Reflections

This was one of the most challenging projects I have ever experienced; time constraints placed a limit with no opportunity for any failure – it had to be right at first go!

Blind Light was a temporary installation at London’s Hayward Gallery in 2007 that challenged the very notion of sensory confidence. The brief seemed simple: fill a glass box with dense fog, illuminate it at 10,000 lux, restrict visibility to under two feet and ensure zero fog leakage from the open entry point, all while allowing for complete extraction within five seconds in case of emergency.

Whilst the project had a relatively straight forward brief, its realisation was technically very difficult, set against a very limited timeframe. The solution comprised of ultrasonic humidifiers, typically used in the agricultural industry. These were arrayed in a configuration guided by CFD studies and mock-up testing. Fog was delivered horizontally beneath a Barrisol ceiling that diffused the intense light. The result was an immersive, disorienting experience.

In Antony Gormley’s words – “There is part of me that feels that a lot of human nature is about trying to reinforce the illusion of our certainties. Art can undermine that. Losing the bonds of certainty about where or who we are seems to me to be very important.”

UTEC in Lima is a university complex dedicated to engineering and mining, where the architectural design evolved seamlessly from competition sketches to final construction.

The site’s dual context: a residential neighbourhood to the south and a major highway intersection to the north, defined as a linear form with two dramatically distinct façades, each responding to its environmental conditions. The north elevation features a rhythmic sequence of full-height, ten-storey concrete fins that provide shading, enclose staircases and service risers and frame deep voids carved into the building mass, shaped through daylight and thermal simulations. In contrast, the southern façade steps outward in broad horizontal terraces, opening toward the residential edge and offering passive shading and outdoor connectivity.

What remains most memorable is how closely the final building reflects the earliest design intent, refined through iterative environmental analysis and computational performance modelling into a coherent, climate-responsive architectural solution.

Beauty and elegance of the Velodrome sits in its simplicity and minimalist design approach, supported by extensive passive design features with nothing special/unusual in terms of technical design; a beautiful public sports building that fulfils its functional purpose and yet does not look industrial internally nor externally.

Inspired by the efficiency of a bicycle, the London 2012 Velodrome pursues minimal use of materials and energy. A double-curved roof, slung from cable nets, integrates skylights laid out for uniform daylight, ample for training yet glare-free for competition broadcast.

The arena relies on natural ventilation and under-floor heating; no active cooling is installed. During “competition mode”, the ventilation system supplies a gentle “boost-heat,” raising air temperature to levels that help cyclists break speed records without compromising spectator comfort. Extensive CFD and daylight modelling validated airflow, thermal balance and light levels, enabling the complete omission of air-conditioning.

The London Velodrome stands out for its simplicity of design and its world-class performance, providing an environment that has enabled cycling records to be broken.

At Noida International Airport, passive design strategies drawn from India’s vernacular architecture are reimagined at scale to reduce energy use and enhance user comfort.

A sequence of transitional zones replaces the typical abrupt shift from outdoor to fully conditioned indoor space. Shaded parasol structures in landside areas provide protection from sun and rain, leading into a large, fully sheltered but unconditioned public forecourt, an extension of the terminal roof, designed for retail, F&B and even future check-in services. The adjacent check-in hall operates in mixed-mode, naturally ventilated when conditions allow and cooled only during peak periods before proceeding into fully conditioned spaces.

This stepped environmental transition mirrors the journey of travellers, improving thermal comfort while significantly reducing cooling demand, demonstrating how climate-conscious design can elevate the modern airport experience.