Biley

BILEY MENON M. Arch., FIIA, FIUDI

Principal Architect, Urban Designer & Partner

Biley Menon

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.

A winner of the IIA National Award for Excellence in Architecture, Biley was a UNESCO consultant national-expert for their initiative on heritage of Cochin. He is currently 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.

Contact: biley@ideadesign.org

AWARDS

  • Winner of Indian Institute of Architects National Award 2020 for Excellence in Architecture
  • Winner of Indian Institute of Architects State Award 2008 for Excellence in Architecture
  • Winner of the Economic Times Designscape Awards 2025 for Hotels & Resorts Architecture
  • Winner of the Economic Times Designscape Awards 2025 for Integrated Township Architecture
  • Winner of CWAB National Award 2025 for Hospitality Architecture
  • Indian Institute of Architects National Award 2015 for Excellence in Architecture (Finalist)
  • Indian Institute of Architects 2021 Kerala State Award for Excellence in Architecture (Finalist)
  • i-Gen 50 Award – Top 50 Gen-Next Architects in India by ITP Publishing Mumbai (2016)
  • Wipro W-ELITE Best Sustainability Partner Award (2014)
  • Awarded Best Thesis in the Department of Urban Design, School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi (2000)
  • Winner of  D Y Patil Trophy National Students Competition, National Association of Student Architects, New Delhi, (1996)

RECOGNITION

  • Co-Convenor, INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage) Cochin Chapter (2019-Present)
  • National Vice President, Institute of Urban Designers, India (2015-24)
  • Appointed National Expert, UNESCO, New Delhi (2011-12)
  • Member of Advisory Panel, LANDSCAPE – Journal of Landscape Architecture (2006-09)
  • Guest Editor, LANDSCAPE 73: Urban Design Special Issue of the Journal of Landscape Architecture (2023)
  • Member of State Design Policy Working Group, Govt. of Kerala (2023-24)
  • Member of Hi-Power Committee – Sabarimala Master Plan (2017-20)
  • Member of Master Plan Committee, Corporation of Cochin (2005-06)
  • Member of Master Plan Committee, Corporation of Cochin (2021-22)
  • Convenor, Tomorrow’s Cochin – Workshops & Exhibition by IIA Cochin Center, (2006-07) – Won the IIA National Recognition
  • Convenor, Living Monsoon International Design Talks Series & International Monsoon Architecture Festival – IIA Cochin Centre (2015-17) – Won the IIA National Recogntion
  • Convenor, Urbanism Next – International Talk Series by the Institute of Urban Designers, India (2021-2024)

ACADEMICS

  • Adjunct Professor, Dept. of Architecture, College of Engineering, Trivandrum for M. Arch (Urban Design) program (2019-Present)
  • Member, Faculty of Architecture, Cochin University of Science & Technology (CUSAT) (2019-23)
  • Member, Board of Studies, Cochin University of Science & Technology (CUSAT) (2015-19)
  • External Examiner – Jury Member, Master of Urban Design Thesis, School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi (Multiple Years)
  • External Examiner – Jury Member, Master of Landscape Architecture, Centre for Environmental Planning Technology (CEPT) University, Ahmedabad (2021)
  • External Examiner – Jury Member, KTU M. Arch. (Urban Design) Thesis, CET College of Engineering, Trivandrum (Multiple Years)
  • External Examiner – Jury Member, B. Arch. Thesis, University of Kerala, University of Calicut & CUSAT (Multiple Years)

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • Registered Architect, Council of Architecture, India
  • Fellow, Indian Institute of Architects (IIA)
  • Fellow, Institute of Urban Designers, India (IUDI)
  • Life Member, Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH)
  • Life Member, International Council on Monuments & Sites (ICOMOS)
  • Life Member, Institute of Indian Interior Designers (IIID)
  • Life Member, Kerala Management Association (KMA)
  • Member, Better Kochi Response Group (BKRG)

EDUCATION

  • B. Arch. (Bachelor of Architecture) – TKM College of Engineering, Kerala University (1992-97)
  • M. Arch. (Master of Architecture with specialization in Urban Design) – School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi (1998-2000)