cybercrimes and November 2019 at District Panchayat Office, Kollam. The provide awareness on the safe and hall was inaugurated by the Hon'ble Minister for Forests, secure handling of the cyberspace Animal Husbandry and Zoos of Kerala, Adv. K. Raju, on became operational in Ernakulam on 25th November 2019. the 10th of November last year. Following a Cabinet decision in April 2018, the Kerala Government had entrusted the Habitat Technology Group with the construction of three Cyber Police Stations in the state - at Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kozhikode. Cyberdome is a Centre of Excellence for the Kerala Police. It is envisaged as a collaboration centre for both the public and private fraternity to coordinate and share information, as well as resources, that will boost the safety of the cyber space...... DISASTER RESILIENT HOMES CHILD FRIENDLY HANDED OVER POLICE STATION At a grand function organised by Sri Sri Satya Sai Sewa As part of the Children and Trust, the keys to 14 newly built disaster resilient Police Initiative of the Kerala houses constructed by the Habitat Technology Group Police, Habitat Technology were handed over to beneficiaries in Ambalapuzha on Group completed a December 2019. These houses were made using child-friendly police station. disaster-resilient technologies and are built on stilts to ...... withstand floods. PROJECT COMPLETED The "Honours Block" of Govt College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram was inaugurated on 26 February by Dr. K T Jaleel, Hon'ble Minister for Higher Education in the presence of Padma Shri Dr G Shankar, academic/non-academic staff of the college and also the students.

...... AKHARAVEEDU HANDED OVER YET ANOTHER HOME With Aksharaveedu, a joint venture of Gulf Madhyamam, UNIMONI- NMC Group and AMMA, Habitat Technology Group once again completed and handed over a home to the five-member family of Muhammad Salih of Puthupa- 14/03/2020 di. Through ‘AKSHARAVEEDU’, Padma Shri Dr G Shankar Madhyamam aims to provide 51 houses was live on Mathrubhumi to homeless people, who have made a News' Nammal Namukai mark in society across the state. programme

...... 04 AN AUTHORED ARTICLE BY PADMA SHRI DR G SHANKAR APPEARED IN MATHRUBHUMI DAILY

Padma Shri G Shankar and his team on a nature inspiring North Thailand trip Photo caption

...... Padma Shri Dr. G Shankar speaking on the topic "Architectural Vision and Environmental Considerations in Social Perspective" at the 29th Msgr. Thomas Nedumkakel Memorial Lecture organised on 15th January 2020 at Nirmala College, Muvattupuzha.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR OUTGOING INTERNS! "My single word of advice to each of you would be that always consider social commitment and professional ethics in whatever projects you take up. The future belongs to you. Work responsibly! Success is yours." said Padma Shri Dr. G Shankar

...... 05 NEWS

G SHANKAR ON INNOVATION IN ARCHITECTURE The second day of the Design Week (KDW) witnessed a panel discussion on the topic ‘Design as an Industry: Why Design Policy for the State Matters’, which was attended by Dr. V Venu, Principal Secretary of Revenue and CEO of the Rebuild Kerala initiative. The Principal Secretary said that the state needs to overhaul its Building Construction Rules to achieve sustainable and eco-friendly goals in construction at the event that took placein the second week of December 2019. “In the event of a disaster, we cannot instruct people to build houses based on a particular design. We have to respect their choice. The state government will be preparing a reform agenda and one of the key suggestions will be about revising the building rules. We need to adopt changes that ensure sustainability,” he said.

While reminding the architects of the need to embrace eco-friendly and human-friendly aesthetic designs for keeping the natural landscape of Kerala intact,he also added: “As part of the Rebuild Kerala initiative and the reform agenda, we are going to start an offline and online forum where people, experts and practitioners can advise us on the areas which are in dire need of reforms.” Noting that design is a vital factor in the state’s startup ecosystem, Shri M Sivasankar, IT Secretary, said design lends immense help to hardware startups in terms of cost-effectiveness.

