The most innovative architectural firms 2021

www.insightssuccess.in
VOL-12
ISSUE-01
OSTRACA
An Art Beyond Aesthetics
Vijaya
Bhargav
The Most
ARCHITECTURAL
Firms 2021
nnov tive
Arnab
AR/VR in
Architecture
How is AR/VR
Transforming the
Indian Architectural
Space?
Architectural
Time Travel
Glimpses of Historic
Architectural
Marvels in India

Editor’s Note
ndia is a land of architectural magnificence. The
Icountry has witnessed the creation of some of the
world's greatest architectural marvels. Ranging from
the majestic Taj Mahal to the amazing Jantar Mantar to the
mystical Sanchi Stupa, India serves as a canvas on which
numerous monumental structures have been created.
The intricate and magnanimous style of Indian architecture
has inspired and fascinated rulers, visitors, and invaders
throughout different ages. Indian architecture reflects the
mark of different rulers, dynasties, and cultures which have
inhabited and influenced the country. Many heritage
buildings of the country clearly support the fact that Indian
art and architecture are of high quality and strength.
The changing times have also witnessed massive changes in
Indian architecture. The modern age cities are characterized
by tall buildings with compact spaces, which fulfil the
growing requirements of the urban population. Today, we
can see that ultra-modern homes and offices are the need of
the hour. Air-conditioned offices with excellent lighting
facilities are transforming workspace experiences.
TRANSFORMING
DREAM
DWELLINGS
INTO
REALITY

Globalization has also opened many doors for the field of
architecture. As a result, Indian architecture has been able
to tap into many global trends. This has, in turn,
revolutionized the field while opening doors for many other
creative possibilities. Moreover, the Indian architectural
field is gradually updating itself in order to cater to the
needs of modern urban town planning.
Although the Indian architectural field is rapidly
progressing towards excellence, many architects have
realized that it is essential to maintain harmony and balance
with nature. This will not only help in providing a breath of
fresh air to traditional architecture but will also help in
taking a major step towards sustainability.
The leading architectural firms of India are participating
actively in creating structures that fit into the Indian
topography and climatic condition. They do not simply
copy western architecture; instead, they focus on creating
dwellings, which are safe and secure, and also provide the
ultimate comfort. These firms use cutting-edge technology
to create the safest and vibrant structures.
These noteworthy architectural firms take a different route
to creating structures while keeping aesthetics and
sustainability in mind. They have established themselves on
the global platform with their out-of-the-box techniques and
dedicated endeavours. These leading names in the
architecture industry make the correct use of the available
space and ensure the creation of structures that exude
excellence, finesse, and grandeur.
Hence, in our latest edition - The Most Innovative
Architectural Firms, 2021, we showcase some of the
pioneering architectural firms, which are taking Indian
architecture to the next level. They are amalgamating
traditional styles with modern technology and creating
structures that are magnificent, yet safe and of utmost
comfort. So, without further ado, let’s browse through the
pages to know more about these top players in the
architecture industry.
Ananda Kamal Das
ananda@insightssuccess.com

A n A r t B e y o n d A e s t h e t i c s
O S T R A C A
S
T
N
E
T
N
OC
08

AR/VR in Architecture
How is AR/VR Transforming the Indian Architectural Space?
Glimpses of Historic Architectural Marvels in India
20
32
Architectural Time Travel
Architects at Work
16
Crest Architects
24
INI Design Studio
28
Mobius Architects
36
VK:a Architecture
38
P R O F I L E
Amalgamating Innovation with Materials, Art, and Design
Facilitating a Versatile Style towards Designing
Expertise in Delivering Design Excellence
Leveraging Authenticity with Modern Designs
Constructing Vision with Exceptional Skills

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Featuring Description
Company
Architects At Work
Shweta Pandya and
Krishna Patel,
Partners
AW is established to give best efforts to execute client’s
stated objectives live and working with awareness of urban
and environmental enhancement rather putting project as
individual object.
Architecture plus Value
Architecture BRIO
Crest Architects
INI Design Studio
Kamat & Rozario
Architecture
Mobius Architects
Ostraca
Sovereign Architects
VK:a Architecture
Shefali Balwani,
Founder
V.S.Vigneswar,
Principal Architect
and Founder
Architecture BRIO engages actively in the creation of
contextually appropriate, sustainable design solutions within an
increasingly changing world.
Architecture plus Value is a young multi-disciplinary team of
designers with expertise in a range of services from
Architecture, Master-Planning, Urban Design and Interior
Design.
Crest Architects is a pragmatic and holistic design practice
specialising in various kinds of projects that provides a scope
for a wide range of experimentation and exploration in
architecture.
INI Design Studio is an award-winning, multidisciplinary design
practice with a diverse portfolio offering professional consulting
services in Architecture, Engineering, Planning, Urban Design,
Landscape, Sustainability, Interiors, Research and Art
Kamat & Rozario Architecture was set up in 2007. It is a
multi-disciplinary, award-winning team of Architects in
Bengaluru offering services in architecture, interior design
and furniture design.
Mobius Architects is multi-dimensional firm based out of
Mumbai specializing in Architecture, Urban planning and
Interior design.
The firm believes in analysing every project as a set of design
and functional requirements.
VK:a Architecture's Vision is to create buildings where design
impact can be measured on the basis of performative criteria
for incremental improvement in the lifestyle of everyone.
Sovereign Architects in Pune work at all scales and in all sectors
to create transformative, cultural, residential, corporate and other
spaces which perfectly blend and sync with the surroundings.
Vishwas Venkat and
Vikas MV,
Principal Architects/
Co-founders
Ar. Rakhi Rupani,
Chairman and
Managing Director
Lester Rozario and
Smruti Kamat,
Principal Architects
Ar.Megha Harkut Laddha,
Principal Architect
and Ar.Akhil Laddha,
Design Head
Vijaya Bhargav and
Arnab Ghosh
Ar. Vaishali
Kawalkar, Chief
Architect
Hrishikesh
Kulkarni,
Director/Partner

