Prof. K.T. Ravindran—a distinguished Planner, Urban Designer, Academic, and Architect—brings over five decades of expertise to the field. His contributions extend across national and international platforms, earning him widespread recognition. He currently chairs the Architectural Heritage Advisory Committee of INTACH and serves as a Trustee of the Indian Heritage Cities Network Foundation. Additionally, he was a Member of the Advisory Board for the United Nations Capital Master Plan in New York.
His advisory roles include serving on the expert committee for Andhra Pradesh’s new capital and later as a Member of the International Jury for the A.P. Capital Complex. Previously, he held the position of Vice Chairman of the Central Environmental Impact Assessment Committee. At the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, he led the Urban Design department and served as Dean for over three decades. He also founded the Institute of Urban Designers India and sits on the Governing Council of NID Vijayawada and the National Advisory Committee on HRIDAY cities. As former Chairman of the Delhi Urban Art Commission, he played a pivotal role in shaping urban aesthetics.
His architectural practice spans cultural institutions, memorials, greenfield cities, adaptive reuse projects, and urban conservation. His research and work have been extensively published in national and international journals and books.
In an exclusive conversation with The Interview World, Prof. Ravindran underscores the significance of Kerala’s distinct state policy on design. He explains how implementing these principles strengthens environmental sustainability while enhancing urban infrastructure, from bus stops to airports. With a futuristic vision, he discusses how Kerala integrates design thinking to create resilient, functional, and aesthetically superior public spaces. Here are the key takeaways from this compelling discussion.
Q: Why was it necessary for Kerala to develop a separate state policy on design?
A: Kerala’s unique strength lies not in large-scale industries but in its thriving tourism sector, bolstered by well-developed road networks and public spaces. Unlike destinations boasting iconic monuments like the Taj Mahal or Ajanta and Ellora caves, Kerala captivates visitors through its lived experiences. The state markets its natural beauty, waterfronts, rich culinary and performing arts, and immersive cultural environment.
Recognizing this, the vision was to steer Kerala’s economy toward a design-driven model. The goal was to enhance the region’s inherent aesthetic appeal while promoting its crafts, heritage, traditional architecture, and indigenous sports. Rather than treating design merely as a marketing tool, the initiative aimed to foster the organic growth of local arts, rituals, and architecture—preserving authenticity while elevating quality.
To drive this transformation, 150 designers from across India and abroad, many of them expatriates, were invited to collaborate. The emphasis remained on leveraging locality not just as a geographical marker but as a conceptual framework—one that integrates Kerala’s cultural richness into a cohesive, design-led economic strategy.
Q: How will the implementation of these design principles contribute to maintaining Kerala’s environmental sustainability?
A: If we destroy the natural environment and its self-sustaining regenerative mechanisms, we erase the foundation of artistic expression. Culture itself emerges from humanity’s relationship with nature. This bond shapes distinct cultural identities, differentiating, for instance, the creative economies of desert regions, Himachal Pradesh, and Kerala. Each draws its artistic essence from its unique natural landscape.
Protecting nature, therefore, remains fundamental. Recognizing this, our design policy incorporated environmental safeguards at its core. Among the 150 contributors, 10 to 15 were naturalists, architects, planners, and landscape architects—experts dedicated to preserving both the natural and built environments. They also addressed the intangible ecological heritage, such as sacred forests and the reverence for forest deities, deeply embedded in local traditions. Culture flows naturally from this intrinsic connection with nature.
A dedicated group focused solely on environmental preservation, while eight other teams tackled various aspects of design—from urban planning and public spaces to transportation infrastructure, forests, and artistic traditions. Kerala’s cinema, a vital cultural force, featured prominently in these discussions, alongside contemporary and traditional dance, performing arts, and visual arts. Each group, consisting of 10 to 15 specialists, formulated detailed recommendations. A core team then refined and integrated these insights into a cohesive policy document.
Q: How will these design principles enhance urban infrastructure, including bus stops and airports?
A: The government’s policy, now a year old, has entered its second phase of implementation. The focus has shifted to strategic interventions that require minimal investment yet create a significant impact on daily life. One key area of improvement is the redesign of local bus stops across the state. Instead of a standardized model, each stop is being tailored to its locality, enhancing the public environment and fostering a stronger connection with the community.
Another critical aspect under review is the interaction between land and water—whether lakes, rivers, or the sea. Authorities are exploring ways to improve these interfaces through thoughtful design, transforming them into more accessible and aesthetically enriching spaces.
Beyond urban areas, the initiative also extends to rural communities, particularly through an unexpected but culturally significant space: the village tea shop. In Kerala, tea shops serve as vital social hubs where people gather every morning to read newspapers, share news, and engage in discussions. Strangers seeking directions or local insights instinctively turn to these spaces. Recognizing their central role, the government is implementing subtle yet impactful upgrades.
With minimal investment, improvements focus on better hygiene, access to clean water, and subtle yet contemporary enhancements to physical infrastructure. These efforts ensure that tea shops remain not just gathering places but integral parts of a well-designed public environment.
Q: Do these design principles incorporate a futuristic approach?
A: Design principles must be futuristic—after all, the future drives innovation. Kerala, a thriving hub for startups, has embraced this vision. You may not know, but the state boasts one of the most successful startup ecosystems in the country.
A key pillar of our design policy is the integration of the digital environment. The ambition is clear: transform Kerala into a global design hub through digital innovation. Ideas conceived anywhere in the world will flow into these hubs, where experts will refine, develop, and bring them to life. This approach positions Kerala at the forefront of design and technology, shaping the future with creativity and cutting-edge solutions.
