With over four decades in Architecture and innumerable unique projects to his credit, Ar. Hafeez Contractor had just not grown only as a well-known face in the architecture fraternity for his avant garde and surrealistic designs, but also as a man whose design approaches are in response to current demand. Ar. Contractor's constant belief, which he perceives has brought him to where he is today, is that architecture should be honest and should respond to the spirit of time, characterized by distinct ideas, disparate missions, contrasting convictions and divergent preferences.
Born in Mumbai he did his schooling at Boy's Town Boarding School, Nasik. After completing his architectural studies from the Academy of Architecture, Mumbai and post-graduation from New York's Columbia University in 1976-77, he started his career in 1968 as an apprentice with Architect T. Khareghat. There he became an associate partner in 1977. Between 1977 and 1980, he was a visiting faculty at the Academy of Architecture, Mumbai and in 1982 set up his own practice, Architect Hafeez Contractor (AHC), with a dedication to design excellence, efficient delivery and sophistication in building technology as his hallmarks. Today, he heads the largest architectural firm in India, with over 550 team members.
Ar. Contractor's passion is to create structures that exemplify functional and aesthetic qualities. He has shaped and changed the urban built landscape of the country through provocative, unpredictable and revolutionary ideas, while executing a wide range of architectural projects. His work spans the entire gamut of possibilities of the constructed space: bungalows, residential developments, hospitals, hotels, commercial complexes, educational institutions, sports facilities, townships, urban planning, civic redevelopment and infrastructure projects, etc. He is advocating for vertical growth of cities, judicious land use and the need for sustainable compact cities, to maintain a perfect harmony between increasing population and limited land resources. Ar. Contractor's special emphasis is also on social housing and his dream is to provide a house for every Indian.
"Architecture is a part and parcel of my life. It is something to me which is priceless and can't be expressed in words what I feel for it."
He is of the view that an architect should be very clear for whom (clients) he is creating; what should be incorporated in design that becomes unique once completed and draws others' attention. Also he should consider what will be its impact on the society, people and environment. He says, "One should keep abreast with changes and always adopt changes with time."
His design philosophy and thought process is not bound to one, but it varies depending upon the project, construction sites, client's demand, budget, etc. that he is dealing with. He solely believes in giving the need of a client, the utmost importance, as it is not just his profession, but his duty to fulfill those needs rationally.
Ar. Contractor was recently featured by The New York Times in their cover story "The Man Who Draws India". The Government of India conferred him with Padma Bushan in 2016, for his contribution to Indian architecture over 3 decades. He says, "Hard work, dedication, understanding of the social and environment needs and client's demand are the vital elements to get success in life."
