FAQs

General Questions

What is bT Square Peg?

bT Square Peg is a Design Studio based in Bombay (Mumbai), India that creates designs for Architecture and Interior Design

Strange name, isn’t it: bT Square Peg?

You can read about bT Square Peg here.

And just what does bT stand for?

It's the name of my PC. I'm the Square Peg. We make a good team.

What are your qualifications; where did you study?

I am an Architect who graduated in 1992 from Sir J.J. College of Architecture in Bombay (Mumbai), India.

Where is your office? How do I contact you?

I work from my home-office in Bombay (Mumbai), India. To get in touch, please go to the contact page of this site.

Architectural Design

Are you an architect?

Yes, I'm an architect. Naturally I'm an architect. How would I be practising architecture if I was not an architect?

Where did you study architecture? What was your academic record like?

I graduated from Sir JJ College of Architecture, Bombay (Mumbai) in 1992 ranked second in the University.

Are you registered with the Council of Architecture?

Yes, I have been registered with the Council of Architecture in New Delhi since 1993. Unless an architect is registered with the Council of Architecture, s/he is not legally allowed to call himself/herself an architect.

What is your design style?

As in all other things, I refuse to be confined to a single "style" for architectural projects. Having said that, the designs that I enjoy most are invariably ones that are low-rise, use local materials and are responsive to the climate. If you look at the photos of past projects, you should get a fairly good idea.

Can I have a house which will use eco-friendly systems like rainwater harvesting and waste water recycling?

Certainly. Please remember that such systems are expensive in the short term though they will more than pay you back in the long term.

What is the cost of construction these days?

If only I could answer that question to cover all the possible permutations and combinations... To know more about some past projects, please click here.

Interior Design

How long has bT Square Peg been doing Interior Design work?

Since 1993, a year after I graduated from college.

How many Interior Design projects have you done?

Considering all the small and large sites put together, more than 50 projects have been done since 1993. The exact number, however, remains unknown. To see a few, please click here.

What kind of Interior Designs have you undertaken?

Most of the work has been either commercial (office) interiors or residential designs.

Do you undertake turnkey Interiors?

In a word, "No". I firmly believe that there must be a distinction of function between the designer and the contractor.

Do you have a good team of contractors? How long have they been with you?

Yes, of course there is an excellent team of contractors for all kinds of Interior Design work. Most of them have been with bT Square Peg since the mid-90s.

You talk about “green materials” in your architecture. How is it that you don’t mention the same for Interior Design too?

It is not as if environmentally friendly materials and methods are not available for Interiors but, the scope is more limited. This does not stop us from working towards the development of processes that achieve the same end, though.

What is your design style?

As in all other things, I refuse to be confined to a single "style" for architectural projects. Having said that, the designs that I enjoy most are invariably ones that are low-rise, use local materials and are responsive to the climate. If you look at the photos of past projects, you should get a fairly good idea.

Sustainable Design

What is Sustainable Design

Have a look at this section of the website. It should give you more than enough information to get you started.

Can I have a house which will use eco-friendly systems like rainwater harvesting and waste water recycling?

Certainly. Please remember that such water-harvesting and recycling systems may seem expensive in the short term but they will more than pay you back in the long term.

Can water-saving systems be retrofitted in an existing setup?

Yes, there are some systems which can be retrofitted in an existing set-up. You cannot expect them to be as effective as systems that were designed for these systems. This should not deter you from exploring the use of these systems, however. Water is a scarce commodity and will become even more expensive as demand is inexorably increasing.

Which trees do you think I should plant for shade?

The answer to that depends to a large extent on your location. My suggestion would be to look for trees that are - as far as possible - local to the area. Exotic species (which have been imported from other places) may seem to fit the bill, but they usually don't integrate with the local ecosystems. For example, a lot of people plant exotics like the so-called "Australian Teak" [Acacia mangium] or Gulmohur [Delonix regia] because they grow quickly. However, there is a large question mark over long-term effects on the soil fertility. I think it's better to have a slow-growing native tree that doesn't have negative side-effects.

