| S VENKATESHWARAN |
Always upgrade and update yourself, is the mantra of ace architect, Mr. Eswar of Nanganallur. When he started his career, he worked with boards and T-square scales. Now, he uses computers and CADD software. He believes that in the future, AI and 3D printing will play a significant role in architecture.
Mr. Eswar was born and brought up in Nanganallur. He was born on June 16, 1969, and studied at AJS Nidhi Higher Secondary School, St. Thomas Mount. He completed his schooling in 1987. His father, the late Mr. J. Vasudeva Rao, was a retired Deputy Director of DTCP, and his mother is Mrs. Manjula.
From a young age, Mr. Eswar was inspired by his father’s architectural drawings. He recalls how his father could create excellent designs using just a small scale. This inspiration led him to choose architecture as his career.
Mr. Eswar completed his B.Arch from REC Trichy in 1992. At the time, there were only two architecture schools in Tamil Nadu — one at Anna University, Chennai, and the other in Trichy. After graduation, he worked for two years under architect Sapnam Singh at Sapnam Singh Architects. He later joined Bharath & Associates at Guindy as an Assistant Architect. However, during the time, the architecture field faced a recession, leading to salary issues. Despite this, he secured some projects through his contacts and decided to start his own firm. In 1997, he founded Eswar & Associates. Though it is a proprietorship firm, he treats all employees as associates, which is why he chose the name.
His first project was for the family of Chandrika Manimaran, founder of CM Hospital, Nanganallur. Her brother, Karthikeyan, trusted him with designing a 3,000 sq. ft. independent bungalow in Nungambakkam. Since then, he has successfully completed numerous projects, averaging 60 to 70 projects per year.
Mr. Eswar married Mrs. Latha on August 31, 1995. They have two daughters.
When asked about the rise of flats over independent houses, he said due to population growth and convenience, more people are opting for flats. However, most still dream of owning a house, and affordability plays a key role.
Regarding the growing popularity of villas, he explained that villas are mostly built outside cities due to affordability. Many people initially buy flats but later face issues and prefer to move to villas. However, a villa within the city is very expensive, making suburban areas the best option.
M-sand, or manufactured sand, is an alternative to river sand. It is produced by crushing stones into fine particles in factories. Mr. Eswar explained that M-sand and natural river sand have the same strength and quality. The government has set specific standards for M-sand, such as double-washing and grading, to ensure its durability and usability in construction.
He mentioned that while India started using M-sand recently, it has been in use for a long time in other countries. Even Kerala adopted M-sand much earlier. One challenge is that M-sand and cement are gray, which can sometimes lead to confusion when mixing. However, with proper training, workers have adapted to using M-sand efficiently, making it a regular choice in construction today.
Traditional bricks (red bricks) are now being replaced by various types of ‘blocks’ in construction.
He emphasized that whether using bricks or blocks, the key factor is choosing the right quality for the required purpose. Traditional bricks also come in different grades, and similarly, blocks vary in quality. Proper selection ensures strength and durability in construction.
Discussing AI and 3D printing, Mr. Eswar acknowledged the importance of adopting new technologies. However, he pointed out that AI still requires human input and can only provide 50% of the expected results.
Mr. Eswar advised young and aspiring architects to focus solely on designing rather than construction contracts, as per professional ethics. He encouraged hard work, client satisfaction, and continuous learning. “Always upgrade and update yourself,” he emphasised.
