Biome Environmental Solutions

Company Name

Biome Environmental Solutions

The roots
For Varanasi-born Chitra Vishwanath, architecture became a profession of choice after her father directed her attention to it. “My father, a sculptor, was also very specific that I study at the School of Architecture in Ahmedabad. In fact, I never tried admission anywhere else!”

The nurturing
Vishwanath studied Civil Engineering in Auchi Polytechnic, Nigeria, after which she returned to India to achieve a graduate degree from CEPT. She sees life itself as an inspiration… and mentor. “Life as an architect inspires me, since it brings to me a multitude of experiences and people. I enjoy meeting people and their idiosyncrasies. There is nothing or no one particular who inspires me at this stage of life. The idea of mentor changes as you proceed in life. Everything is transitory – everyone is a mentor, and so is no one.” That said, her stints with Gautam Bhatia and CnT Architects gave her valuable insights into how different people approached work – which was so removed from the “self-explored” work style she would later adopt in life.

The fruits
“Establishing the ‘practice’ was serendipity, since one had to do something,” she states candidly. “I would rather say I started working freelance after the birth of our son. It was an uncle of ours who gave us the first chance to design/build his house – where we tried something new and, at the time, unestablished ways of construction to reduce costs.” This project received much traction during the ‘90s, and that helped them get more residential projects.

The practice – as Chitra Vishwanath Architects – got established in 1996, which is when Vishwanath had her first colleague. In 2008, it merged with her husband S Vishwanath’s NGO Rainwater Club (which worked on water and sanitation issues) to form Biome Environmental Solutions. It is now 18-strong with many interns. “We are a team which works specifically on ecological architecture and sensible water designs. In the office, now there is a semblance of hierarchy – which begins with four seniors, including me, with teams of younger architects assisting.” To them, each project is a milestone – but while specifically talking of projects which have shaken them out of their comfort zone, she lists Our Native Village, an ecological resort which saw them handle a multitude of functions within and around; Govardhan Eco Village, a large-scale development for ISKCON spread over 70-odd acres; schools like Buddhi in Bengaluru and Yellow Train in Coimbatore; and a factory they are currently completing in Faizabad.

The turning points
Their home, most emphatically, has been significant. “Since it is here that we were able to give shape to our concepts,” Vishwanath says. Built in 1995, it used earth and incorporated sensible water designs, in an upcoming middle-class area. Locals were much enthused and, in the last 20 years, the firm has designed close to 50 homes around theirs!

The destination
Vishwanath’s personal dream project is peace. But regarding the firm, she says she would like to see it being the torch bearer of a sensible way of doing architecture.