A n A r t B e y o n d A e s t h e t i c s
Our drive to nail
every brief
successfully
means that we are
not afraid to
go back to
the drawing
board if required
Arnab
O S T R
C O V E R S T O R Y

Our seamlessness
with which the design
intent of the exteriors
flowed into the
interior spaces
impressed the client
Vijaya Bhargav
The Most Innovative Architectural Firms | 2021
A C A

rt is the process of creating
something beautiful using
technical proficiency,
imagination and hardwork.
Technological advancements have
helped a wide array of art-based
verticals to deliver better, faster and
more innovatively. One such industry
is Architecture and one firm that
constantly endeavours to be counted
amongst the best is Bengaluru-based
architecture and interior design firm
‘Ostraca’.
Listen. Understand. Deliver. Be
accountable. – this is Ostraca’s mantra.
Guided by partners Vijaya Bhargav
and Arnab Ghosh, the firm prides
itself on delivering customer delight
with its exceptional designs and work
ethics. Its design philosophy is ‘to
combine functional necessities with
timeless aesthetics.’
A Dynamic Firm
Ostraca was founded by Vijaya
Bhargav and Arnab Ghosh in 2008. Its
team of architects and interior
designers works in a diverse range of
verticals such as IT, manufacturing,
hospitality, education, and residential.
Most of their marquee projects have
been in corporate interiors - having had
the privilege of working with global
leaders in software and IT, such as
Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services,
Bosch, Wipro, Visa, and Uber, to name
a few.
Ostraca’s Values
• Quality – design with passion and
compassion
• Collaboration –a team player
• Environmental Responsibility
–focused on sustainability
• Integrity – represents strong moral
standards
Ostraca’s Vision
To use design as an effective influence
in shaping a better environment for the
future
Ostraca’s Mission
To provide innovative, efficient,
sustainable design solutions through
excellence in architectural design
supported by exceptional client service
and ethical practices.
An Inspirational Duo
Vijaya Bhargav holds a Bachelor’s
degree in Arhictecture from JNTU,
Hyderabad and has over 25 years of
experience in the field of design and
architecture. Besides architecture, her
interests lie in Indian crafts and music
traditions. She is an avid supporter of
the handloom weaver communities
who are helping keep alive the
tradition of Indian handlooms.. She is
also involved in various forums that
help promote Indian classical music..
She is also a niche jewelry designer
and has held several boutique styled
exhibitions.
Arnab Ghosh is an alumnus of CEPT
School of Architecture, Ahmedabad.
He was also part of a student exchange
program with ETH Zurich, where he
studied advanced architecture for a
couple of semesters.
‘Walk the Talk’
The design of a space must satisfy both
the functional and the aesthetic needs
of the people that occupy the space. It
is the primary responsibility of the
designer to satisfy this.
“With this in mind, we begin our client
engagement by listening, asking
questions, and seeking clarifications
until we truly understand their ideas
and aspirations. In fact, we won our
first large corporate account because of
our ability to understand the architect’s
vision of the exteriors and translate the
design intent seamlessly into the
interior space,” says Vijaya
The firm believes in accountability.
Many clients have indeed
acknowledged it as one of its core
strengths. The company’s high degree
of involvement in every minute detail
of the project, and collaboration with
all stake holders results in top quality
projects delivered on time.
A mantra that both partners practice is
to never stop learning. “We keep
abreast of product trends, innovations,
and evolving client preferences by
attending global fairs and conferences,
engaging with manufacturers as well as
competitors, travelling extensively and
reading”says Arnab
Never a Dull Moment
Arnab firmly believes that architecture
is ‘art with purpose’. Following this
line of thought, Ostraca strives to
create functional art that is perfectly
suited to each person that interacts with
it.

