Emailid: kbalakrishnan at iihs dot ac dot in
Krishnachandran Balakrishnan is a consultant at IIHS – the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) – India’s first prospective National Innovation University addressing the challenges of urbanisation through an integrated programme of education, research, consulting and advisory services. He contributes to curriculum development, consultancy and research projects at IIHS.
Education
- Master of Landscape Architecture, University of California at Berkeley (2006-08).
- Bachelor of Architecture, School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi (1998-03).
Krishna is presently pursuing his PhD in Environmental Planning at UC Berkeley.
As an architect and landscape architect, Krishna has been working in India on projects ranging from offices and cultural institutions to universities, with an emphasis on building-landscape integration and energy efficiency. Since June 2005 he has been a director in the consulting firm S.P.A. Design Pvt. Ltd with Stephane Paumier and Anupam Bansal.
As part of his graduate studies, Krishna has conducted research on urban microclimate modification through landscape planning, biological methods for waste water management and displacement ventilation systems. He has also worked on social aspects of housing design and participated in urban planning workshops in China and Egypt.
At UC Berkeley, Krishna has taught undergraduate courses in Integrative Biology and Ecological Analysis and graduate studios in Landscape Architecture.
In 2008 Krishna was awarded the Geraldine Knight Scott Traveling Fellowship to study traditional systems of water management and their significance in environmental planning and design in Spain, Iran and India.
Krishna’s current research focuses on climate variability and urban water resources in India. His other interests include playing the tabla and the guitar, black and white photography and pen and ink illustrations.
Since 2003, Krishna has been part of architectural and landscape design teams in India. For details of selected projects please click here.
Constructed Projects:
Triburg Headquarters
Tarun Tahiliani Design Headquarters
Alliance Francaise de Delhi
Jindal Global University
Anokhi Museum of Hand printing
National Center for Biological Sciences
Competition projects:
Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (second place – invited competition)
Anokhi Museum of Hand printing (first place – invited competition)
Minto Hall Redevelopment (second place – in national open competition)
National Institute of Design (finalist – national open competition)
Jal Mahal and Mansagar Lake Redevelopment project (second place – international competition)
Banganga crematorium (third place – national competition)
Working Papers
- Wankhade K, Balakrishnan K, 2011; Land, Infrastructure and Ecological Sustainability; Paper presented at India Urban Conference, Mysore, 2011.
Conference Papers
- Wankhade K, Balakrishnan K, 2010; Sustainable Settlements Design: Innovations in Curriculum; Paper presented at LENS Conference, Bangalore, 2010.