Architects & Interior Designers

Ar. Brinda Somaya - Somaya & Kalappa Consultants

The pandemic and its after-effects have given us time to reflect and think about our own actions and goals. We are experiencing very challenging and difficult times as the world is in a continuous state of flux. While we aim to steer our way safely, it is also a golden opportunity

Ar. Pavitra Sri Prakash & Ar. Sheila Sri Prakash - Shilpa Architects

The built environment can be improved by attention to detail in design as well as by meticulous specification of materials. Though there was a temporary change in the space requirements based on minimized occupancies and density, this trend seems to have reversed almost two years

Selection of materials and construction techniques will now have to be more user-friendly, long lasting, and easy to maintain and clean.

There is a deeper understanding of our habitat and environs and how homes and workplaces play a huge role in our mental and emotional stability

Ar. Sabyasachi Sen & Ar. Pallavi Sen - Sabyasachi Sen & Associates

Blurring the boundaries between the built and natural environment. Rapid urbanization has long created vast inequalities and divides in developing countries like India, and the pandemic has only accelerated this. This largely unplanned urbanization is coming at an extreme cost

The post pandemic era will nourish the desire for quality places. The pandemic has forced us to re-evaluate our thought process behind every design concept, especially in the design of public areas. It is an opportunity for designers to incorporate innovative notions, techniques

The pandemic made us realize the importance of curated environments and their impact on our well-being. In some ways, the pandemic has compelled us to reassess and radically change our lifestyles. It made the world sit up and realise how we have been ignoring certain softer

Ar. Sundeep Gwash - THE FIRM Architecture

The pandemic has only changed the dynamics in peoples’ lifestyle on a personal level; we have not witnessed the expected demand for more eco-friendly buildings. Mankind exhibits surprisingly very high adaptability: for instance, the pandemic has made a larger number of people

Architects are looking at reinventing and redefining new ways of living post pandemic. Globally, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused the environment to change, and people are recognizing the importance of healthy spaces for living and working. Way back in 1929, the Paimio Sanatorium in Finland

The basic tenet of Design and Environment will play a major role post pandemic in both the outward and inward-looking spaces. Living quarters would race towards having either a covered or open courtyard, which helps flow of natural light, vitamin D, and ventilation, or outward-looking

After the pandemic, the built environment has become inclusive of flexibility. Different typologies of buildings require different levels of flexibility. The residential sector needs to cater to Work-From-Home requirements; in office design, infrastructure is needed for online meetings

Ar. Reza Kabul ARK Reza Kabul Architects

The need for break-out spaces has taken precedence in the design of buildings. The built environment has started emphasizing more on open spaces within the structure and in the adjoining spaces. With residents couped up within their homes through the past two lockdowns

Role of Architecture in Preventing India's Pollution Crisis

After the coronavirus drama has played out, it will be the time for architects to adopt sustainable measures and materials to restore both the

By improving living standards, as well as the resultant increase in consumption of energy and resources per capita, can we design, or redesign

Sustainability: A Solution to Contemporary Problems

Every era depicts its own style of architecture - affecting people’s lifestyle as well as the culture of that place. Traditional architecture was the result of a concentration of people in a location as the population was unevenly distributed and was concentrated more

Architects are increasingly embracing the old wisdom of incorporating a courtyard in their design of residences and other housing projects, despite the space constraints and the growing demand for more infrastructure, in order to create a multi-use functional

Transforming Complexity of Form to Simple Functionality

Prof. Ar. Charanjit Singh Shah, Founding Principal, Creative Group & Chairman - Smart Habitat Foundation, in conversation with Ar. Kritika Juneja at Creative Group, discusses why it is important to take a holistic design approach when it comes to airports

I believe that ‘architectural style’ should be a response to the various climatic zones in context of India, to be designed according to clients’ personalities and project needs. Each place has a plethora of creative solutions, that have evolved using local resources and techniques, which constitute the part of our architectural knowledge. It is necessary to achieve a balance between continuity and desirable change, without fossilizing the past, and without making the change incongruent with its contextual surroundings.

Our projects speak of a responsible architecture that evolves through contextualization of various aspects. Conservation of resources ought to be our primary guidelines in projects. We try to bring appropriate design solutions through clarity in identification of problems, selection of the correct tools, and their proper application. The design and construction process ensure freedom for creative inputs at all levels of participation from client to the architectural team and the artisans on site.

“Achalayatan”, Conservation and Extension of more than 140 year old colonial mansion, Tithal, Valsad, Gujarat

We believe in designing spaces, which, in their form, space and technology, reflect the continuity of Indian traditions. Since the past four decades, our sustainability-focused practice has attempted to re-establish the relevance of decision-making processes using traditional materials, technologies and crafts in contemporary contexts. Through our works, we try to increase employment generation for the traditional crafts persons and aim to promote traditional knowledge and wisdom. Our every design decision evolves with sustainable designs and built-environments which minimize the use of electrical and mechanical energies for human comfort within the buildings, and maximize use of bio-degradable, long lasting and re-cyclable materials. We look for local solutions to local problems from local resources. At the end, we try to achieve an experiential and healthy space for all our clients.