Padma Shri Dr. G Shankar, founder and chairman, the Habitat Technology Group, delivered the keynote address on the topic ‘Innovation in Architecture’, in which he said that the future of Kerala lies in creating sustainable construction practices and that cannot be compromised. G Jaigopal, managing partner and director, Designs, Inspirations who also attended the panel ...... commented that decentralisation is important in the construction sector...... DY SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AN INTERACTION WITH STUDENTS A team of enthusiatic students from the DY Patel OF ARISEN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL School of Architecture, Pune visited Habitat’s office, and interacted with Padma Shri Dr. G Shankar and Padma Shri G Shankar spent quality hours with the students of Arisen International other senior architects and engineers as part of School, (Early Childhood Education Center) Kochar Road, Edapazhinji Junction on their academic curriculum. 18th of December at his residence Siddhartha at Thiruvananthapuram.

......

EX-INTERN BAGS BEST THESIS IN NATIONAL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN ARCHITECTURAL THESIS 2019 A former intern at Habitat Technology Group, Ms Fabya Thaila has won the COA - National Awards for Excellence in Architectural Thesis, 2019 (undergraduate architectural thesis - 2019) conducted at the DY Patil School of Architecture at Navi Mumbai on 24 January 2020. She won the Best Thesis in National Awards for Excellence in Architectural Thesis award for her thesis 'Bhopal Gas Tragedy Memorial Museum'...... 06 NEWS

TRAINING PROGRAMME The Habitat Technology Group has conducted a workshop and hands-on training for students of SCMS, Ernakulam.

...... Padma Shri Dr. G Shankar interacted with the students of the SJB School of Architecture and Planning on 25th of January.

A CREATIVE MODEL OF KOCHI CITY POLICE COMPLEX Habitat family is proud of our interns Anand, Nadeem, Aiswarya, Rakshini, Swetha, Kaleshwar, Divyang and Prathiek (as seen in the photo) who did the fantastic model for the Kochi City Police Complex, which was presented to the DGP Shri Lokanath Behera on the 26 January 2020 ...... 'BRING BACK GREEN - NATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE 2020 Padma Shri Dr.G Shankar was a special guest at 'Bring Back Green - National Climate Change Conference 2020 the first of its kind in Kerala which was held at CUSAT. The two-day conference which was held from January 16 to 17 intended to be an eye opener to the citizens of the nation, especially the youth, to fight against climate change and take necessary action to support the governments with a detailed Plan of Action...... A NATAL CARE HOME FOR TRIBALS IN WAYANAD An aesthetically designed "Garbhakaala Chikilsa Mandhiram", a natal care home for tribalsconstructed by Habitat was inaugurated on 16th of January at Wayanad.

...... 07 NEWS

AN INTERACTION WITH SHRI MURALEE THUMMARUKUDY On our request, Shri Muralee Thummarukudy, the Chief of Disaster Risk Reduction in the UN Environment Programme, interacted with us on 3rd January 2020...... MEMORIES OF LAURIE BAKER Memories of Laurie Baker, the famed British-born Indian Padma Shri Dr G Shankar paid tribute to architect, were cherished on Laurie Baker on his death anniversary in his birth anniversary at an the April edition of Frontline magazine. event organised by the "We lost Laurie Baker, the doyen of Habitat Technology Group in people-centric architecture, on this day, Thiruvananthapuram. Baker 13 years back. When the news came early was renowned for his morning on April 1, 2007, I thought someone initiatives in cost-effective was pulling a hard one on me. But then, it was energy-efficient architecture confirmed. He died in his sleep. When I looked and designs that maximised at his face, he still had a smile, serene, so space, ventilation and light radiant. The only person I have met in my life, and maintained an who personified convictions. For himthere was uncluttered yet striking no conflict between the word and the deed!" aesthetic sensibility...... A HUNDRED MORE HOUSES As part of the Aster DM Medicare initiative with Rotary International, another set of 100 houses across Kerala for the flood affected families were handed over by the Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan at Kochi. Padma Shri Dr G Shankar was honoured for his contributions by the Chief Minister.

ADDRESS INFO WEBSITE Habitat Technology Group www.habitattechnologygroup.org Poojappura, Trivandrum - 695012 FACEBOOK PHONE NUMBER www.fb.com/habitattechnologygroup (+91 471) 2344904, 2342723, 2344877 YOUTUBE EMAIL ADDRESS https://bit.ly/2SwzXAN [email protected]