Biome (Biome Environmental Trust)

Biome Environmental is a Bangalore-based firm focused on ecology and architecture. Created by the 2008 merger of Chitra K. Vishwanath Architects and Rainwater Club, Biome’s diverse in-house team includes designers, architects, civil and mechanical engineers and urban planners. The merging organizations have operated since 1990 and bring their unique talents to the new firm:

Chitra K. Vishwanath Architects
Has designed and implemented hundreds of real estate developments – residences, institutions and resorts – guided by ecological principles, integrating sound water, energy and land-use thinking into design

Rainwater Club
Has extensive expertise in providing knowledge services in water management and rainwater harvesting, ecological wastewater treatment and sanitation practices

Biome’s unique capability lies in thinking through the key ecological and social issues in each project. We have extensive working relationships with specialized knowledge experts in bio-diversity, tourism, hydrogeology, and material science, whose contributions we synthesize into a coherent design strategy and plan of action.
Design is a highly personal process, and we place great emphasis on client interactions to ensure the final project incorporates the vision of sustainability with the client’s aspirations for aesthetics, functionality, and budget.

Our approach

Biome’s guiding philosophy is defined by an enduring commitment to environmentally and socially responsible living. The question we constantly ask ourselves is how to make positives changes in the design of our buildings and cities to reduce their environmentally harmful effects, facilitate a lifestyle in harmony with the natural world, and benefit everyone involved in the process – from the end-user to the plumber and the mason.

One standard we measure our success against is the ecological footprint, which is a tool for measuring our impact on the planet’s resources. Our architectural approach strives to reduce the ecological footprint of our buildings while humanising the urban development for a balanced, clean, and “natural” living environment that does not compromise on comforts and aesthetic. Our approach to water sustainability looks at ways to lower water demand without inconvenience and to improve long-term water security in an increasingly water scarce world.