Vijaya thrives on problem solving
through creative ideas, which keeps
her constantly motivated.
The ever-changing dynamics of the
industry, evolving customer needs and
preferences, and the versatility of
design, material and products ensure
that there never is a dull moment.
Another powerful motivator is the
company’s constant desire to be
contemporary and relevant. It takes
every opportunity to adopt new
technology and concepts and is always
working to improve the functionality
and ergonomics of its designs. The
immense sense of gratification comes
from seeing clients happily inhabit the
spaces the team has created and that in
turn is the biggest stimulus to keep
bettering itself.
Road Bumps on the Way to Success
Attracting business has not proven to
be a challenge for the company from
the beginning. The challenges have
instead been an outcome of Ostraca’s
desire to keep growing by proving
itself at every step.
Convincing clients that a design firm
of its size can handle large projects was
certainly a challenge initially. One such
example was when Ostraca, then a
team of 12 designers, responded to an
RFP for designing a large campus for
an IT major. Its competitors for the
project were large design firms, some
with a global presence. While the
clients were a bit apprehensive before
the job was awarded, they were very
convinced about their decision once
they saw Ostraca’s design proposals
and the speed at which the design was

translated into the construction
documents. After this assignment there
was no looking back as there was a
precedence set.
Leveraging Technology for Growth
“It is imperative for every organization
to keep up with the advancements in
the industry and we are no diﬀerent,”
says the team. With the recent adoption
of Virtual Reality (VR), Ostraca is able
to generate and share digital
representations of physical and
functional characteristics. While
visuals and 3D renders are now a
common form of representation
employed by most ﬁrms, Ostraca takes
it a notch above by ensuring the
highest level of personalization.
This conveys to the client their sincere
involvement and dedication to each
project. The company’s turn-around
times (TATs) in the design
development phase have vastly
improved thanks to advancements in
3D modeling and walk-through tools.
The company looks forward to being
able to experiment with more
technological design tools and also
construction processes. Aim is to
continuously upskill their technical
expertise to keep in step with
technological advancements in the
industry.
Sustaining during the Pandemic
The pandemic certainly slowed the
pace of growth for a short period.
However, the company continued to
guide and work with its clients to

create COVID-ready offices through
the retrofit of existing offices and the
creation of isolation centers.
The team at Ostraca also brain-stormed
options and scenarios for a post-
pandemic workplace. They also
utilized the time to focus on designing
residential projects, which had taken a
back seat due to the company’s
corporate design commitments.
Knowing that this was a phenomenon
that completely altered the world -the
financial discipline and operational
acumen that Ostraca had practiced all
along meant that the company was able
to retain all its employees without
salary cuts through this period. This
has been a source of immense
satisfaction and pride for Vijaya and
Arnab.
The firm balanced safety and
productivity through a disciplined
work and communication routine,
which it continues to follow even now.
The Voice of Experience
“No one teaches you the business and
management aspects of running a
design firm. I would like to advise
budding architects and designers to
practice their marketing skills during
their design submissions in college.
Treat the jury as a client and tell them
the story behind your design,”
expresses Vijaya.
“Welcome the practical questions that
the experienced jury member or
evaluator asks because these are mock
drills for real-life situations that you
will face in future. Also, don’t be rigid in
your views. Always explore new things
and experiment in the right proportions.
In addition, always keep upgrading your
skills. Never be complacent or have a
know-it-all attitude. Success is a journey
and learning is a process,” adds Vijaya.
“When you are young and new to the
industry, it’s not uncommon to be in a
situation where you have self-doubt
about your capability to deliver on your
promise to a client. But don’t doubt
yourself. Instead, no matter how
challenging the task, work twice as hard
to prove that they have made the right
decision by choosing you. Overcoming a
challenge can be a great confidence
booster and spurs you to aim higher.
Never underestimate yourself,” says
Arnab.
“Hard work inspires you and others to
have faith in your abilities. Further, I
would encourage everybody to travel.
There is no greater learning in our field
than to travel and experience the best of
architectural wonders around the globe,”
adds Arnab.
Envisioning the Future
Ostraca aims to be the best at what it
does. It has gained recognition from
many clients and leading organizations
because of its principles, and it aspires to
continue this as it scales its operations to
even greater heights.
The team believes that design goes far
beyond aesthetics. Good functionality is
what a client appreciates, and when
paired with timeless aesthetics that may
or may not suit fleeting trends, the result
is a holistic space that works perfectly.
This approach to design is what the
firm wishes to bring to the limelight.
“Our immediate objective would be to
diversify the team. We believe that
bringing in young designers with an
array of talents, interests and passions
would infuse fresh perspectives in the
team. We believe that harnessing the
collective intelligence and untapped
potential of the team yields great
results. In addition, this allows us as
partners to revitalize our design ideas
and processes,” state Vijaya and Arnab.
What Ails the Industry
“Unfortunately, we believe that in
India, design is looked at as just
another commodity rather than a
specialized skill that brings a great deal
to the success of a project. We are
forced to compete on price without
looking at the value we bring to the
table by creating great design or
through value-engineering. The
commoditization of design has resulted
in lower realizations, thus leading
architects and interior designers to
diversify from their core competence.
Besides, such an attitude forces
designers to hasten the iterative design
process, which should in reality be the
highlight of the entire exercise so as to
bring the highest value,” conclude
Arnab and Vijaya.

