Preserving Heritage Through Innovation
Gautam@2022 Founder and principal architect at Stapati, Tony Joseph has been recognised as one of the leading architects in the country for over 3 decades and is still going strong.
Tony Joseph, the award-winning multi- disciplinary architect is the founder and chairman of Avani Institute of Design, a Center for Excellence in Architecture and Design in Calicut.
After graduating from MIT Manipal, he studied at the University of Texas, Austin, in the Charles Moore Master of Design program. Tony’s design sense was greatly influenced by his interactions and travels with Moore and his views on regional architecture. His fascination with arts and built forms, along with his mathematical interest, pushed him towards architecture. After returning to India, he started Stapati in 1989. Stapati, today, is a multi-disciplinary partnership firm with offices in Calicut, Kochi, Bengaluru and U.A.E.
Creating Sustainable Structures with Stapati
Stapati has won numerous awards for its innovative, sustainable designs since its inception in 1989. In 2015, ORO Editions from San Francisco published a monograph called ‘Timeless Resorts’ on Stapati hospitality projects. Internationally, ORO is renowned for publishing art and design books only featuring the most prestigious and rare architects. In 2016, Tony was also invited to participate in the Kochi-Muziris Biennale and designed its Biennale Pavilion. Stapati has been selected as one of the Top 100 most influential design firms in South Asia by Architectural Digest for 9 years continuously from 2014- 2022. The Enchanted Island Resort design has been chosen as World’s Leading Private Island Resort in 2019 by World Travel Awards.
Designing a residence in Calicut was Tony’s first project. His initial works were influenced by Sri Lankan architect. Geoffrey Bawa’s architecture and low cost technique used by Laurie Baker, the renowned British-Indian architect. Stapati still continues to be known for his cost effective and energy efficient architecture.
Stapati’s design philosophy is “Be sincere’— to the client, to the environment, to the end user and to the larger context. Stapati’s architecture emerges from a sensitive understanding of the context, one where the evolution of design is firmly rooted in the region’s traditional narratives while interpreting the elements in a modern language.”
Noteworthy Projects Kumarakom Lake Resort, Kerala
As one of the very first resorts built by Tony, Kumarakom Lake Resort was a turning point in his career. The architect repurposed materials from traditional Kerala architecture to make it a tribute to the heritage. The resort’s water-based ecosystem serves as the central theme of its design, with canals and waterways woven throughout the property. The use of salvaged wood from traditional Kerala homes adds character and pays homage to the region’s heritage.
Spatial planning creates a clear division between public and private areas with villas arranged along water canals and a central pool surrounded by palm trees. Its architectural design is characterised by steeply pitched roofs, deep-eaves verandahs, and intricate woodwork. The use of timber as the primary building material adds to the design’s enduring quality.
Malabar Headquarters, Calicut, Kerala
The Malabar Group Headquarters, Calicut, illustrates how sustainable design can be integrated with a contextually
relevant approach. The sloping site presented a challenge, which was resolved by designing the office spaces as two separate blocks with a landscaped spine in between. In the western facade, wooden balconies and trellises serve as sky gardens, providing shade and spill-out areas. There are amphitheatres, lounges, pavilions, and vegetation on the roof that reduce the intensity of the sun and insulate the spaces below. The result is a highly sustainable building, seamlessly connected to nature, with honest usage of materials and a contextually relevant design.
Team Thai Corporate Office, Calicut, Kerala
A vibrant and comfortable working environment was designed to blend with the natural landscape at Team Thai Corporate Office in Calicut. The site’s linear slope facing southwest was thoughtfully incorporated into the design, with functional areas elevated from the ground and a multifunctional double-height space on the ground floor. It creates a natural flow from the open space to the covered areas and elevated entrances at the rear, creating a cohesive and inviting space. The front facade trellis pattern provides both shade and ventilation, while the terrace is transformed into a garden and lounge, protecting against the hot tropical climate. The overall openness of the interior layout fosters a dynamic and collaborative working atmosphere.
Alila Diwa, Majorda, Goa
Luxury hospitality rooted in Goan sensibilities meets contemporary styling at the Alila Diwa resort in Goa. The architectural design, which seamlessly blends interiors and exteriors, celebrates nature as an integral design element. Large porous courtyards and old trees offset the built volumes in the entrance lobby, which features dramatic wooden truss work. With a refined material palette that blends local materials like laterite with locally available stones and wood, the spatial quality is elevated by detailing that references the vernacular but is interpreted in a contemporary aesthetic. Wooden pergolas, stone flooring, and copper light fixtures come together to create a truly exceptional spatial experience. The resort created is a celebration of sensory perceptions, offering an unforgettable visual tapestry of nature that enhances the hospitality experience.
Enchanted Island Resort, Seychelles
With only ten villas, the client and Tony made a conscious decision to preserve the natural features of the site, resulting in a minimal built footprint. Each villa was carefully located
to create secluded private retreats while maintaining picturesque settings. The island’s natural constructs were preserved, with every tree and boulder studied to ensure that the architecture would mould around them organically.
The spaces take cues from Seychelles’ colonial heritage, manifesting as sloping-roofed structures that merge with the surrounding environment. The resulting design provides all the luxuries of a contemporary resort getaway while remaining subservient to nature.
Future Prospects
As the principal and partner of a successful and ever-growing architectural firm, Stapati, Tony believes that it’s vital to consider the impact his buildings have on the environment and the larger context. With a global perspective and a heightened cultural and environmental awareness, his practice aims to create a timeless narrative that responds to the evolving world.
While many of his projects focus on achieving specific sustainability goals, according to Tony true sustainability goes beyond labels and requires sheer focus on a good design that is inherently sustainable. Tony Joseph is one of India’s most talented architects as a result of his commitment to achieving sustainability and designing timeless architecture.
Sourced from: Four India (Jun-Sep Issue) https://issuu.com/sloane-trading-international/docs/four_india_june_-_september_2023?fr=sN2QzMDE1MDA0MQ
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