Abin Chaudhari, Founder, Abin Design Studio

At Abin Design Studio (ADS), they believe architecture is not merely about creation; it is a search. From social aspects to the mechanics of spaces and forms, from the beauty of light and shadow to striking a harmony with nature, it is essentially a continuing process of discovery and cohesion in the world. The journey is what contributes to our growth.

Works of ADS have been selected by the Museum of Modern Art, New York to be showcased in their publication and travelling Exhibition Project, “Uneven Growth: Tactical Urbanisms for Expanding Megacities, 2014”. It has also received “The International Architecture award, 2015” from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

Abin was also part of consecutive 3 years “AD50 “list – most influential name in south Asian architects. Most recently, one of their office projects has been shortlisted among the top 9 shortlisted workspace interior designs for the World Interior News Awards 2016 while other works have been chosen for the 2A Asian Architecture Awards to be held in Vienna in late 2016. The studio has also received ARCASIA Awards 2017.

He was invited among 7 architects from India to deliver “Preston Thomas Memorial Lecture” in Cornell University on currents in Indian Architecture. ADS has also initiated the Kolkata Architecture Foundation for architectural research, public intervention through art and design and providing open source for human habitat.

Akshat Bhatt, Founder, Architecture Discipline

Akshat Bhatt graduated from the TVB School of Habitat Studies in 2002, following which he studied at The University of East London under Peter Salter & Michelle Roelofsma. Following which, he worked with Penoyre & Prasad and Jeff Kahane & Associates in London. He established Architecture Discipline in 2007, an award winning multi-disciplinary studio based in New Delhi.

Akshat believes that true advances in regional expression can only be achieved through critical intimacy. His projects are integrated from conceptual framework to the tactile experience. As a result, the outcome of every commission is determined by a series of critical design processes that result in an architectural expression that is contextually charged & contemporary.

He won many prestigious awards including the JK & A+D Young Architect of the Year. He has been cited amongst the 50 most influential names in Design by the Architectural Digest and was recently felicitated by the Minister of Trade & Commerce and the Department for Industrial Policy & Promotion for the design of India Pavilion 2015 at Hanover.

Akshat is an accomplished photographer and a gifted musician, interests that contribute to his architectural endeavors.

Akshay Kaul, Founder, Akshay Kaul and Associates

Akshay Kaul specialises in the field of ecological planning, landscape and sustainable architecture and possesses more than 25 years of experience in India and USA. His is one of the only landscape architecture firms in India that has been doing sustainable landscape for more than 20 years in India. He has received International Award for Living Design City Competition for Sustainable Cities – 2011.

He has also won the International Competition Design for South Asian University. He has won other large campus design Master Planning Competition for Institute of Public Health and Management at Gujarat and University of Science and Technology – Kashmir. He has provided sustainable landscape design for IRRAD, Gurgaon campus that has received LEED platinum rating. His three different resort projects in Bangalore, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer has received numerous international reviews and stand out amongst the top 10 Yoga resorts and top five resort in the world in their own category. Raas Jodhpur, a boutique resort won the best building award at the World Architecture Festival, Barcelona, 2011 for which he did the landscape.

He has been a resource person for rainwater harvesting for Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi. He has been a visiting faculty at the Department of Landscape, School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, TVB School of Habitat Studies (TVB SCH), New Delhi, Sushant School of Art and Architecture, Gurgaon and Jamia Milia Univeristy, New Delhi. He has also delivered lectures and conducted workshops in India for students from Yale University, Ecole Nationale Superiure du paysage de Versailles, France, Universidad Politécnica Madrid, Spain.

Bijoy Ramachandran, Co-Founder, Hundredhands

Bijoy Ramachandran is an architect and urban designer based in Bangalore. He currently runs, Hundredhands, a design studio, with his partner Sunitha Kondur. Bijoy has a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from BMS College, Bangalore University and a Master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA, in Architecture & Urbanism. He also attended the Glenn Murcutt MasterClass in 2012.

