Idea Design wins the Indian Institute of Architects State Award for Excellence in Architecture for 2008 for their project ‘Heritage Methanam’ at Kumbalanghi.
Jury Report Excerpts: The Heritage Methanam, is a renovation and re-adaptation of a bungalow of colonial character into a small hotel. The intervention was very carefully handled removing certain unfitting elements like concrete porch and introducing tiled roofs and courts and new staircases substantially improving the quality of spaces and befitting detailing to existing elements. The introduction of traditional wooden partitions and rustic flooring were commendable. On the whole, the building renovation and adaptive reuse showed a maturity in intervention and conservation.
The award was presented in a IIA Kerala Chapter Function at Trivandrum in January 2009.
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Jan 15, 2010 | Categories: Culture & Heritage, Hospitality & Tourism | Tags: Adaptive Reuse, Architecture, Conservation, Landscape Architecture | Leave A Comment »

This is the oldest part of the Ernakulam Town. While the British took over Cochin from the Dutch, the market was the first facility to move out from Fort Cochin to Mainland Ernakulam. Later a similar trade-community establishment similar to that in Mattanchaeery came about around it. This area encomapasses heritage structures and planning features [...]
Jan 14, 2010 | Categories: Culture & Heritage | Tags: Adaptive Reuse, Architecture, Conservation, Public Space Design, Urban Design, Urban Renewal | Leave A Comment »

The Wild Orchid Estates sits on a naturally beautiful, gently sloping terrain of Yercaud. Flanged by coffee estates and forest lands, this property is lush green and blessed with plenty of large trees and variety of plants. Wild Orchid Estates is planned in 40 acres of land. This is planned as a community project with [...]
Jan 14, 2010 | Categories: Community & Residential | Tags: Architecture, Eco-friendly Communities, Ecological Planning, Landscape Architecture | Leave A Comment »

Adyar wetland reserve and the Poonga Ecopark is an environmentally significant project proposed in the city of Chennai. We have got the opportunity to work on this project as landscape and urban design consultants with Mr. Joss Brooks, renowned ecological restoration specialist of Auroville. A combined fresh-water / salt-water ecosystem is to be revived to [...]
Jan 14, 2010 | Categories: Ecology & Environment | Tags: Architecture, Ecological Planning, Ecological Restoration, Landscape Architecture, Public Space Design, Urban Design, Urban Nature | Leave A Comment »

This traditional house on the backwaters of Kumbalanghi had undergone an intense restoration process to get itself converted into a heritage hotel with 7 Keys and 20 Cover Poolside Restaurant. The traditional charm of the building was reinvented through a surgical effort for removing a later concrete addition to this structure. Located right at the [...]
Jan 14, 2010 | Categories: Culture & Heritage, Hospitality & Tourism | Tags: Adaptive Reuse, Architecture, Conservation, Landscape Architecture, Resorts | Leave A Comment »

Idea Design had worked on a conceptual presentation for Ecological Restoration of Lakes, primarily prepared for Lakes of Bangalore, but applicable for Lake Systems of the sub-continent in general.
The presentation looks at restoration from a regional planning level to restoration of edges and mosaic of ecological-patches and finally to the lake’s urban interface and landscape solutions. [...]
Jan 13, 2010 | Categories: Ecology & Environment | Tags: Biodiversity Conservation, Ecological Planning, Ecological Restoration, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, Urban Nature | Leave A Comment »

This resort is situated in one of the beautiful locations in chinnakkanal. The site planning and landscape is done with minimum disturbance to trees and indigenous plants have been selected to give it an eco friendly feel. We had a wonderful time in solving levels and pathways, which resulted as one of the best resort [...]
Jan 13, 2010 | Categories: Hospitality & Tourism | Tags: Landscape Architecture, Resorts | Leave A Comment »

This is a unique project planned 600 acres of plantation hills in Vandiperiyar. The project while preserving its essential farming component (mostly tea, along with coffee, cardamom and other spices), converts the entire farm land to 200 virtual dairy farm units of 1Ha and 20 Cows each owned by investors. The joint management will continue [...]
Jan 12, 2010 | Categories: Community & Residential | Tags: Eco-friendly Communities, Ecological Planning, Landscape Architecture | Leave A Comment »

A housing project on the sloping terrains in the midlands of Kottayam. A steeply sloping site of 8 Acres with access at several levels, site planning held the key for the entire development. Promoted by eco-friendly builders, the project was carried out with lush green landscape planned for the the entire project area. The blocks [...]
Jan 12, 2010 | Categories: Community & Residential | Tags: Architecture, Group Housing | Leave A Comment »

This is a residential community housing layout coming up in Kangarapady, Cochin. The members of the community had initially come together through Jesus Youth, are working in diferent parts of the world, but have come together again to build this community project. 36 residential units are laid out in 2.5 acres with a unit size of [...]
Jan 12, 2010 | Categories: Community & Residential | Tags: Architecture, Group Housing | Leave A Comment »