K S Money & Sriram Ganapathi, KSM Consultants Pvt Ltd, Chennai

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KS MONEY started KSM Consultants Pvt Ltd in 1990 with many years of design and detailing experience behind him. After starting his career working on hotels and industrial projects, his approach to design has been precise, function based with a keen sense of detailing. His designs have a strong logic supported by his vast experience and immense practical knowledge. As a designer, he is never afraid to experiment with different materials and innovative construction detailing. His keen interest in art and classical music strongly influence his work.

SRIRAM GANAPATHI, Associate Director - KSM Consultants Private Limited, Chennai
An Associate Director with the practice of KSM Consultants Private Limited and an integral part of it for 18 years now, Sriram is an alumnus of the Department of Architecture, University of Roorkee where he won the Thomason Gold meda

l for Best Design Thesis in 1989. His residential project in Chennai was selected and featured as one of the best Design projects of the year in India among Young designers, in the February 2002 issue of the ‘Young Designers Special’ by Indian Architect & Builder. He has contributed to two secondary entries pertaining to traditional ventilation techniques in South India for the Encyclopedia of Vernacular Architectures of the World, Oxford Polytechnic, Oxford, UK, and has been selected for further contribution by Oxford Polytechnic, Oxford, UK for mapping of Vernacular architectural devices in the Encyclopedia of Vernacular Architectures of the World.

The architectural practice of KSM Consultants has over the last nineteen years evolved from a single project practice to more than fifty successfully completed projects. The rationale of the company has always been simplicity in design approach. Functional requirements remain the main focus with due regard to climatic parameters, especially the indoor climate, ventilation and natural light are of paramount importance. Their design approach has followed a similar guideline whether they design a factory building, residence, commercial space or an interior facility. The climatic parameters have always been the starting point. Their philosophy, especially in residential design (primarily in hot and humid Indian conditions), has increasingly been governed by improving the indoor comfort condition through natural means. The plan forms are developed with ample scope for cross ventilation. The use of 'cooler' material like brick instead of concrete in roofs and walls make the dwellings more comfortable thermally. In addition, they also advocate the use of appropriate technology in building practices and material coupled with traditional vernacular wisdom with the hope that the resultant design solution is sustainable and Eco-friendly. Going forward, looking at the immense urbanisation of the world, the inevitable depletion of energy resources, they are looking towards holistic design in urban centres. Their design inputs, apart from just the building, are towards looking at the reuse of water, possible utilisation of gray water for irrigation, looking for opportunities for urban farming, alternative energy resources and so on. They are aware that their responsibilities are far greater than just putting up architectural buildings and spaces. They need to find new ways by possibly looking into their more sustainable past and by using the technology available at hand today, to be able to redefine the society around them into a sustainable one.