Gerard da Cunha, Architect

Gerard is a practicing Architect based in Goa, and does projects all over the country in the genre of sustainability. He also set up the Museum Houses of Goa of which he is Curator. He runs the Mario Gallery which is dedicated to preserve and propagate the work of the legendary artist Mario de Miranda. He also runs a Publishing house. He is married to Nisha who is a teacher. They have 2 children – Nyhna and Tariqa and live in the Goan village of Salvador do Mundo.

Michael Foley, Founder, Foley Designs

Michael Foley runs an independent studio ‘Foley Designs’ known for its innovative thinking processes, zeal for design, originality of thought and the ability to use market and consumer understanding to create new benchmarks in design. Every design at the studio revolves around a mark of inventive thinking. Michael first made his mark with his creative direction at Titan Industries giving a contemporary makeover to the time-wear category; today his studio’s sensibilities redefine several challenging areas elevating design to a platform that is reflective of what people desire. Foley Designs consistently attempts to deliver design solutions that are fresh, desirable and influential. Foley Designs has been involved in landmark projects such as the design of the Queen’s Baton for the 2010 Commonwealth Games and several world-class products for the Indian and global market

Mona Doctor-Pingel, Founder, Naqshbandi

Mona Doctor-Pingel is based in Auroville, South India, since 1990. She studied architecture at CEPT, Ahmedabad and obtained her Master’s degree in Appropriate Technology from University of Flensburg, Germany. Her studio Naqshbandi offers a personalised approach to each project with a stress on finding the right balance of Man-Nature-Economy. Her projects include building biology, landscaping and interiors as an integral part of the design process. She has been part of a five year Indo-US joint research project on Building energy efficiency. She has initiated a series of monographs on auroville architects – the first of which has been published on Poppo Pingel and the second on Piero & Gloria Cicionesi is slotted for release in February 2018.

Nisha Matthew Ghosh, Co-Founder, Mathew & Ghosh Architects 

Nisha Matthew Ghosh is a qualified Diploma in architecture from CEPT Campus Ahmedabad. She has a firm named Mathew & Ghosh Architects which was established in February 1996 and later in November 2004 was registered as Private Limited Company in partnership with Mr Soumitro Ghosh. Nisha has completed projects like Urban Projects, Urban Parks, Corporate offices buildings, religious, industrial and residential buildings, corporate, commercial and residential interiors, furniture, products etc.

Parul Zaveri, Co-Founder, Abhikram

Parul Zaveri & Nimish Patel, Partners in Abhikram, a Planning, Architecture, Conservation and Interiors Consultancy firm from 1979 which pursues Responsible Sustainable Architecture through a wide range of projects, have done extensive work in conservation of our built and cultural heritage, revival and continuation of the use of the traditional materials, technologies and the skills, while generating work and livelihood for traditional craft persons. They also focus on reducing the energy consumption for human comforts, through passive means, as sustainability of environment and resources forms the core of their practice.

Through Virasat Foundation, Ahmedabad they initiated the ‘Unknown Crafts Persons’ Trophy (UCP Trophy), at the Annual National Association of Students of Architecture (NASA) Conventions with the intent to expose the students to analyse, investigate and understand the vast range of Crafts which exists all around us in India, themselves through their exposure to the craft they select.

The Duo is committed to share their knowledge on sustainability and conservation in built environment, nationally & internationally with students and professional communities.

Ms. Zaveri is a visiting faculty at NID & CEPT. She has won several awards for professional works, and continue to lecture and share knowledge with students and professional communities on two areas of importance, sustainability and conservation of the national assets of the Traditional knowledge base in built environment.

Along with her professional practice, she is also creating awareness amongst people on ‘Healthy Living’ through exploration of organic and bio-dynamic sustainable agricultural practices at her farm, marketing her Ayurvedic health supplements through Kanika Organic Farm.

Rahul Dalvi, Co-Founder, Dalvi Associates

Graduate in architecture from M. S. University, Vadodara, Rahul Salvi established Dalvi Associates with architect Swapnil Dalvi in 1997. Works featured in many young designer’s portfolios, national design magazines, shortlisted for national awards and presently voted in 2017 ‘Hot 100’ designers of the country by a known publication house.