Tree of Life Resort and Spa, Kukas, near Jaipur, Rajasthan

Abhikram is a Sanskrit word for initiation. While exploring the design direction and design process, we aim to make the external and the internal environment, functionally, psychologically, environmentally and spiritually, more contextual, integrated and comfortable for the users.

I believe in liberating spaces, not enclosing them. Every space needs to have a good optimum, be it a small sized apartment or large commercial offices. Every good designer analyses the plans from the client perspective, regarding practicality, functionality, and accessibility, before executing it. I don’t believe in confining spaces between four walls, on the contrary, I believe in open spaces, both for the interiors and exteriors.

It takes exemplary quality to reach elusive heights. The vision to rank among the topmost players in the world has fuelled and sustained our drive to deliver those exemplary projects which introduce customers to pioneering benchmarks in design aesthetics. The completion of prestigious projects in overseas markets further bolsters the track record of successes and credibility to deliver top-notch quality on time, every time. My constant endeavour remains to be counted among the topmost architectural firms in the world.

One of the projects that defines our architectural style is 96 Legends Square in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Dedicated to the winners of the 1996 Cricket World Cup, the building facade is designed with a ball balanced between four bats to commemorate the achievements of the Sri Lankan cricketers with a signature residential and an Indoor Cricket Facility, Hall of Fame, Museum, observatory, and a Specialty Restaurant. Though 96 Legends Square appears to be a structure dictated by the form, the base of our design philosophy is focused on functionality. Standing at 383m it is 211m taller than the currently tallest World Trade Center (Colombo), marking Sri Lanka’s presence on the world map of high-rises. 96 Legends Square shall be to Sri Lanka, what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris, and the Pyramids are to Giza. In fact, a visit to Sri Lanka shall remain incomplete without experiencing the magnificence of 96 Legends Square.

My approach to design is simple and open. I start my design with two guiding factors: the requirements and the site. I would like to see the building grow from the site naturally while fulfilling the requirements. I try to keep it extremely simple and responding to the climate. Integration of nature in the built form is always given importance.

Round Chapel Kalamassery

Ar. Geoffrey Bawa’s works have always inspired me. Another aspect which influence my design is the sociological aspect of it. The building which we design should reflect our commitment to society. Architecture has the capability to tell the history of the period it was built to future generations. So, I think it is my responsibility to reflect the correct ethos of design during the period in which it exists.

Alleppy Museum

In my design, I try to use locally available materials as far as possible. I am not fascinated by imported facade cladding materials to enhance the beauty of the building. My approach is to respect the context, and make the structure green and sustainable. I prefer painted surfaces with solids and void spaces, and architectural elements like pergolas, pillars, and limited glass areas, etc. I like to make use of modern technologies and we are also doing pre-engineered buildings (PEBs). My designs aim to bring ‘Happiness through Architecture’ to the ultimate users of the building.

I believe that the language and vocabulary of architecture is not a question about style. Every building is built for a specific purpose, in a particular setting, for a set of audience, and it is therefore intentional that we don’t impose any pre-defined visual form onto a project, rather let things emerge as the project evolves. There is a deliberate attempt to not make specific choices in our design directions.

As a philosophy, we try to work on projects that allow an element of experimentation. We play with form and space. To manifest a program, each form’s existence is validated in isolation and a more complex exploration is done that brings these forms together into closed and open spaces. This amalgamation is almost more important than the obligatory spaces and places.

We play with light and volume. Areas in quantity have always been questioned and argued against volumes in quality. What light can do to enlarge and exaggerate a space has always excited us. We play with materials and their textures. This is where principles of the Indian context and its contemporary interpretations become clear. With no specific partiality to textures and techniques, the non-vocabulary is perhaps the evolving language. Unconventional materials with identifiable techniques, common substances with unexplored textures, all applied in unexpected yet customized contexts – bring in a degree of fun in functional spaces.

The design process is a negotiation between intuition and reason – the subconscious and the researched. We delay diving into final solutions as much as we can to ensure all constraints and possibilities have been considered holistically.

The architecture in India today follows a typology that is either traditional or just contemporary, irrespective of the Indian context. In such a scenario, we attempt to make our projects examples of inquiries in contemporary Indian architecture - where architecture focuses on the issues of our time, reflects the moment we are building in, and for meeting the aspirations of our modern Indian society.

Architectural style is characterized by the feature that makes a building structure notable and visibly identifiable. Every architect has a specific style and I would call mine “form follows function” as was the thought of Architect Louis Sullivan. However, my style of architecture is not confined to one kind since every client is different, every project is unique, every plot is diverse, and every functionality brief is exclusive. So, any one style of architecture doesn’t work as the design depends on its usage and function.

