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Conrad Gonsalves: A designer has to work within given local conditions. Green design must be the norm. Design skills must incorporate all these aspects into a design. The only features that may need to be kept out of the programme are design elements and materials that do not conform to the green norms and this is no sacrifice.

Namita Singh: No. Designing intrinsically green buildings only enhances the buildings.

Niranjan Hiranandani: Sacrifice per se is very relative term. It is nothing but a mindset that goes in during the planning stage which makes the difference. I am proud that whatever we give to our customers is nothing less than the best. It is our objective to be working ceaselessly in providing all our stakeholders with superior value on a continuous basis.

Nitin Killawala: There is no sacrifice when a space is well utilized for the purpose for which it is designed.

What do you think India’s eco-architectural world will look like in five years time?

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Ashok Butala: ‘Think globally, act locally’ must be everyone’s responsibility. The Indian architectural and design world must learn from the mistakes made in the West and use appropriate techniques and methods which are relevant to our climatic conditions to achieve a sustainable built environment. With the India Green Building Council and active participants from professionals the coming five years look positive and promising within the built environment.

Conrad Gonsalves: India has the largest possible resources of energy in the form of wind and the sun. Developing technologies and design innovations that will use these renewable sources will shape the future of design innovation  in India. Green is not an option. It has to become the norm. A utopian sort of dream could be that instead of a project announcing its green initiatives, there could be time when it would need - like the health warning on nicotine - to indicate the design, engineering and materials areas which are hazardous to the environment and the occupants.

Namita Singh: Unless a serious rethinking is done by the architectural fraternity, the current trend is heading towards a very superficial approach fuelled by the ‘green building consultants’ and vendors of so-called green but expensive materials and products.

Niranjan Hiranandani: There are some committed players and it will surely change the way the world sees India.

Nitin Killawala: Green architecture is not so much about architecture as it is about survival. Moreover we have the challenge to create structures which are easy to maintain apart from its functionality and affordability.