Tatva Rekha – Talk Symposium “Designing Through Habits & Human Experience”

“Designing Through Habits & Human Experience”

Date          :  18^th April,2026

Hosted by :  Z512 RV College of Architecture, Bangalore

Venue    : RV College of Architecture Seminar Hall, Banashankari 6th Stage, 4th                   Block,  Near Chikagowdanapalya Village, Vajarahalli Main Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka- 560109 .

Guest        :  Ar. Aditya Venkat, Habitart Studio.

Introduction

The Tatva Rekha Talk Symposium, organized by RV College of Architecture in association with NASA India – Unit Z512 under the NASA Nexus Initiative, was conducted on 18th April from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at RV College of Architecture, Bengaluru.

Centered on the theme “Designing Through Habits & Human Experience,” the symposium aimed to explore architecture beyond conventional design approaches by emphasizing the relationship between built environments and human behavior.

The session was led by Ar. Aditya Venkat, Founder of HabitArt Studio, who is known for his human-centric design philosophy. The event created an engaging academic platform for students to understand how architecture influences everyday life, emotions, and behavioural patterns.

Inaugural Session

The event commenced with registrations at 9:30 AM, followed by the formal inauguration at 10:00 AM. The speaker, Ar. Aditya Venkat, was welcomed by Suhanee, a first-year student of RV College of Architecture.

The session began with a brief introduction to the speaker’s practice, setting the context for the discussions that followed.

Key Session: Designing Through Habits

The keynote session opened with a thought-provoking question:

“Do we sit in the same spot every day without thinking?”

This question introduced the concept of habit-based design, emphasizing that human actions are deeply influenced by spatial environments.

The speaker highlighted that:

• Architecture subtly shapes movement and interaction 

• Repeated spatial experiences form behavioral patterns 

• Design must respond to user habits rather than impose rigid forms

Distinguished Speaker & Design Insights

Through a series of diverse architectural projects, Ar. Aditya Venkat elaborated on his design approach, focusing on:

• Understanding user behavior and daily routines 

• Integrating material sensitivity and contextual relevance 

• Managing client interaction and communication 

• Addressing practical design challenges and decision-making 

He emphasized that architects must go beyond aesthetics and actively engage in translating abstract ideas into functional and meaningful built environments while balancing client expectations.

Habits and Design

The session explored two fundamental ideas:

• Design shapes habits through repeated interaction with space 

• Design responds to habits by understanding existing user behavior 

This dual relationship formed the core of the discussion, highlighting the responsibility of architects to design spaces that align with human patterns and lived experiences.

Case Studies Presented

Several projects were presented to illustrate the practical application of these ideas:

Godhi & Bhumi’s Farm – Kollegal, Karnataka

• Inclusion of jagli spaces 

• Use of curved walls to soften spatial rigidity 

• Floor-seated dining reflecting cultural practices 

• Materials such as CSEB, Mangalore tiles, and red oxide flooring 

NSB Campus Cafeteria Extension – Bengaluru

• Strong indoor-outdoor spatial connection 

• Curved seating arrangements promoting interaction 

• Climate-responsive roofing and ventilation strategies 

Seetha Sadan – Adaptive Reuse

• Use of reclaimed wood 

• Repurposing of traditional architectural elements 

• Integration of old and new design languages 

Other Projects

Projects like Anandsiva Farms and Svatman Residence emphasized:

• Landscape integration 

• Climate-responsive design 

• Use of natural materials 

Participation & Response

The symposium witnessed active participation from students, with a total footfall of 67 attendees. The session transitioned into an interactive discussion, where students and faculty engaged with the speaker through insightful questions.

Rupak Kallianpur, Unit Secretary, shared his reflections on his professional interactions with Ar. Aditya Venkat, providing additional perspective on the architect’s evolving design journey.

Conclusion

The symposium concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Suhanee, followed by the felicitation of Ar. Aditya Venkat by Ajinkya, Faculty Coordinator of NASA Z512.

The Tatva Rekha Talk Symposium was a successful academic initiative that highlighted the importance of human-centric design in architecture. It reinforced the idea that architecture must respond to human habits, behaviors, and cultural contexts to create meaningful and relatable spaces.

Such initiatives play a vital role in bridging the gap between academic learning and professional practice, inspiring students to adopt a more thoughtful and user-focused approach to design.

Acknowledgment

We extend our sincere gratitude to Ar. Aditya Venkat, his team, NASA India – Unit Z512, RV College of Architecture, and all participants for contributing to the success of this insightful and enriching symposium.