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Architecture has evolved with
time and is introducing
massive transformations in
creation of masterpieces. With its
metamorphosis, the field is delivering
lasting experiences to the audiences,
while opening doors for endless
possibilities. Businesses, dwellings,
and humble abodes are experiencing a
major facelift owing to the leading
architectural firms, that are giving their
best services to the audiences. They
ensure the safety of the inhabitants,
while also taking care of their comfort.
One such prominent firm which is
transforming the industry with its
devoted endeavors is none other than
Architects at Work (AW). Established
in Gujarat, it gives its best efforts to
execute the client’s stated objectives.
The firm strives to maintain a balance
between aesthetics and functionality in
all its design.
The personalities responsible for the
success of AW are principal architects
Ar. Shweta Pandya and Ar. Krishna
Patel. They have been involved in
developing architectural, landscape,
and interior designing projects in
Gujarat and other places since 2013.
In an interview with Insights Success,
Ar. Shweta tells us about the journey of
AW, its various services, the various
challenges it has faced, and its plans.
To know more about the interview,
read the excerpts below:
1. Describe about your
company/firm/profession in detail.
At ‘Architects at Work’, we thrive to
present solution in the most creative
and functional way for any given
challenge.
Since 2013, we started working on vast
variety of projects from residential to
industrial, where one can find only one
similarity of notion of creative flow.
As the name suggests, we work like
men at work who give day and night to
construct the bridge. Here, bridge is a
link between the client and the built
form. Bridge represents the procedure
of going through creative detailing,
gathering analytical data, and critically
evaluating the designs to make it a
smooth journey from one end to
another.
The firm’s philosophy is to work as a
team where each opinion is absorbed
and analyzed. This process has always
given different point of view to see the
same problem.
Observing materials potential to its
best limit can bring out unimaginable
solutions.
Amalgamating Innovation with Materials, Art, and Design
Architects
at Work
16 | December 2021 | www.insightssuccess.in

We constantly
work on
betterment
of services and
try to emerge
as promising
designers
‘
‘
‘
‘
I can sum up the firm’s description in
these simple words – ‘God in
detailing’.
2. Brief us about the featured person
and shed some light on his/her
professional tenure.
We both partners are like sub structure
and super structure without which,
whole building is not possible.
I, Shweta studied architecture in
APIED Vidhyanagar. The place itself
has so much to offer as an environment
given to students of architecture. My
final year rank was 2nd for thesis jury
and highly appropriated for the
concept. After college, I joined Apurva
Amin Architects for five years which,
transformed me as an architect and
designer. Soon, I founded my own
company and named it as Architects at
Work.
My partner Ar. Krishna Patel had
graduated his college from Indubhai
Parekh School of Architecture, Rajkot.
He had participated in a competition
during college period and won Birla
White Yuva Ratna Westzone. Also, he
got special mention in IGBC green
design competition which AW takes
pride on.
After graduation the situation
eventuated at right time and we both
signed a partnership in AW soon. The
firm has so not seen back since right
then and the duo was buoyant to reach
till here and so on.
It was gratifying to witness everything
from working on one laptop, with my
kids around and established a formal
office with good staff and sophisticated
system.
We endeavor how we struggled to get
through here with only one objective in
mind to move forward taking along
people with us too. People who were
associated with us during our
struggling times and contributed to any
scale are highly valuable to us.
3. What made you venture into the
field of architecture?
When I was not even aware of this
course in my small town, though I was
sure that I have interest in this field and
gradually ways worked out and I
joined architecture.
Initially, it started with interest in art of
different forms mostly like paintings,
sketching, and sculptures.
Inclination towards creative activity
resulted in searching for such career
opportunities that could suffice.
Architecture has that perfect blend of
artistic and intellectual, where one falls
to dive in that endless creative ocean.
4. What kind of offerings do you
provide to your clients?
Well, as designers, we always want to
create something our client imagines
having, so it's continuous adaptation
for our firm to mold ourselves after
each occurrence.
We involve client in the process of
making and final product in terms of
taking their inputs at each stage, which
ultimately refine the whole outcome as
visualized by client.
We try to interact with client in detail
that it become the genesis for
conceptual to start with. It becomes
very easy to get it on paper with that
baseline to sketch that comes to life.

