Churning out the architect within

“Winning a client’s confidence has always been a challenge,” says Ar Behzad Kharas, CMD, BNK Group
 Ar Behzad Kharas saw many ups and down in his journey in the field of architecture, during the course of his journey his passion for architecture took him to establish his own architecture firm. In an interview with ACE Update magazine, he shares an insight about his journey, inspirations and how architecture has always been involved in his life since childhood.
Interest towards architectureMy father being an architect was a source of inspiration for me to bend towards design as a subject. As I grew up my inclination and understanding towards design increased, observing new structures and new designs being made in my father’s office. After joining architecture school I realised the various components that went behind to create a good design. It was then that it struck to me how vast and diversified is the subject of design. Understanding between good and bad design came to me as I studied in the design school. Further, when I graduated and started working is when I started learning the practicality of design and how sustainable and efficient a design can be.
Journey in the field of architectureAfter Graduating from Rizvi College of Architecture, Mumbai in the year 2002, Behzad N. Kharas began his career in the field of signage. After integrating the nuances of signage Behzad went to Pronith Nath and Associates to inculcate his refined sense of designing and concept development. Later, he was bestowed with an opportunity to work with the visionary architect Hafeez Contractor. This was short-lived as he had to leave within a few weeks to take care of a family crisis.
The year of 2005 saw the birth of ThinkBNK. The first project worked up on being a villa for a family friend and then other projects followed by. Though projects were progressively increasing, with some projects not seeing the light of the day, like many other firms ThinkBNK went through a rough patch. Behzad’s perseverant nature and resolute attitude took him to Mumbai where he started off with a transformed vitality with two staff members in tow.
Views on proposed amendment of Architects Act, 1972Earlier, in those days there were not many architects, therefore engineers were given licence to practice as architects to ensure that in smaller town’s ad hoc construction without structural systems would be curved and reliable structures would be built. As time passed separate engineering body were set up in various cities and is now clear that engineers should not be allowed as the quantum of architects has gone up. So an architect whose main subject is to design and plan and understand how a building works should be given the rights to develop it and accordingly engineers should deal with different subjects such as structural stability and innovation.
Challenges in architectureEvery architect’s biggest challenge has been to educate the clients and convince them on what the architect wishes to do. Some of the good projects are in which the client has full conviction in what we undertake as an architect. Some projects, unfortunately majority are such where client has no conviction in our designs and those projects are turning out to be mediocre.   Winning a client’s confidence has always been a challenge. For an architect every new client is a challenge even when you are well established.
Role of green buildingsGoing green is a subject that is much talked about since the past 45 years and has recently gained great momentum in a developing nation like ours. Every designer should have a conscious design process that is green driven.  It can be as simple as reusing paper in the office to educating clients on using products that are leed certified or certified by any green building council. There is a common notion that building green is more expensive than building the normal way. However it is a myth that has been proven wrong and case studies by many people and research is available on the internet.  However clients in general seem to be averse to this idea  and there is a shortfall of clientele accepting these new greener technologies as result it should be necessary for any government to implement a regulation like a bye law wherein any interior design should comply to a set parameter of green design processes.______________________________________
Every designer should have a conscious design process that is green driven.  It can be as simple as reusing paper in the office to educating clients on using products that are leed certified or certified by any green building council.

9