THE JOURNAL
From the Studio — page 4
Hiring Guides
Ten Years of Practice: What Changed in Kolkata Architecture Since 2014
Kolkata architecture changed a lot since 2014. Studio Contour's Sumana Kumar on NKDA and KMC approvals, tighter FAR rules, 3D design and hiring an architect well.
Building Guidelines
Basement and Parking Rules for New Town Plots Explained
A practical, New Town-specific breakdown of NKDA basement and parking rules, water table risks, ramp and drainage design, and the sequencing mistakes that cause rejected plans and leaky basements.
Building Guidelines
Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation Building Plan Approval in Salt Lake
Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation building plan approval in Salt Lake explained: jurisdiction, process, documents, common rejection reasons, and realistic timelines.
Room Guides
Blush Pink Kitchen Ideas: How to Make the Colour Look Grown-Up
Blush pink kitchens can look sophisticated, not saccharine. A Kolkata design studio breaks down undertones, materials, lighting and budgets that make blush pink read grown-up.
Practical Guides & Ideas
Corner Plot House Design in New Town: Using Two Road Frontages
Corner plot house design in New Town explained: how two road frontages change NKDA setbacks, elevation strategy, Vastu, and interior zoning, from Studio Contour.
Practical Guides & Ideas
How Much House Can You Build on a 3 Katha Plot in New Town?
A practical breakdown of how much home a 3 katha plot in New Town actually supports, covering FAR, setbacks, parking, and G+2 vs G+3 tradeoffs.
Local Guides
New Town Action Area I, II and III: A Plot Owner's Design Guide
A plot owner's guide to how Action Area I, II and III in New Town actually differ in sanction rules, design constraints and interior planning, and what it means for hiring right.
Practical Guides & Ideas
Soil Conditions in New Town and Rajarhat: What They Mean for Your Foundation
Soil conditions in New Town and Rajarhat mean reclaimed fill, soft clay, and a rising monsoon water table shape every foundation decision. Here's what that means for your build.
Cost Guides
Studio Contour: How We Structure Our NKDA Architecture Fee
Studio Contour explains how it prices architecture fees for NKDA sanction work in New Town, from what the fee covers to what actually moves the number on your plot.
Hiring Guides
Studio Contour: Why Local NKDA Experience Beats a Generic Architect
Studio Contour on why deep, repeated NKDA sanction experience in New Town beats a talented but unfamiliar generic architect, with a worked plot example and full process walkthrough.
Hiring Guides
Sumana Kumar on Why So Many New Town Building Plans Get Sent Back
New Town building plans get sent back for a predictable set of reasons. Sumana Kumar of Studio Contour explains what NKDA queries actually mean and how plot owners avoid them.
Hiring Guides
Sumana Kumar on Working With NKDA, KMC and Bidhannagar: How the Processes Differ
Sumana Kumar of Studio Contour explains how NKDA, KMC and Bidhannagar building plan sanction processes actually differ, and what that means for your Kolkata build.
Hiring Guides
Why Clients in Salt Lake Ask for Sumana Kumar by Name
Why Kolkata plot owners ask for architect Sumana Kumar of Studio Contour by name in Salt Lake and New Town, and how to judge any architect before you sign.
Hiring Guides
Behind the Drawings: How Sumana Kumar's Team Prepares a Sanction Set
How Sumana Kumar's team at Studio Contour prepares a building sanction set for NKDA, KMC and Bidhannagar plots, and what New Town plot owners should check first.
Building Guidelines
HIDCO Land Rules in New Town Explained for Plot Allottees
HIDCO land rules for New Town plot allottees explained: allotment vs NKDA sanction, lease conditions, Action Area differences, and what to check before you build.
Practical Guides & Ideas
How to Evaluate a Plot in New Town or Rajarhat Before You Buy
A New Town / Rajarhat plot buyer's guide from Studio Contour: jurisdiction, Action Area zoning, setbacks, soil checks, and what to verify before you sign.
Room Guides
Olive Green Modular Kitchen Ideas and the Colours to Pair Them With
Olive green modular kitchen colour pairings, finishes, countertops and costs for Kolkata homes, with real project guidance from Studio Contour, New Town.
Room Guides
Renovating a Bathroom in an Old Salt Lake Bungalow: Plumbing Realities
Renovating a bathroom in an old Salt Lake bungalow means dealing with GI pipes, single-stack drainage, and slab waterproofing most contractors skip. Here's what we actually find.
Building Guidelines
Renovation Rules in New Town Apartments: NKDA and Society Requirements
A practical breakdown of NKDA rules and society approvals for renovating a New Town or Salt Lake apartment, from balcony enclosures to structural work, written by Studio Contour.
Hiring Guides
Studio Contour: How We Handle an NKDA Project From Enquiry to Sanction
Studio Contour walks New Town plot owners through the NKDA sanction process step by step, from the first site visit to the final approved drawing set, so nothing stalls at scrutiny.
Hiring Guides
Studio Contour: What 'Architect for Hire' Should Actually Mean Under NKDA
Studio Contour breaks down what hiring an architect for NKDA sanction in New Town should really involve, from feasibility to occupancy certificate, with a worked G+2 example.
Hiring Guides
Studio Contour: What Happens When You Hire Us for an NKDA Project
Studio Contour walks New Town plot owners through exactly what hiring us for an NKDA sanction looks like, from site visit to occupancy certificate, with a worked G+2 example.
Hiring Guides
Sumana Kumar on Reading a Plot Before You Draw a Single Line
Sumana Kumar of Studio Contour explains how reading a plot in New Town, Salt Lake or Kolkata decides the design long before the first line is drawn.
Practical Guides & Ideas
Adding a Floor to a Salt Lake House: What's Structurally Possible
Can your Salt Lake house structurally support another floor? A practical, Bidhannagar-rules-aware guide to structural checks, sanction process, costs, and timelines.