Pioneering Sustainable Solutions Through Design Thinking

At the Future of Design, distinguished industry leaders—Rahul Mistri, Principal Designer at Open Atelier; Meena Murthy Kakkar, Co-Founder and Design Head at Envisage; and Aditya S Chikodi, General Manager and BU Head at Tata Elxsi—shared insights on the transformative power of design thinking. Their discussion centred on how innovative design approaches can address contemporary challenges and foster sustainable living.

Innovation Meets Heritage

Rahul Mistri shared the philosophy of his Mumbai-based design firm, Open Atelier, which has spent a decade mastering interior design and landscape architecture. Mistri emphasised the importance of balancing innovation with respect for heritage, sharing insights from two notable projects.

“We’re quite ambitious and always look forward to engaging in diverse projects. However, today’s focus is on the approach towards design, not just the projects themselves,” said Mistri. He stressed the importance of selective participation in projects to ensure the best output.

The first project highlighted was the Green Cast Bungalow in Bandra, Mumbai. Built in 1918, this heritage structure was transformed into an event management office within 20 days, using modular furniture and plug-and-play lighting systems to preserve its architectural integrity. “In Bombay, there's a lot of development, but when we engage in a heritage project, we want to respect and reuse it while balancing our design ideas,” Mistri explained.

The second project involved converting an old mill in South Bombay into a 12,000-square-foot multi-brand European furniture store. Despite the dilapidated state of the space, significant structural repairs were made with a conservationist on board. The design incorporated conserved structural elements, plastered walls, and innovative lighting systems from Malaysia. Mistri concluded, “The reason we showcase these projects is to highlight the importance of sustainability and insightful design.”

Integrating Heritage and Modernity

Meena Murthy Kakkar began her segment by addressing the environmental guilt felt by architects. She recounted a poignant experience with a school project that eradicated a beautiful mango orchard, fueling her commitment to sustainable design.

"Sustainability is no longer a genre of design," Mina asserted. "It’s a matrix on which we have to do everything now." She emphasised three aspects of sustainability: environmental, social, and economic, and highlighted the importance of design thinking in addressing these aspects. "The most important part is to arrive at the right questions," she noted.

Kakkar posed three key questions:

Can we design spaces that spark conversations about living right?

Can our spaces bring value to society at a larger scale than just to the user?

Can we use the spaces we create as conversation starters for something deeper?

These questions guided her team in integrating traditional practices into modern design. She showcased two projects: Ramayana House in Lucknow, which used local arts and crafts to narrate the epic of Ramayana, and Wabi Sabi House, which blended Indian craftsmanship with global design elements using zero-waste terrazzo floors, Kalamkari motifs, and reclaimed materials.

“If your priorities are sorted, and you know what is to be done, you will find a way to do it no matter what,” Kakkar concluded, illustrating that traditional practices can inspire modern, sustainable designs.

Urban Design and Mobility

Aditya S Chikodi representing Tata Elxsi, emphasised the need to approach design from a business perspective amidst significant urban migration in India. He highlighted that while urbanisation reduces poverty and improves social equality, it also increases greenhouse gas emissions, particularly from buildings and transportation.

“To address these issues, we need to apply design thinking to urban planning, particularly in mobility and transportation,” Chikodi stated. He pointed to the adoption of clean mobility solutions like electric vehicles and CNG, and the expectation of having 75,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2050. Designing user-friendly vehicle interfaces can help alleviate anxieties about EV adoption by providing information about charging stations and environmental contributions.

He also emphasised the importance of integrating private and public mobility solutions, citing Kochi in Kerala as an example. Kochi's integrated multiple transportation modes and an open mobility network data platform, along with a single card for all transportation modes and commercial transactions, highlighted sustainability and inclusivity.

“Tata Elxsi has won several design awards, including the German Design Award with Tata Motors. Our designs aim to provide sustainable and inclusive solutions,” Chikodi concluded, noting that addressing urbanisation challenges could add $650 billion to the economy annually.