Clients always come up with particular
budget and mindset for their project
and that is always accommodated in
our process. We shape the
circumstances to the client's favor to
pay off what we are appointed for.
5. What kind of challenges have you
faced while entering the architecture
industry?
Architecture field demands your time
and soul to the profession. It requires
lot of energy and detailing to resolve.
Clients are difficult to make understand
that, how much goes into making a
building. That's why architects are
sometimes not valued for their
services. It takes efforts to convince
clients how much you are worth for,
and I guess it is about time only.
As a designer, we also had struggled
initially to receive projects. In today's
technological world, each person has
lot of access to excess knowledge,
which created more confusions than
help. Again, that set pre-notion in
client for any particular design, which
is difficult to fade.
In architecture, as designers we have
acclaimed a portrayal to shape
anomalous designs and solutions each
time we accept new project, which I
guess backed ultimately to receive new
proposals as that talks spread.
6. How was your firm/business
affected in these pandemic times and
what were the steps taken by you to
curb the damages all the while
helping your clients and maintaining
the safety of your employees?
Pandemic was so unanticipated by all
and affected us also in same way as
others. If human being had found one
positive aspect about pandemic was
only time. We employ this time for our
firm's betterment and participated in
competition by standing in top 50
internationally.
Also, it gave us novel ways of working
in isolation, which helped keeping us
all safe. We all been through
difficulties but came out more positive
and stronger. Also, that made us think
of unfamiliar design solutions in such
‘keeping distance’ circumstances
which, has given us altogether unique
perspective to perceive the designs.
Projects that had gone to hold because
of pandemic was little upsetting for all
but it didn't take long to resurgent the
pace we wanted.
As architecture is essential part of our
life and people need to build for any
purpose of life.
7. What would you like to advice the
young generation of entrepreneurs
and enthusiasts who want to venture
into the field of architecture?
Well, architecture field has grown from
macro to micro. I'm saying that
because small town and small industry
also appoint architect to outline any
scale space.
So, there's opportunity for all. At the
same time, technology has offered
variety of sources to support your
creativity.

The architecture industry has lot of
latitude in coming years in India, as we
are developing country with booming
economy.
Architecture can be embodied at urban
level or rural level, to attribute
solutions to aged trends and systems.
Architecture industry has now
assistance on management, marketing,
and planning on e-platform which has
made substantial projects to work
smoothly bridging so many agencies
on one page. Also, the 3D simulation
and other visual representation which
make a layman to understand designs
easily.
All these supports make designs and
execution process accelerate which has
stated a big push to the industry. Also,
this industry is based on distinctive
kind of skills. The machine work and
hand-skill have that interspace which
can't be acquainted. The artwork and
skill-based labour are merely relied on
this industry and vice versa.
It is difficult to get finely skilled person
sometime. The more skills-based
education we increase, it is better for
the industry’s future.
Young generations just have to apply
their knowledge wise-fully without
being influenced by trends.
Also, we are facing problems like
global warming which give us major
responsibility to utilize natural
resources in limited way and provide
sustainable design solutions. Being of
the young generation, one should very
consciously give efforts towards that.
I find they have more challenges to
face along with benefits than earlier
architects in terms of high bars set by
them. Superior work by other
architects has elevated this field to
pinnacle so youngsters have paramount
to climb, which can be their advantage
too as they will have more free hands
to experiment.
8. Where do you envision your
firm/business to be in the long run
and what are your future goals?
How do you plan to embrace the
changes happening in your industry?
We want to see this firm performing
diverse projects, but it should manifest
as client centric firm who always
works perpetually for betterment. We
envision opportunity for people
associated with us, thus we work
towards giving them space to grow
themselves.
Change is part of growing as we know
in any living organism. Thus, if we
want to evolve, change is inevitable.
Change gives us room to ameliorate
our knowledge in the field and shape a
niche.
Unlike past, world have recognized lot
of recent architects making names
internationally like, Sanjay Puri, Gurjit
Singh, Anupama Kundoo, Bimal Patel,
and so on. They motivate us to work in
a way where we are acclaimed in
world of architecture globally.
The changes eventuate in the field are
for furtherance as I see it, likewise
progressively architects going for local
materials, more sustainable ways and
climate-oriented solutions.
Also, architecture has those online
platforms accessible to put themselves
on a same stage to showcase their work
between other global architects.
9. What is the current scenario of the
architecture industry?

How is AR/VR
Transforming

the Indian
Architectural
Space?
Technology is driving the growth of the entire world
towards digitalisation. The technologies are ﬁnding
their applications in almost all the sectors including
education, healthcare, manufacturing, retailing, and the list
is endless. These technologies have also laid their path
towards the architecture sector. Previously, adapting
technologies in architecture industry seemed impossible as
almost every work to be accomplished was manual. But the
augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)
technologies have proved to be the driving force in the
growth of architecture sector.
AR and VR are amongst the most disruptive technologies of
st
the 21 century. The technologies enable the architects and
clients to visualize the designs in real life through a 3D
model.
AR/VR in Architecture