4th Avenue Sunteck

Clients usually have a budget which needs to suffice for not just the functionality but also the frills. Today, most clients want a modern structure that must also encompass all the latest amenities and infrastructure, while staying within FSI limits, with ample parking and optimal usage of spaces. But each plot comes with its own challenges. Sometimes the plot is tight but the FSI is high, and the client may want to do a fancy exterior with tall glass windows and open-air podiums, but in this case it wouldn’t work. We would have to design a lean building which is a structural challenge in itself. This said, we would try our best to comply with the brief while designing the structure and work around the obstacles within the parameters coined either by the law of the land and/or the needs of the client.

We believe in treating each project as a separate entity. This includes re-looking at design, aesthetics, as well as management styles for each project, which in turn gives each of our project its own unique style.

I believe that form and function in many ways are one and complement each other. Beginning from within, the form should be the outward appearance of the function within, and the exterior should complement the functionality within.

4th Avenue Sunteck

My style is versatile. In today’s context, where pace and universal availability of materials supported by technology is the base, it is but imperative to develop designs that are adaptable and go with the times. Around 30 years back, when I started my design practice, local and natural materials were in use, Granite was not less than 75mm thick, walls were minimum 112mm and wood was available in plenty. We did a lot of work in natural brick, stone and wood. Even today, the Mysore Haat designed by us stands tall with purity of material and styling.

Today, all materials have been transformed into their lookalikes. Industrialization, ease of transportation and availability have changed the way we initiate design concepts and at the turn of the century buildings were designed with no relationship to their surroundings. At my firm, our building styles changed to Neo Classical or the Greco Roman. In fact, we designed a combination of styles and gave award-winning projects like the Indus International School in Bangalore, BGS Intl Kumbalgoud etc, each with a regional flavor and identity but with elements of newer materials for the capitols, columns, pedestals and the domes.

Greenwood International School

The digital era threw out paper and pencil from the studio and conceptualization of design was done on computers. For me, scale became difficult to imagine as the same size of screen was for a small house and /or for a huge campus. Colours came as code numbers and forms were done using computers and the supporting software. Solid geometry and interpenetration of solids became easy with such tools and transformed the thinking ability. My design versatility widened. Our design of buildings like the JSS Science Museum and the Spectra Conventions Centre were styled using such tools and they never compromised on the utility but helped large spans. Such versa styled projects like the Spectra Convention hall got the best façade award.

Indus International School

Restricted timelines have influenced my design style too. Our projects completed in a record 8 to 9 months encouraged us to think of design which would be quick to erect without compromising on stability or functionality and led us to research newer materials and technology. Metal and fabric, combinations with Glass, HDP panels etc brought in a new thought process and led to yet another unique style. Our “Y Boutique Hotel” is a modern building with its design concept borrowed from the Haawa Mahal of Jaipur. As it is said, change is the only constant thing in life, and so is my style.

Ar. Alfaz Miller & Aahana Miller ABM Architects

The designs by our firm have not changed the skyline of cities, but our smaller architectural projects of commercial buildings and bungalows have made a significant design impact, producing architecture that is site specific, sensible and timeless.

We believe in architecture that is simple and controlled and lacks stylised decoration. With large exposure to interior design, the buildings we design are practical with emphasis on function rather than just form. The designs are constructive, with purity of form and site and the design sensibility is dictated by the Indian environment with a preference for tropical architecture. Our architecture and design solutions are varied, comprehensive, and most importantly, client focused. Every creation aims to integrate a timeless aesthetic with functional design, an objective that has been at the core of the firm’s culture since its inception.

Architecture is an ever-evolving process and depending on the lifestyle, material availability, weather conditions, and geographical location, we can apply various types of styles. In Mumbai, for instance, we can see contemporary architecture along with classical typology.

I believe that there is no single style to work on as we try to give multiple options depending on the clients’ requirements. Our style includes contemporary, classical, art deco, and minimalistic, which we can identify by their features. In the classical style, we see symmetry, boldness, and simplified designs. In Roman and Greek architecture, we see huge columns, capitals, cornices, exposed materials, etc. In art deco, the features are linear, with strips of windows on the façade. Art deco is all about stylized decorative elements with geometrical forms, zigzags, chevrons etc. level. Contemporary buildings look solid because of their masses, curves or slant walls.

The choice of material plays an important role in the style of a building, for example, concrete is mainly used in the classical style, exposed materials are used in contemporary architecture, while the modern style uses materials like steel, glass, etc. Architecture is not only about buildings and materials; we have to consider preserving nature. It is the responsibility of the architect to preserve the natural surroundings and to design structures in response to nature, and in harmony with the neighboring buildings.