October 17, 2025
Richard Coutts recently participated in Innovate UK’s Global Business Innovation Programme in India to examine how flood-resilient design can support the future of Chennai and Coimbatore. The visit highlighted the opportunities that climate-vulnerable cities hold for advancing climate-resilient architecture.
During the programme, the delegation met with leading organisations, including the British Deputy High Commission in Chennai and the Chennai Resilience Centre. These discussions focused on how governance, innovation, and sustainable urban development in India are shaping the country’s rapidly evolving metropolitan regions. Visits to the Greater Chennai Corporation’s Integrated Command and Control Centre and the IIT Madras Research Park further demonstrated how technology is transforming city systems.
A notable highlight of the trip was meeting ‘rain studio of design’ and experiencing their breakthrough 3D-printed guest house at IIT Madras. The project showcases how sustainable construction technology can merge with visionary architectural approaches, offering new pathways for resilient building in flood-risk environments.
The delegation concluded in Coimbatore at the StartupTN Global Startup Summit, an event that brought together innovators, entrepreneurs, and policymakers committed to advancing smart city innovation in India. The summit underscored the country’s ambition to accelerate clean-tech adoption and future-ready urban design.
India’s rapidly urbanising landscape faces mounting climate pressures, particularly from flooding, a key threat to achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Through these engagements, we found strong alignment between their long-standing expertise in flood-resilient design and the pressing needs of India’s cities.
