As an eco-sensitive architecture and landscape design firm, IDEA DESIGN focuses on everything you can see, hear, smell, touch and sense, and on how that total physical environment – from open space and landscape, roads and infrastructure, to the proposed buildings – affect people. We unite function, aesthetics, environmental quality and economic considerations to give each of our client’s projects a distinctive sense of place and identity.
People
BILEY E MENON M. Arch., FIIA, FIUDI
Principal Architect, Urban Designer & Partner
Biley Menon graduated from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi with a Master of Architecture degree. His postgraduate thesis, ‘Ecological Aspects of Urban Design’ was the first of its kind and won the Best Thesis Award in the Department of Urban Design. After working with Prof. KT Ravindran in New Delhi, Biley started ‘Idea Design’ an eco-sensitive architecture and landscape design firm jointly with Ar. Chitra Biley. With over 20 years of professional experience Biley has grounded his practice based on an ecological architecture and urban design approach to find solutions to global challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation.
He is a winner of the IIA National Award for Excellence in Architecture. UNESCO – New Delhi had appointed him National Expert for their initiative on heritage of Cochin. He is currently the National Vice President of the Institute of Urban Designers, India. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the Masters Program in Department of Urban Design, College of Engineering Trivandrum. He has jointly led consortiums with world renowned planners and designers in the fields of Urban Heritage Conservation, Ecological Restoration, Biodiversity Conservation, Botanical Gardens and Zoological Parks.
CHITRA BILEY B. Arch., MLA, FIIA, FISOLA
Principal Architect, Landscape Architect & Partner
Chitra Biley graduated in Architecture from the University of Kerala with Gold Medal. She completed her Masters in Landscape Architecture from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi winning the Narendra Juneja Gold Medal for the best student in the department. Her Postgraduate Thesis, ‘Cultural Landscape of Kuttanad’ was first of its kind in the department and won the TJ Manickam Gold Medal for best thesis in all departments that year in School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. After working with Prof. Mohd. Shaheer, Landscape Architect, New Delhi, she started professional practice jointly with Ar. Biley Menon.
A winner of IIA National Award for Excellence in Architecture, Chitra has extensive experience in Landscape projects as well as Landscape dominated Architecture and Planning projects. She is immensely talented in design and detailing and has in-depth knowledge of plants and horticulture. She has jointly led design of Ecological Restoration Parks, Environmental Education Parks and Zoological Parks along with world renowned ecologists, landscape architects and zoo designers.
Joint Studios with Jon Coe
Design Charrettes with Jon Coe (Jon Coe Design, Australia), internationally renowned Zoo and nature park designer – Thrissur Zoological Park Project
Joint Studios with David Hancocks
Design Charrettes with David Hancocks (USA & Australia) internationally known nature park designer and Sally Walker (ZOO & WILD, India) – Nilgiri Biosphere Conservation Park
Joint Studios with Rafiq Azam
Design Charrettes with Rafiq Azam (Shatotto Architects, Bangladesh) internationally known Architect – Sky-Villas Project, Kochi
Joint Studios with Joss Brooks
Design Charrettes with Joss Brooks (PFC, Auroville / Australia) world renowned landscape eco-restoration specialist & Eric Ramanujam (PFC, Auriville), faunistics specialist – for projects like Tholkappia Poonga Ecopark, Navalur Ecopark, Poondi Ecopark etc.
