Calling all architects to conceptualise smart homes!

26 Aug 2021 CW Team

Smartness is a given in the ultra-luxury home segment. But for smart homes to really take off, the concept must make inroads into other segments. What would that take?

“I don’t expect smartness to filter down to affordable homes anytime soon,” says CN Raghavendran, Partner, CR Narayana Rao Architects. “But its adoption in the mid-range segment is imminent. It is up to architects to educate builders and potential users about the advantages, whether it is the savings on utility bills or the comfort and convenience of living in a smart home. We don’t have enough stock for people to experience smart homes; reading about it doesn’t help. Until people experience the benefits of smartness, the concept will have limited takers.”

The architect can help identify all the activities a smart home user would want to control during the life of the building, according to Rahul Kumar, Principal Architect, Rajinder Kumar & Associates. “Through smart designs, imagining the lifestyle of the user, one can suggest integrated solutions that allow the programming of environments for a more user-friendly experience with technology rather than control individual disciplines.”

Creating awareness is followed by planning and conceptualisation, both of which are more broad-based than design, which typically starts with the customer’s preferences.

Click here to know more…

Image: ATPL

- CHARU BAHRI

Infrastructure Transport

07 Apr 2026

Large Format Store Planned At M G Road Metro Station

M G Road station in Bengaluru is set to host the city’s first large-format commercial and experience space, with planning led by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited. BMRCL has invited proposals to develop and operate a central business district destination at the Purple?Pink Line interchange. The plan positions the station as a commercial hub designed to serve a broad commuter base across the city. The proposal is part of a broader effort to activate transit nodes commercially. Tender documents set a minimum monthly rental of Rs 0.944 million (mn), inclusive of GST, for the large-format..

Government Cancels Auction Of Eleven Critical Mineral Blocks

The government has cancelled the auction of 11 critical and strategic mineral blocks after receiving a poor investor response and failing to attract a sufficient number of qualified bidders. The decision represents a setback to plans to ramp up domestic exploration and production of critical minerals amid global supply chain disruptions and rising demand for materials used in clean energy and advanced technologies. The mines ministry issued an annulment notice setting out the reasons for the cancellations. The annulment notice indicated that the auction process for five mineral blocks was canc..

Gujarat Pushes Biogas Growth With 193 Operational Units

Gujarat has operationalised 193 biogas plants across the state and is planning to add 60 more units as part of a broader push to scale up clean and sustainable energy solutions. The existing plants, established under various government-supported schemes, process organic waste including cattle dung and agricultural residue to produce biogas and a nutrient-rich slurry. The output is mainly used for cooking and other energy needs in rural and semi-urban communities, while also improving local waste management practices. The Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA) is leading the initiative and is..