Work profile covers institutional works like schools & educational campuses, hospitals, industrial architecture, urban design of congested city pockets, commercial & residential schemes, residences, to theatre sets & interiors of commercial & residential spaces.

Been a part of many panel discussions thru out India as also on National Television for topics related to future of design in India. Is the immediate past Chairman of IIId Vadodara.and present member of IIID National Executive Committee.

Visiting faculty at M.S.Univ., guide & jury member to many esteemed architecture colleges of Gujarat & Maharashtra. A passionate designer by profession with a glorious past as a national level cricketer. Though the country is going thru a major transition in all fields, he feels architecture is one of the most effected of the lot.

He is happy to be a part of this extremely responsible profession which directly plays with sentiments, standards and finances of its direct & indirect consumer. Feels this profession also allows one to conceptualise a small product as well as mega cities, but is also critical of speed driven architecture that overlooks basic logic, purpose and longevity.

Strongly feels that Green concepts are always a part of any traditional form of architecture & arriving to Contextual ideas and solutions is the right way to practise Architecture & design. Strongly believes in progression of concepts and forms without any compromise on functionality.

Sandeep J., Director, Architecture Paradigm

He is one of the founders of the widely recognized Bengaluru based architectural practice Architecture Paradigm, who are known for their unique design sensibility and the ability pioneer innovative concepts. Having studied architecture from BMS college of engineering, Sandeep established the firm along with his classmates Manoj ladhad and Vimal Jain in 1996. He has also successfully completed the Glenn Murucutt master class in Australia in 2012. He believes in the fact that the creative potential of architecture lies in transcending mere solutions to celebrate life through spaces while minimizing the impact on our environment.

Through the years, he has lectured widely apart from being involved with various architectural schools in the capacity of a visiting faculty. Most recently he has been on the board of studies at the Wadiyar school of architecture in Mysore. Professionally he has been involved in a broad spectrum of projects spread across India, ranging from single family residences to large-scale housing, institutional and public buildings to urban design. The work of the studio has been exhibited and extensively published in various medias. Over the years the practice has been recognized with over 59 awards which include both national and international commendations and also the recognition as one of the top10 young practices in India.

 

Savita Punde, Head, Landscape Design Studio

She has been the Principal Designer and heads the Landscape Design Studio. She is responsible for landscape design and site planning projects handled by Design Cell. She holds a Masters degree in Landscape Architecture from SPA, New Delhi and a Diploma in Architecture from Academy of Architecture Mumbai. She has been the President of the Indian Society of Landscape Architects (2008-2010) and is currently a member of the Executive Council of the same.

She was awarded a Gold Medal in Landscape Architecture from SPA, New Delhi in 1984. She is a member of the visiting faculty at the Department of Landscape Architecture in SPA, New Delhi. She is also one of the founder trustees for the Society for Environment and Architecture, which this year has started the School of Environment and Architecture, Mumbai, offering a full time Undergraduate programme in Architecture.

She has successfully led several national and international competitions for Design Cell. She has been instrumental in increasing the firm outreach nationally as well as internationally. She has worked on projects in Middle East including Kuwait, Dubai and New York. She is on the evaluation panel of TERI GRIHA and the advisory panel of Journal of Landscape Architecture.

Her commitment to indigenous species research, as well as her knowledge of a wide range of native and naturalized plants has proved an invaluable asset to the firm. Her interest in graphic representation has led her to maintain a hands-on approach to each of the project presentations.

Sanjay Puri, principal Architect, Sanjay Puri Architects

Sanjay Puri, the Principal Architect of Sanjay Puri Architects, India has been a speaker and a judge at numerous international architecture events including the Leading European Architects Forum, The World Architecture Festival & The Perspective PLAN events held in London, Amsterdam, Bologna, Milan, Venice, Barcelona, Singapore, Berlin & Belgrade.

