Suraksha Acharya

Specialized in Design.

Suraksha Acharya

About Suraksha Acharya

Midori architects is an award-winning firm, established in the year 2015 under the leadership of Suraksha Acharya, a cognitive member of the sustainable architecture field in India, championing the need to build better and more environment friendly structures. True to its meaning, Midori believes there lies an element of inspiration for all projects, large or small, through the Green approach. They are a young team of new-age designers, planners, thinkers and consultants from Chennai, striving to create everlasting structures through innovative form, modern flow and versatile function. The firm is committed using advanced technology and simulation techniques to produce architecturally pleasing work while pushing the boundaries of performative design, thereby becoming involved with several sustainable design initiatives.

  • Winner of the A' Design Award.
  • Specialized in Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs

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Interview with Suraksha Acharya

Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
I have been fascinated with buildings ever since I started playing with my brother’s Lego sets as a child. This spark eventually turned into a lifelong passion that would shape my career. My path started out in trying to balance my flair for engineering and passion for the arts. As an innovator, I wanted to approach design challenges with a fresh, unique, modern sustainable perspective that crafts spaces for life well lived.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
Midori architects is an award-winning firm, established in the year 2015, championing the need to build better and more environment friendly structures. The firm is committed using advanced technology and simulation techniques to produce architecturally pleasing work while pushing the boundaries of high performance design, thereby becoming involved with several sustainable design initiatives.
What is "design" for you?
Design is a collaborative and integrative process where art meets science and reflect the values of functional notion of utopia. Our qualified and innovative research complements a whole new creative side of integrative design process that enhances our design & decision making to deliver exciting, modern spaces that align our clients’ creative visions to their fundamental values.
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
We strive towards delivering quality urban spaces, offering our clients integrated, efficient and progressive solutions toward the future of our projects. Using advanced technology and simulation techniques, we try to simplify environmental complexities so that our clients can become part of the design transpiration and the larger sustainable solution. We believe in delivering high quality, effectively built spaces that align with our client’s priorities, budget and lifestyle. We undertake projects that embrace a diverse range of sectors which include the Residential, Workplace, Retail, Hospitality, Civic and Institutional uses.
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
My very first project was a design scheme for was for Putrajaya 2C5 Commercial Development, Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia. This 14 storey office tower was designed as a self sufficient water reuse/recycling system within the building. The key design feature of the iconic tower is a continuous green Eco infrastructure at the north facade, ascending up the tower through green ramps from the basement, infusing it with an ecological and social terraces and garden and back down on the rear facade by a series of ramps around a meeting room. I learnt a lot from this project under the mentorship of Dr Ken Yeang ‘Father or the Tropical Skyscraper’, whom inspired me to continue my interest in the field of sustainable design.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
We believe in design which aims to protect the environment and natural resources, recreating urban areas and buildings that are designed in order to fully cover their energy requirements without induce environmental damage. Natural cooling, compared to air conditioning, not only provides energy saving, economic and environmental benefits, but also constitutes a different approach, having as its goal, human comfort and well-being.
When do you feel the most creative?
Architecture is by definition subject to a complex set of constraints. Being creative involves continuous thinking, decision making and the dual nature of the word 'design', suggests a link between means and ends, with or without a clear conceptual tool to address the context or problem. When the term 'creative' is used to express the interaction of building to its environment and the architectural process is a synthesis, embracing artistic and scientific creativity, and invention.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
Sustainability is infused into all that we touch. By harnessing the local topography, climate, and vegetation, as well as cleverly manipulating a building’s orientation, at MIDORI, we strive to naturally create a comfortable indoor climate that reduces dependence on air-conditioning.
What makes a design successful?
By integrating the analysis of the interactions between building, occupants, and the larger environment, designers will model successfully the fundamental relationships that should drive the future of design.By simply observing how people behave in buildings or by asking them what choices they would make about their environments every building can successfully respond to the occupant comfort which aims to protect the environment and natural resources, recreating urban areas and buildings that are designed in order to fully cover their energy requirements without induce environmental damage.
When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
The built environment is key to humanity’s impact on nature and it is the major contributor to climate change and other significant problems. Natural cooling, compared to air conditioning, not only provides energy saving, economic and environmental benefits, but also constitutes a different approach, having as its goal, human comfort and well-being. Good design approach lies in our aims to create profitable projects that are energy efficient and thermally comfortable for occupants but also serve their communities while reducing the negative impacts on the environment caused by the use of finite natural resources.
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
Buildings are a living part of our world, they expand our senses of who, where and why giving us occasions to make human contact. Architects do have a social responsibility that extends beyond practice i.e. sustainable design. Architecture can significantly impact the built environment and with every project we have the enormous opportunity to eliminate GHG’s by minimizing building energy consumption. Zero Carbon Architecture through environmental design is our only future path. We must conceive a future that builds smarter, better and greener - connecting communities to the natural.
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
Forward thinkers inspire us, and that spark of ingenuity is at the heart of what we do. MIDORI is dedicated to providing contemporary design solutions for more efficient, healthier environments in which to work, play and live.
Can you talk a little about your design process?
Our skilled professionals innovate and create at every stage of a project keeping our sustainability agenda and environmental responsibility in mind. Our commitment to producing architecturally pleasing work while pushing the boundaries of sustainable design has encouraged MIDORI Architects to become involved with a number of sustainable design initiatives. Each of these initiatives seek to improve the built environment and to preserve, and even restore, the natural environment for future generations.
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
As a start up firm we don’t get the opportunity to design a skyscraper everyday, and open architecture competitions help us raise the standard of the team and push us to discover what might be possible in a utopian world. Usually, the “real world” can be quelling, due to client meetings, budget constraints, codes to follow and deadlines. The liberties that come along with entering competitions such as A’ Design Award are not only refreshing, but also extremely gratifying as you are truly designing for yourself.
Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
We are a young team of new-age designers, planners, thinkers and consultants from Chennai, and we create everlasting structures through innovative form, modern flow and versatile function.
How can people contact you?
We can be reached through our website www.midoriarchitects.com or email us at enquiry@midoriarchitects.com.

