Introduction: In an era where design ambition is often tempered by execution realities, few roles sit at a more critical junction than that of Paul Moses, Director (Design & Projects), RSP Design Consultants India Pvt Ltd. At RSP, this dual vantage point has shaped a philosophy where architecture and structure, particularly steel, are conceived as one inseparable discipline. For him, steel is not a concealed skeleton. It is form, rhythm, speed, and spatial clarity. In this conversation, he unpacks how steel has evolved from support system to design language, and why the future of architecture belongs to those who can think in both space and structure.
WHERE DESIGN MEETS DELIVERY
You operate at the intersection of design intent and execution reality. How has this dual responsibility shaped your architectural philosophy, particularly with steel-intensive projects?
Steel has long shed its role as a hidden framework. Today, it shapes form, accelerates construction, and defines spatial clarity. Operating at this intersection has reinforced a simple belief: architecture and structure, especially steel, must be conceived as a single, inseparable discipline.
At RSP, guiding design while ensuring buildability has distilled into a clear philosophy: aesthetic ambition must be grounded in structural intelligence. I do not view structure in isolation. An aesthetic structure is essential to achieving architectural aspiration. In our work, steel does not merely support space; it composes it.
“An aesthetic structure is essential to achieving architectural aspiration.”
STEEL AS ARCHITECTURAL LANGUAGE
From a designer’s lens, how is steel evolving as an architectural material?
Steel’s true value lies in its ability to enhance architecture. Its strength and malleability allow architects to explore expressive geometries, expansive spans, and fluid forms that would otherwise be unattainable.
Global exemplars such as Zaha Hadid’s Heydar Aliyev Center or Herzog & de Meuron’s Beijing National Stadium demonstrate how steel can define architectural identity as powerfully as it delivers performance. In airports and large auditoria where openness, flexibility, and legibility are paramount, steel enables uninterrupted, coherent spatial experiences.
“Steel is no longer what hides behind architecture. It is what gives architecture its voice.”
DESIGNING WITH STEEL FROM DAY ONE
When does steel enter your material conversation?
For long-span typologies like airports, auditoria, warehouses, steel enters at the concept stage. The same applies when speed of construction is critical. In both cases, architects and structural engineers must collaborate from day one. Early alignment ensures that steel’s advantages including lightweight framing, long spans, compatibility with precast systems are fully leveraged, rather than retrospectively adapted.
DETAILING FOR REALITY
What have real-world projects taught you about balancing precision and constructability?
On site, steel architecture is decided by details and tolerance. Precision must coexist with flexibility. Our approach rests on five pillars: early collaboration among all stakeholders, engaging steel contractors from the outset, rigorous site analysis, extensive BIM use to resolve clashes early, and repetition through modularity. These safeguard design intent while enabling efficient delivery.
SCALE, SPEED, AND COORDINATION
How does steel help manage large, multi-stakeholder projects?
RSP’s projects span large commercial, institutional, and mixed-use developments. Steel addresses scale through its high strength-to-weight ratio and off-site fabrication. BIM becomes the connective tissue. A shared model allows architects, engineers, fabricators, and contractors to collaborate transparently, resolve conflicts early, and sustain momentum.
TIME AS A DESIGN PARAMETER
How has steel enabled faster delivery?
In a time-driven industry, steel shortens the path from drawing board to handover. Off-site fabrication, pre-drilled bolted connections, reduced weather dependency, and BIM-driven workflows are key accelerators. When combined with precast RCC, especially for façades, steel enables fast-track delivery without compromising quality.
BIM AS DESIGN MEDIUM
How have digital tools changed steel architecture at RSP?
At RSP, BIM is not merely a coordination tool; it is a design medium. Projects originate as 3D models, allowing teams and clients to visualise structure, space, and connections from the earliest stages. As designs evolve, BIM enables continuous refinement, testing alternatives, optimising material use, and resolving clashes long before construction begins.
“BIM allows ambition to remain bold and achievable.”
A PROJECT THAT CHANGED PERSPECTIVE
Is there a steel project that reshaped your thinking?
The Lulu IT Twin Towers, a fast-track development using steel and precast systems, taught a lasting lesson. Pandemic disruptions later forced cost-driven substitutions, replacing precast façades with masonry. While economical, the shift slowed construction due to labour constraints. The takeaway was unequivocal: when speed and certainty matter, steel combined with precast systems remains unmatched.
ADVICE TO YOUNG ARCHITECTS
What mindset should young architects cultivate?
Curiosity and collaboration. Work closely with structural engineers and contractors. Build foundational knowledge of steel systems. Master Revit. Study the works of Renzo Piano, Norman Foster, and SOM. Understanding structural logic builds confidence in translating intent into clarity.
The RSP Method
- Concept-stage integration of structure and architecture
- Early involvement of steel fabricators
- BIM as a design, not just coordination, tool
- Modular thinking for speed and precision
- Steel + precast for fast-track delivery
Why It Matters:
As projects grow larger, timelines tighter, and expectations sharper, the separation between design and execution is no longer viable. Steel demands, and enables, a new architectural mindset: one where beauty is engineered, and structure is expressive. “Design With Steel” is not about choosing a material. It is about choosing a way of thinking, where architecture is drawn with an understanding of forces, spans, tolerances, and time. In this convergence lies the future of buildable ambition.