Winning the World’s Best Residential Building of 2017 at the LEAF Awards, London and the World’s Best Future Infrastructure Project of 2017 at the World Architecture Festival, Berlin, Sanjay Puri Architects have now won over 114 international architecture awards.

5 Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture & Design’s International Architecture Awards in 2016, 2014, 2012  & 2011,  9 World Architecture Festival Awards in 2017 , 2015,  2014,2012, 2011 & 2010,  9 Society of American Registered Architects Awards (SARA), New York, 14 World Architecture Community Awards U.K and 3 Hospitality Design Awards New York in 2015,2012 & 2010 are some of the other awards won by the firm in the last 7 years. With over 114 international and over 100 national awards, the firm has won architectural projects in Spain, Montenegro, Mauritius, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Montreal and Dallas in addition to projects in 40 Indian cities. With a diverse portfolio of townships, schools, hotels, retail and office buildings, they continue their quest for creating innovative design solutions that are sustainable on a large scale.

With a firm strength of 72, evolving design solutions that are contextual and creating spaces that revolutionize the way they are experienced form the essence of the firms design philosophy.

Sonali Bhagwati, Co-Founder, Spazzio Design

Sonali Bhagwati is the Co-founder of Spazzio Design, an internationally recognized Design firm. She is the President of DPA after the merger of Spazzio with DPA. Sonali graduated from CEPT, Ahmadabad in 1986 and received a scholarship from L’Institute Francaise D’Architecture to work in Paris.

She has received numerous awards like 11th IID MK Awards in 2006, Architect of the Year Award in 2008 by Zee Business, Architect of the Year Award in 2012 by India Home Awards, Design Excellence Award in 2015, Leadership Award in 2015 by CE Worldwide, WADe India Awards 2016.

She has been published as one of the 20 best Architects of India in the book ‘Reflections’, one of the prominent Women Architects by ‘Hecar Foundation’ and 20 powerful women by ‘Smile Studios’ and was featured in the publication of 75th celebration of Elle Décor. She has been featured as Hot 100 Contemporary Indian Architect in Architect & Interiors India magazine, Women Architects & Designers (WADe India).

Beside this, her work has been published regularly in several books & magazines. She regularly speaks at various public forums on city level issues. She is currently one of 3 members of Delhi Urban Arts Commission, one of the most prestigious organizations in the Country. On behalf of DUAC she has chaired the Committee for review and restructuring of building bye-laws for Delhi. She is involved in the SUO MOTU city projects taken up by DUAC and is propelling the Shahjenabad rejuvenation project. She has been a Member of Delhi Conservation Society and conducted heritage walks in Kashmere Gate area.

Suhasini Ayer – Guigan, Co-Founder, Auroville Centre for Scientific Research

Suhasini Ayer – Guigan, is a graduate of “Delhi School of Planning and Architecture”; co-founder of the “Auroville Centre for Scientific Research”; an organisation dedicated to applied research in the field of solar passive architecture, sustainable urban development and building technologies, water and waste management and renewable energy.

The head the “Auroville Design Consultants”, a small niche practice with a team of half a dozen young architects undertaking challenging projects where the design process is an essential part of the product. A frugal minimalism expressed in simple and elegant forms, appropriate to the context – geography, culture, function, climate, building materials and technology is expressed in all our buildings. For, we believe that aesthetics in the built and natural environment is a given for a sustainable future.

 

Tanuja B. K, Partner, Kanvinde Rai & Chowdhury

An architect by qualification, Tanuja has had the privilege of being mentored by some of the Modern Masters of the country such as Sharad Padalkar, Joseph Allen Stein, Morad Chowdhury & Achyut Kanvinde during her initial professional journey. With over 36 years of work experience and as a partner at Kanvinde Rai & Chowdhury, with Sanjay Kanvinde, she has been involved in the design & execution of a number of institutions and third generation dairy complexes, with an underlying concern towards creating a sustainable built environment.