Extended Interview with Suraksha Acharya

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I graduated with Honors from the School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University, Chennai, India in 2007 and went on to practice at T.R Hamzah & Yeang Sdn, Bhd in Kuala Lumpur, under the mentorship of Dr. Ken Yeang. During this time, I was closely involved with the design phase of several large scale mixed-use, residential & commercial tower projects in Asia that were driven by sustainable concerns. In 2009 I chose to return to academics and pursued my Masters in Sustainable Environmental Design at the Architectural Association, London. In 2012 I joined a start-up firm Pomeroy Studio in Singapore as an Architectural Designer & later pursued my passion for ‘Green’ as an Sustainability Consultant with Design Partner Architects in 2013 & as a Green Building Analyst with Environmental Design Solutions in 2014. I am a LEED® Accredited Professional with a specialty in Building Design & Construction, a certified GRIHA Evaluator & Trainer, and one of the few design professionals from Chennai to achieve a Green Mark Manager (GMM) designation from the BCA Academy Singapore.
How did you become a designer?
As an architect, the profession embraces the individuality of each person. Designing buildings itself is a fulfilling and creative pursuit. Architecture always focuses on enriching one’s life and has the significant ability to touch on an integral part of a person’s life is a reason to be an architect.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
I have been fascinated with buildings ever since I started playing with my brother’s Lego sets as a child. This spark eventually turned into a lifelong passion that would shape my career. My path started out in trying to balance my flair for engineering and passion for the arts which lead me to explore my creative side. Architecture is the product when art meets science especially when designing buildings and structures.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
I have specialized in design of several large scale mixed-use, residential & commercial tower projects in Asia that were driven by sustainable concerns. At Midori, currently we are involved with the design of residential bungalows and interiors that is keeping the practice busy.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
Building a business isn’t a singular act; it’s a series of small steps. For the most part it is people management, effective communication, and seizing opportunities when available, Design is a small portion in the journey towards becoming a design legend. The key is to think big, start small, and learn fast
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
Great designers do not bow down to criticism. Because they take every criticism in stride
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
Bringing that subtle difference into your designs is what separates a great designer from a good designer. Like any other art, you don’t design something because it’s required. You design something because it fulfills the gap between needs and requirement. It’s shaped by how well it answers “why we are doing this?” or how it solves the purpose.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
My dream project is to build a zero carbon zero energy home in the Indian context.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
The youth are the future. Firms need to embrace the ideas, energy and enthusiasm of young people. This is the my idea of success.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
Frank Lloyd wright, Ken Yeang , and Norman Foster are some of the master architects that I draw inspiration on a daily basis.
Who is your favourite designer?
Shanty-Scraper- Invisible perception is one of our award winning projects that secured the 2nd place at the eVolo Skyscraper Competition 2015. The rise of city’s squatters over the past decade indicated the struggle to cope with rapid urbanization and the lack of political will in improving slum dweller’s access to essential services. Shanty-Scraper aspires to provide a unique solution for the fishermen of Nochikuppam located at Marina bay beach. The vertical squatter structure predominately is comprised of post-construction debris such as pipes and reinforcement bars that crucially articulate the structural stability. Recycled corrugated metal sheets, regionally sourced timber & thatch-mould the enclosure of each dwelling profile and lend to their vernacular language. The double height semi enclosures serve as utility yards & social gathering spaces for the poor. I believe designing for the economically weaker section of society fulfills my purpose of becoming an architect!
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
Clearly, most of our decisions are based on gut level. A design that solves our problems, a design that adds value overpowers a design which just looks appealing. It’s head versus heart that allows us to differentiate between perfect and defective.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
If I wasn’t an Architect, I would have been a fashion designer or a product designer which would have satiated my creative side.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
We believe in design which aims to protect the environment and natural resources, recreating urban areas and buildings that are designed in order to fully cover their energy requirements without induce environmental damage. Natural cooling, compared to air conditioning, not only provides energy saving, economic and environmental benefits, but also constitutes a different approach, having as its goal, human comfort and well-being.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
My family has been my biggest support through all my successes and failures. I am thankful for their love & support throughout my journey.

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