ARCOP Associates is an architectural & master planning company offering a wide range of range of architectural services across residential, commercial, industrial & office buildings, hotels, cultural, educational & health institutions, and many other segments.

There has been significant advancement in tools and methods for conceiving and presenting the designs in the past 2-3 decades. Earlier, all drawing works related to design and construction used to be carried out on the Drawing Board and was all hand drawn. In the mid 80s and early 90s, it was the start of the Computer Aided design(CAD) with its various software. These helped in standardizing the work flow procedure and also enabled optimization on the allocation of manpower on a particular job. There was an economy of scales enabled production of technically accurate drawings and efficient faster delivery. The Digital era which accompanied also made it easier for sharing information among various participants and ultimately enabled the contractors to use the information efficiently in construction of buildings.

Further advancements in the digital area with the advent in the 3D visualization tools of Sketch Up (in mid 80s) followed up with 3Ds max(in the late 90s) enabled to digitally capture the designs. It helped enable the Client and Customer to understand the product better in three dimension than a two dimensional drawing(on paper) where the user had to have a fare bit of imagination to understand and comprehend the designs. Turn of the century brought further advancement and there were software like Rhino, Revit, Bim, Lumion, Trezi and many others. With clear cut approach of capturing the design and giving a three dimensional input, there are now various platforms available to present and explore the vast gambit of design. Moreover all the above software also enable the team to create a Virtual Building before it gets created on ground.

The approach to design has also changed; there is more inspiration from nature, leading to the requirement of parametric design which gets a big support system from these new age software. For example, Lotus Temple located in Delhi, which is notable for its flower like shape. The building is composed of 27 free standing marble clad `Petals' arranged in clusters of three on nine sides, with the height of central hall being slightly over 40m. For doing the loading analysis and creating the complex structure, computer analysis for all possible combinations was carried out using SAP IV program.

We have a responsibility to the future, and one should amalgamate the modern tools and integrate the basic principles of culture and heritage in the design

In this new era and generation, one can also collaborate with the industry to get into 3D printing of design prototypes for mass scale production. Ours is a rich cultural heritage where we had master builders create iconic structures which have stood the challenge of time take for example the exquisite Temple Architecture which were created a few centuries back the Sun Temple, MODHERA, a finest example of Temple Architecture in Gujarat next only to the Sun Temple of Konark. It was built in the 11th century AD. There is also the stepped well measuring 175 feet X 120 feet alongside the temple decorated with numerous miniature shrines locally know as Ramakunda. The tank has 108 small temples which contains the relief of various deities. This clearly depicts great visualization with the associated approach of collection of water with a place of worship in a dry and arid region for sustainability.

We have a responsibility to the future, and one should amalgamate the modern tools and integrate the basic principles of culture and heritage in the design. The future is in integration of lean design and construction principle. Buildings are being built on sustainable principles. All governing parameters are being tested using the digitally evolved software, enabling the integration of sustainable principles into the designs. The above is very important in order to offer saving of material and optimization of labor.

There is a collaborative approach to design and an important relationship with the industry for quality delivery. Increased emphasis is also on doing net zero buildings for sustainable future modern design day.

Buildings have an increasing bearing on parametric design. Case in example: the Legislative assembly and High Court Building as part of the Amravati Government Complex in the new capital of Andhra Pradesh which have set the tune for the building of the future. The future is bright, as we make the correct strides.