Usually, both these technologies are grouped together in the
conversation but there is a considerable difference in AR
and VR. Although, there is one common thing between
them—both the technologies are offering advancement and
opportunities in the architecture field.
AR helps the designers or architects to present a proposed
structure as a 3D model and is also used for design analysis.
It allows the team members to visualise a project model
collectively and also helps in building a constructive
conversation by keeping everyone on the same page. AR is
more inclined towards a realistic world as it replicates
fabricated objects in the real environment.
Whereas VR is inclined towards a virtual environment as it
offers a computer-generated environment to the clients,
architects, and designers to interact and explore. VR
enhances the customer satisfaction and acts as a
communication tool among the team members or clients. It
also allows the architects or designers to consider the
unpredictable situations like natural disaster and put the
structures into the VR simulation to see, how the structures
react in these situations. This enables the architects to think
a step further and work uniquely.
A survey from Industry Today found that 55% of its
workers believe that, by 2029, AR and VR headsets or other
devices used in the technology will be as common as
smartphones in the workplace. This is because of the
advancements in technology in the architecture industry.
The Indian architecture industry has been transformed by
these technologies and the benefits AR and VR technologies
are offering to the industry are listed below.
Shortens the Existing Process
The AR and VR technologies simplifies the existing design
process and eases the work of architects. It enables them to
try new designs every time they create a structure. The
technologies also prevent the architects to make a lot of
mistakes. The reason behind avoiding these mistakes is that
the architects are able to visualise the structures virtually by
AR and VR technologies and catch up the mistakes quickly.
With the help of AR technology, the architects can visualise
how their structure will look like in the location, where it is
getting built. This visualisation allows them to avoid
creating structures which may later look like they are built
out of place and do not match the locality.
Makes a Better Presenting Option
In architecture field, having a good presentation is as
important as having a good pitch for the potential
customers. Presenting a virtual tour of the building to the
client is extremely beneficial for the architects as they can
attract more clients with the virtual designs.
AR and VR makes it possible to present the project to
clients as it is a better way of targeting the clients as they
would prefer walking around the site and feel as if they are
physically visiting the site.
Allows more Creativity
Earlier, the architects were restricted to use newer ideas as
they did not know if it would work efficiently. But in the
current technical era, implementing these innovative ideas
has become possible as the architects can visualise the ideas
using AR and VR before implementing them physically.
Visualising the creative ideas in the virtual environment
helps the architects to analyse if the idea can be executed.
In any scenario, if their idea cannot be executed in reality,
they can be sure that they have not put in a lot of efforts,
time, and resources to explore the idea.
AR and VR saves the time and resources required in
implementing the innovative ideas in the real environment.
This can be a cost-effective approach in implementing the
ideas.
Recently, the AR and VR technologies have boosted the
architecture sector in a way that nobody would have
expected. The technologies are still evolving and finding
new applications in the architecture field. With AR and VR,
architecture sector is expected to grow amazing
opportunities.
The experts in the architecture industry believes that the AR
and VR will not only improve the designs, but also change
the way to build the physical world.

Facilitating a Versatile Style towards Designing
In architecture, the emphasis has
shifted to user centric design with
explicit prominence on climate
responsive and sustainable design
approach. Simple yet dynamic forms
reflecting a contemporary and
minimalistic style is the new trend in
architecture. Incorporating technology
in design has also gained importance in
the recent times.
Crest Architects is one such firm that
puts in a distinctive effort that takes an
innovative approach with a desire for
immaculate architectural design in
order to develop site responsive and
contextually suitable solutions. Every
project is successfully customised and
adapted around the project’s unique
requirements, ensuring a fresh
approach that is inventive and meets
every need.
Crest Architects is a firm that resonates
with reaching new heights. The team
wants to design and construct different
building typologies and intend to cater
to all types of clients who are as
passionate about architecture and
design as they are.
Ar Vikas and Ar Vishwas,
Co-founders and Principal Architects
believe that they are a part of the
change and will adopt and welcome
new developments and advancements
in the field.
Genesis of Crest
Crest is a multi-disciplinary
architecture, planning, and interior

Ar Vishwas Venkat
Principal Architect
Ar Vikas MV
Co-founder
design firm based in Bengaluru, India.
It believes in experimenting and
exploring in architecture and interior
design and hence its portfolio
comprises of a wide range of projects.
The fundamental component by which,
the team works is the ability to
reinvent building typologies and play
with the volume of elements.
Integrating form and function with an
innovative approach to create site
responsive and contextually
appropriate solutions is central to its
design philosophy. Each project is
tailored around the detailed brief given
by the client and Crest ensures that the
design approach is extraordinary and
unique while providing an exclusive
experience that translates into striking
spaces.
Incorporating cutting edge structural
forms, emphasizing on creative
architectural details and significance on
the workmanship quality and execution
process are reflected in the company’s
projects. With a distinction for
conceiving exceptional spaces and an
experiential design approach, Crest
offers the client a commitment to
design excellence.
Visionary Duo
Ar Vikas MV and Ar Vishwas Venkat
graduated in Architecture from M S
Ramaiah Institute of Technology in
Bangalore.They have been working

together on group projects since their
undergraduate days, which then led to
setting up of Crest Architects. Since
then, they have been working
alongside each other.
Ar Vikas was interested in visual arts
from a very young age and was
intrigued by architectural design. This
curiosity encouraged him to embark on
a unique journey of his own and
venture into a creative career path.
Ar Vishwas’s strong interest in
building construction technology
inspired him to choose a career in
architecture and to create his own mark
and individuality.
Troubles and Struggles
Delivering the dream project of the
clients, which aligned with the team’s
design philosophy and making them
understand the importance of design in
all aspects of the project was an uphill
task for the company.

Integrating the client’s needs within the
budget has always been vital to the
team, but there have been cases where
ﬁnding a balance between the client’s
list of requirements and unrealistic
budgets has been a challenge.
Though the on-site construction was
stalled during the pandemic, Crest got
a lot of time to experiment on the
creative process and think about
interesting design concepts for some of
the ongoing projects.
Imparting Insights
Crest believes that designing is a
constantly evolving process, and the
company is determined to develop
unique innovative design solutions for
every project. The company believes
that architects should emphasize on
original, utilitarian, and practical
design and intend to give back to the
community through architecture.