What trees should I plant to attract birds?

Most local trees attract birds and fruiting trees are the most popular with the feathered folk. Personally, I like to grow trees from the Ficus family - Pipal, Banyan etc. - which are a positive haven for all kinds of birds in the height of summer - when many other trees are bare. Also, a not-so-pretty tree that attracts birds in large numbers is the Red Silk-Cotton [Bombax mulbaricum]. The burst of flowers that they generate in early summer will attract birds like the Rosy Pastor in large numbers. Please look for local trees as far as possible (see previous question for reasons).

Vastu Shastras

Are you available for constultation on the Vastu Shastras? What are you fees for the same?

My interpretation of the Vastu Shastras is based on the climate and comfort aspects of the built environment. This is not "Vastu Consultation" as most people (self including) see it. Therefore, if you want to know where you should place X/Y or Z object for the sake of your health/wealth/happiness, I'm the wrong person. Climatic and human comfort aspects are automatically considered during any design process at bT Square Peg, so there is no question of extra consultation fees.

Can the principles of Vastu be applied to entire townships? There is little mention of this aspect in your book.

Town planning has not been covered in the book because most people want to know about Vastu in relation to their personal dwellings/offices. To answer the question; yes, as far as the climatic aspects of Vastu are concerned, they can naturally be applied to townships at both, the individual as well as at the overall levels. However, that is no substitute to good town planning. Vastu can, at most, play a supporting role in such a situation.

I am these days going through tough times, so I am reading a lot on Vastu/Feng Shui. Is there something I can do/correct which will give a boost to my career and wealth?

Have you read the book? If you have, I must really be a terrible, terrible writer! But seriously; during tough times, the most rational of us could become superstitious - it's a natural human tendency. All I can say is, if a change will make you feel better, go ahead and make it. Often, feeling better is a prelude to doing better. However, if it makes things difficult in any way: visually, practically or even financially, you're better off waiting out the storm. This is a personal opinion and you're welcome to think differently.

But Vastu has helped so many people. How can you argue with that?

When applied in the correct context, the basic principles of Vastu are wonderful. Please remember that the Vastu Shastras were developed centuries ago when we didn't have fans, lights, garbage disposal units, air-conditioning, apartment blocks, telephones... the list is endless. Also, the principles work best on independent structures. You will notice in most diagrams, the four sides of a house are unattached to others. In today's congested world, this is a luxury most of us urban folk can not afford. Today, Vastu is often bandied about as a cure for all your problems. I am against the commercial exploitation of this science by obfuscation.

You have also used the word “obfuscation” in your book. What exactly do you mean by that?

It is mostly with reference to the "Vastu Experts" who ply their trade by cloaking it in superstition. They play on peoples vulnerabilities and randomly use words like "cosmic" and "inauspicious" by way of explanation. The book is my reaction to this.

What is your take on Feng Shui?

None whatsoever. My observations of what Feng Shui experts (in India) are doing to people is not in the least bit heartening. I'm sure that like Vastu, Feng Shui too had a rational origin. However, our home-grown experts in this field seem to be one up on the Vastu guys when it comes to obfuscation. Star-shaped stickers, plastic amphibians and mirrors hidden inside partitions are supposed to make a positive difference your life?

Where can I find ready-made plans of vastu houses?

If you're really interested, you might try to purchase a book or two. Please remember that the authors of these books aren't always designers, so you'll still need to get the plans modified to be suitable. What I have noticed is that there seem to be different interpretations of Vastu - what is okay with one expert is not necessarily okay with another. This is not surprising given that Vastu Shastras were refined in different parts of the country in response to the local climatic conditions. What works in Northern India is unlikely to work in the South and vice-versa. Eventually your layout should reflect your requirements. A ready-made plan can, at best, provide you with a starting point, but no more.