From Roots to Architecture: The Story of Architect G. Shankar
Gopalan Nair Shankar is known as G. Shankar. He is an architect from Kerala, India. He advocates the use of locally available materials, sustainability, eco-friendliness and cost effectiveness. He is the founder of Habitat Technology Group, Thiruvananthapuram.
He founded it in 1987 and as of 2012, serves on a number of boards. G Shankar, founder and chairman, the Habitat Technology Group, delivered the keynote address on the topic โInnovation in Architectureโ, in which he said that the future of Kerala lies in creating sustainable construction practices and that cannot be compromised.
He has also won 3 national awards for green architecture, slum resettlement and eco city design. His attitude to โgreen architectureโ has gained him a reputation as the โpeopleโs architectโ. Shankar was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2011.
Education in Architecture
He did his architecture studies (B.Arch) from College of Engineering, Trivandrum from 1982 batch. Later he did his M.S. from Birmingham School of Architecture, UK. He also did his postgraduate diploma in journalism from the same institute.
He had a concept of Green Architecture. It was about a much-required qualitative change to the shelter sector in India. He has also won 3 national awards for green architecture, slum resettlement and eco city design.
He is a master mason & peopleโs architect. He has been engaged in bringing about social development through architecture. In 2019, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Asia Kathmandu. University of Asia Kathmandu is graded as a tier 1 university in international ranking.
Padma Shri Award
In 2011, Government of India awarded him with Padma Shri-The highest civilian award in republic of India. He was awarded for recognition to the distinguished services in the field of science & engineering.
In 1987, he founded Habitat Technology Group. The group became the largest NGO in the shelter sector in South Asia.
As he was an advocate, he headed many mass building projects like townships which are planned and built by following calamites & redevelopments of slums.
He built several houses in Latur, Gujarat, Bhopal & Gujarat after national disasters. He took many projects in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Palestine & Haiti.
He was inspired by life & work of element architect Laurie Baker. He always gave priority to the housing needs of common person, the marginalized, the fisher folk, the slum dwellers, tribals etc. This earned him the title of โPeopleโs Architectโ.
Legacy and Influence
He has been the UN Consultant for disaster mitigation for Srilanka & Maldives since 1987. He is the chairperson of National Committee Constituted by the Government of India to formulate guidelines on disaster resistant building technologies.
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