Logical Thinking on Distinct Ways

In Conversation with IA&B, Sanjay Puri expresses his views on the rampant construction in India, vertical living and how smart architectural systems can improve daily lives.

- Sanjay Puri Architects

IA&B: Did you always want to be an architect? Can you share with us your journey through the years while discovering your commitment towards the field of Architecture?

Sanjay Puri: I earlier toyed with the idea of being an artist or to be in advertising. Reading the book Fountainhead at the age of 16 made me decide to become an architect.

IA&B: What are your views on the rate at which cities are now growing?

SP: In India, cities are growing at an alarming pace. Without the augmentation of infrastructure in accordance with the growth of the cities, life in cities is becoming very difficult in every way. There is a lack of good public transport, open park areas, pedestrian spaces, cultural buildings, sport areas, parking spaces, insufficient roads and landscaped spaces in each of the Indian cities.

Buildings of any scale are being built next to each other without any overall density and master planning guidelines for the cities.

IA&B: You have been an advocate of building vertically, citing space constraints as the reason. How do you deal with the burdens of acquiring maximum profits, without consideration of open spaces and recreation areas?

SP: I do not advocate building vertically unless there is no option based upon the floor space index of the plot and the limitations of its size. However, if one has no option but to build vertically, the design should create a large amount of landscaped space for the community as well as individual open spaces for each house or apartment.