ET BureauBy Divya Shekhar
BENGALURU: What sets entrepreneur Nakul Shetty's 5,000-sqft property in RMV-II stage apart from others is not the luxurious interiors or modern amenities, but something much more concrete: compost bins for kitchen and garden waste that are later used for producing organic vegetables, biological filters for water bodies, rainwater harvesting pits that replenish groundwater, use of reclaimed wood for flooring and furnishing, and open layouts interspersed with lush greens.
Comfortable living apart, what makes him happy is the personal satisfaction derived out of adopting a sustainable way of life. Sustainability is not a new concept.But a growing awareness to reduce energy consumption among luxury homeowners is making it a sought-after practice, as their large houses tend to guzzle resources. “It is the most logical thing to do,“ says Shetty. “We need not live in huts made of mud walls to assert our sensitivity towards the environment, but be individually responsible about the judicious use of resources, while having comforts.“
Architects believe, unlike the days when luxury was determined by the space occupied by a home, that the present paradigm of luxury involves sourcing materials from all over the world, which is an unsustainable proposition in itself.The key, therefore, is to control consumption with a few corrective practices.
Architect Chitra Vishwanath tells you where to start: “Homeowners can treat the sewage water generat ed in their homes rather than letting them into drains, adopt rainwater harvesting practices and share the treated and saved water.“
Also, in order to make sure that furnishing is sustainable, understand the conditions in which they are pro duced, their craft value and the distance from source to home. Akshay Heranjal, principal architect of The Purple Ink Studio, suggests increasing the biodiversity of landscapes. “Hydrophonics and aquaphonics are landscaping techniques that allow plants to sustain without water and help you grow more in a lesser space. Vertical gardens and pergolas will also add to the productivity of your home,“ he says.
His firm, which believes in the concept of `Regenerative Architecture', is working on the `Kilometer Zero' concept, where everything, including electricity and food, is generated on site. “We are planning projects where homeowners have dedicated farm spaces for growing herbs, fruits and vegetables,“ he says.
Bengaluru's weather facilitates fresh air and cross-ventilation, eliminating the need for heavy air conditioning, says Gayathri Shetty, director at Gayathri and Namith Architects (GNA), and chairperson of Institute of Indian Interior Designers (IIID), Bangalore chapter. “Large windows, skylights and open courtyards keep your home bright and airy; so you do not need to use air conditioning or artificial lighting during the day. Solar heating instead of geysers and standalone solar lighting for the garden is recommended.“ She suggests that home automation technologies are also a way to moderate energy consumption.
Uma Reddy , 53, founder of HiTech Magnetics, has taken into consideration light and wind direction while building her home. She is also experimenting with arch-panelled roofing in her farmhouse, reducing use of steel and concrete, and keeping heat radiation in check. Dispelling the myth of how sustainable homes are costlier than normal homes, she says, “If planned right, a sustainable home can turn out to be more cost-effective in the long run.“
Vishwanath believes that it is time luxury homeowners become patrons of eco-friendly practices.“If you produce energy in your home through large solar systems, you can also be socially responsible by directing the energy to someone else in the vicinity, like a school or other houses,“ she says.
Sustainability in homes might not be an overnight possibility . But with small and significant changes in lifestyle through integration of natural elements and reduction in energy consumption, responsible living is well within reach, luxury and convenience intact.
BENGALURU: What sets entrepreneur Nakul Shetty's 5,000-sqft property in RMV-II stage apart from others is not the luxurious interiors or modern amenities, but something much more concrete: compost bins for kitchen and garden waste that are later used for producing organic vegetables, biological filters for water bodies, rainwater harvesting pits that replenish groundwater, use of reclaimed wood for flooring and furnishing, and open layouts interspersed with lush greens.
Comfortable living apart, what makes him happy is the personal satisfaction derived out of adopting a sustainable way of life. Sustainability is not a new concept.But a growing awareness to reduce energy consumption among luxury homeowners is making it a sought-after practice, as their large houses tend to guzzle resources. “It is the most logical thing to do,“ says Shetty. “We need not live in huts made of mud walls to assert our sensitivity towards the environment, but be individually responsible about the judicious use of resources, while having comforts.“
Architects believe, unlike the days when luxury was determined by the space occupied by a home, that the present paradigm of luxury involves sourcing materials from all over the world, which is an unsustainable proposition in itself.The key, therefore, is to control consumption with a few corrective practices.
Architect Chitra Vishwanath tells you where to start: “Homeowners can treat the sewage water generat ed in their homes rather than letting them into drains, adopt rainwater harvesting practices and share the treated and saved water.“
Also, in order to make sure that furnishing is sustainable, understand the conditions in which they are pro duced, their craft value and the distance from source to home. Akshay Heranjal, principal architect of The Purple Ink Studio, suggests increasing the biodiversity of landscapes. “Hydrophonics and aquaphonics are landscaping techniques that allow plants to sustain without water and help you grow more in a lesser space. Vertical gardens and pergolas will also add to the productivity of your home,“ he says.
His firm, which believes in the concept of `Regenerative Architecture', is working on the `Kilometer Zero' concept, where everything, including electricity and food, is generated on site. “We are planning projects where homeowners have dedicated farm spaces for growing herbs, fruits and vegetables,“ he says.
Bengaluru's weather facilitates fresh air and cross-ventilation, eliminating the need for heavy air conditioning, says Gayathri Shetty, director at Gayathri and Namith Architects (GNA), and chairperson of Institute of Indian Interior Designers (IIID), Bangalore chapter. “Large windows, skylights and open courtyards keep your home bright and airy; so you do not need to use air conditioning or artificial lighting during the day. Solar heating instead of geysers and standalone solar lighting for the garden is recommended.“ She suggests that home automation technologies are also a way to moderate energy consumption.
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Uma Reddy , 53, founder of HiTech Magnetics, has taken into consideration light and wind direction while building her home. She is also experimenting with arch-panelled roofing in her farmhouse, reducing use of steel and concrete, and keeping heat radiation in check. Dispelling the myth of how sustainable homes are costlier than normal homes, she says, “If planned right, a sustainable home can turn out to be more cost-effective in the long run.“
Vishwanath believes that it is time luxury homeowners become patrons of eco-friendly practices.“If you produce energy in your home through large solar systems, you can also be socially responsible by directing the energy to someone else in the vicinity, like a school or other houses,“ she says.
Sustainability in homes might not be an overnight possibility . But with small and significant changes in lifestyle through integration of natural elements and reduction in energy consumption, responsible living is well within reach, luxury and convenience intact.
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