I I
N Design
Studio
Expertise in Delivering Design Excellence
S
ustainable growth is the demanding need of the hour
considering the global environmental alarms. With
the growing concern for the planet and its
diminishing natural resources, natural design and living
solutions need to be mainstreamed in all design procedures.
It is a pressing need for developing countries like India
where resources are scarce and poverty levels are high.
A lot of strategies are being pursued bringing sustainable
change with developing unique designs. One such company
helping in this change is INI Design Studio. It stands for
ideas that are driven by a number of I’s such as Inquiry,
Imagination, Innovation, Inspiration, and Inclusiveness, etc.
Given below are the highlights of the interview where, Ar.
Rakhi Rupani, Chairman and Managing Director of INI
Design Studio talks about the dynamics of its operations:
Describe about your company/firm/profession in detail.
INI Design Studio (INI) is a multidisciplinary award-
winning design firm with a diverse portfolio offering
professional consulting services in Architecture,
Engineering, Planning, Urban Design, Landscape Design,

Ar. Rakhi Rupani
Chairman and Managing Director

Sustainability, Interior Design, Design-Build, Research and
Art. But most importantly it stands for Integrated Ideas,
referring to the integrated and collaborative nature of our
practice and out-of-the-box design ideas.
Brief us about the featured person and shed some light
on her professional tenure.
I have been associated with the design, construction, and
real estate industry for over 25 years and have catered to a
diverse portfolio of projects across the country. As an
architect by profession and Director of Architecture and
Interior Design at INI for the last 11 years, my focus has
been to employ my creative and managerial skills to bring
effective integration of all disciplines; architecture,
landscape, engineering, and interior, for creation of elegant
and sustainable, planning and building designs.
Client and project management, strategy planning, business
development are some of the areas, that fall under my
purview along with designing. I believe in devising
disruptive design and master-planning strategies to create
sustainable, socially, and contextually responsive designs
and the built environment.
What made you venture into the field of architecture?
Unlike today’s children, who predetermine their career
trajectory since a young age, I never planned to be an
architect, instead, Architecture happened to me.
I come from Raipur - a very small town then. Our family
was into business and the higher education of girls was not
given priority. But I had one goal set for me, which was to
study further and build a career for myself. I was a bright
student throughout my school life and had demonstrated my
creative skills umpteen times in school projects. But Raipur,
being a small centre, offered limited career opportunities. In
fact, during that time I was not even aware that a field
called architecture existed. Once, I happened to visit a
family member who was appearing for the Architecture
entrance exam, and I decided on taking the exam with him
and secured admission to design school.
Now that I look back, I can join the dots that led me here.
Due to the lack of awareness, resources, and technology at
that time, I did not have a plan in place but my hunger for
creating an identity allowed me to make the best of the
opportunities I got. With a definite flair for design since
childhood and a strong academic and creative aptitude, the
architecture profession fit me perfectly.
What kind of offerings do you provide to your clients?
I bring 25+ years of design and management experience to
large scale diverse projects across the country. I have
worked on many sectors of our industry – Public buildings,
commercial buildings, housing, hospitality, healthcare,
institutional offering services in master planning,
architecture, interior design, and landscape etc.
With my creative skills and experience, I offer my client a
seamless transformation of their vision to reality. This
includes iconic projects such as Shiv Nadar University in
Greater Noida, India’s largest Aquatic Gallery in
Ahmedabad, Aurum Township in Chennai, and Waste to
Energy Campus in Jamnagar to name a few.
What kind of challenges have you faced while entering
the architecture industry?
I faced challenges on both personal and professional fronts.
I got married right after completing my architecture.
Balancing my responsibilities as a homemaker and working
professional was the most challenging part. My spouse has
a transferable job, and with every change of location, I had
to look for job prospects and settle into the new office
environment. But I am grateful to have a supportive family
who has always pushed me to pursue my aspirations and to
The we
designs
today
create
are going
to tall
stand
for years
to come
“
“
“
“