M/s Kanvinde Rai & Chowdhury is a studio practice. The firm has successfully participated & been awarded projects in several architectural competitions and their work has been published in various architectural journals. The firm is the recipient of A+D Spectrum Award for Meaningful Architecture in 2012. A fellow of the Indian Institute of Architects, Tanuja has been actively involved in academics as visiting faculty at School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi and has been on several national juries for Architecture/Interior Design competitions for professionals as well as students She has been an invited speaker at many seminars/conferences.

As Chairperson of the Institute of Indian Interior Designers, Delhi Regional Chapter from 2012-15 and as a member of its National Executive Council 2015-17, she has played a key role in promoting the profession by organizing several seminars/lectures and is currently serving as Jt. Hon. Secy, Chairperson IIID National Awards Committee, Chairperson Education Committee and member Editorial Board for the term 2017-19. She is also a member of the Advisory Board for the School of Design, Pearl Academy for the year 2017-18. She is the co-author of the monograph Achyut Kanvinde – Ākār on the works of the modernist architect, Achyut Kanvinde published by Niyogi Books.

Verendra Wakhloo, Design Ethos   

Main focus of work is on context sensitive architecture that does integrate material and logic of construction, in search of archetypal form. The anatomy of building is trans-cultural and references are drawn from global archive, which are not necessarily contemporary. The tedious process of dialogue with the team does start from the unknown and leads to the known. In dialogue the design process turns into an act of the moment, without considering any architectural “style”. The form does not happen suddenly, but is more of a process of becoming more conscious of your inner-self, a process of emptying out the answers that always live within you. Finding the germinating idea is a very slow exercise and is generally pursued through sketches and models. Finally the context may be absorbed by the building like a sponge and may enter gradually the public memory.

The studio was established in 1990 in New Delhi with 2 partners, namely Sunita Kandhari & Verendra Wakhloo who had earlier worked between 1985 – 87 at Ahmedabad in Studio Sangath of Mr. B.V. Doshi and 1987-90 at Studio M.N. Ashish Ganju, New Delhi. For last three decades the architectural activities of the studio have been ranging from institutional to industrial and private residences, mostly built in the northern part of India. The formative years were influenced by the masters of Indian modernism, i.e. Charles Correa, B.V. Doshi in search for an Indian identity.

Architect Verendra Wakhloo graduated from University of Karlsruhe in 1985 in Town Planning and has been part of the academic faculty at the University School of Architecture & Planning Delhi (1991-2001). He has won many awards that include, HUDCO Commendation Award 1990 (urban resettlement in Delhi), GEDA Prize 1991 (campus design at Baroda), J.K. Awards 1997(housing in urban context), President’s Award 2000 (residential schools in New Tehri Town in association with DKS consultants), MGAHV Commendation Award 2002 (Mahatma Gandhi University Warda, campus design), A+D/Spectrum 2002 (commendation award interiors), WAF 2008 Barcelona (shortlisted), IIA Award 2009 (office for Everest Industries Ltd.), WAC Award 2010, WAF 2013 Singapore (shortlisted), AD- 50 Award 2016, Trends Excellence Awards 2015 (Jury Award for best project),  AD- 50 Award 2017.

Yatin Patel, Founder Director, DSP Design Associates (DSP)

Yatin Patel – the visionary behind DSP Design Associates laid its foundation 3 decades ago, leading it to its long standing global conceit. DSP Design commands expertise across Master Planning, Building Design Services and Interior Design with a global rank of #58 among top 100 architectural practices worldwide by WA100 with an encouraging appraisal for 4 consecutive years. With the forethought to minister the domain with a nation-wide service capability, DSP Design operates through multi-disciplinary studios across Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, Gurugram and Hyderabad with projects accomplished in over 40 cities. The organization services various segments including high density residential, corporate & commercial real estate, hospitality ventures, industrial, retail and education for design solutions.

DSP Design has designed over 400 million sq.ft. across 1000+ projects with 75 national and international honors. Yatin Patel also chairs Education Design Architects (EDA) as Founding Director. His design practices benefit from a cumulative footprint in over 45 countries world over.