have found myself working in leading design firms across
India, which enriched my versatility.
On the professional front, the technology and software
interventions, the computer-aided design was new to me
and took a while to adapt but, I am consciously making
efforts to learn and update myself constantly, as, in today’s
technology-driven world, there is but no option to learn
these skills, which facilitate a better design experience for
both architects and clients.
How was your firm/business affected in these pandemic
times and what were the steps taken by you to curb the
damages all the while helping your clients and
maintaining the safety of your employees?
In the pandemic, we are no different and have been
impacted on many fronts. To name a few:
We faced individual challenges in the health and safety of
staff and family members. Professionally, interdisciplinary
collaboration, WFH efficiency, cash flow management were
the big challenges.
Some of the measures taken from our side were limiting the
financial impact on staff and employees, managing lean
operations, providing additional health insurance, and
Covid coverage for staff and family for a sense of safety,
helping with other resources, flexible work policy including
work from home.
What would you like to advice the young generation of
entrepreneurs and enthusiasts who want to venture into
the field of architecture?
It is pivotal for one to develop a holistic vision, which
allows you to create design marvels but also design
buildings and master plans that embody the society we live
in. We can effectively contribute to our society and
environment by comprehensively incorporating sustainable
practices and socially responsive thought processes while
developing our projects.
Where do you envision your firm/business to be in the
long run and what are your future goals? How do you
plan to embrace the changes happening in your
industry?
We at INI certainly believe that servicing projects in an
integrated and collaborative way is highly needed and
brings a unique position for us as a design and consulting
practice and has a very bright future in India and South
Asia. With the opening of the Indian economy, we have
new international investments, which require
multidisciplinary expertise under one roof to service MNCs
and complex projects. Also, with huge spending in
infrastructure and urban development/smart city programs
by the government, we see huge opportunities for practice
like us and we are excited and look forward to being part of
building a new India.
What is the current industrial scenario of the
architecture industry?
With the rapid evolution of available technologies and the
integration of them into the profession, the role of an
architect is changing faster than it ever has before. At INI,
we believe that the best way to stay relevant in our
changing profession is to always be considering what the
future holds and pushing ourselves and the boundaries of
the profession.
In order to effectively adapt to this future, we as architects,
need to shift our focus to the end-user experience,
environmental concerns, resilience measures, speed to
market, the efficiency of programmed space, and efficiency
of construction. In addition to aesthetically beautiful
designs, there will be more emphasis on how a building
operates and supports the end-users in an environmentally
sensitive manner.
The architecture of the building is an extension of the
client’s business, a tool to enhance the occupants and the
members of the community. Many architectural
achievements throughout history have been driven by the
art form and the ego. With the modern shift towards
performance and the business necessity of creating a
functional building for the client’s need, the architect of the
future must strike a balance between form and function, art,
and science, as well as technology and soul. Only time will
tell just how balanced these concepts will be but, at present,
we at INI are exhibiting a synergy that makes it a truly
fascinating time to be an architect.

Glimpses
of Historic
Architectural
Marvels
in India
ndia has a lot to take pride in. The culture, the history, the architecture, languages, and a lot more
Imakes India the Golden Sparrow that it is called. The sky touching peaks of the Himalayas, sand dunes
of the deserts, the ethnic temples with immense beliefs, the nodding palm trees along the beaches,
mouth-watering cuisines, are a few of the shades of India.
Along with all these things, India has the Heritage that wins. The heritage, which is best depicted with the
architectural marvels in India. The architecture that portrays patterns and styles that can leave one in
wonder.
If we look at history, India has been through a lot. The evolution in architecture came from the glorifying
past of India. The journey of India has seen many civilizations and India has had a chance of enriching its
culture with the plethora of radically varied architectural pinnacles.
In this article, let us see a few of the breathtaking architectural works from India.

• Victoria Memorial
After the British attacked India, there was rapid progress in
terms of architecture. The origin of Indo-Saracenic
architecture occurred through colonialism. This style
combines aspects from many civilizations, including
Islamic, Hindu, and Western, to create colonial architecture.
The Victoria Memorial in Kolkata wonderfully exemplifies
this design. India's heritage is proud of its diversity, and this
relevantly fresh architecture simply adds to it. This stunning
structure, made of white marble, was built in honour of
Queen Victoria. Located in Victoria memorial hall,
Architect William Emerson and Vincent Esch created an
outstanding piece of design. Built by George Curzon in
1996, the Victoria Memorial gets as grand as it can.
• Taj Mahal
During the medieval period, India's Indo Islamic
architecture reached the nation. During the time of the
Mughal Empire, numerous elements of Islamic art were
incorporated into architectural designs. The spacious
courtyards, dome-shaped roofs, and towering minarets are
key elements of this architectural style.
The Taj Mahal was created as a symbol of love. It is one of
India's best examples of this architectural style. This
creamy white marble building is now a globally acclaimed
wonder. This edifice is located inside the grounds of a large
Mughal Garden, and its arches and domes make it very
appealing.
There were about 20,000 artisans working on this
masterpiece. This is, without a doubt, the most colossal act
of love in the history of the globe.
Architectural Time Travel
• Lotus Temple
The newly adapted architecture of modern India is expressionist or
contemporary. This architectural trend began in Europe in the
early decades of the twentieth century. This trend was closely
associated with the expressionist performing arts of the historical
period.
Each structure in this architectural style takes on a unique shape.
Lotus Temple was one of the first major monuments created in this
style. This monument, which displayed the lotus structure, left
many in awe of its artistry. The Bahai Faith is followed and
worshipped in the temple. This simply implies that it considers all
religions to be one. The surrounding ponds and the white marble
surface only contribute to the splendour of this wonder.

• Great Stupa
When we talk about old architecture, we don't
mean it from thousands of years ago. Ancient
architecture predates that by many centuries,
and it is as ancient as civilization itself. There
are yet ageless remains from the cities of the
Indus Valley that stand tall and strong.
Buddhists in this nation have created
architectural monuments like stupas,
monasteries, and shrines.
Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh is the most
well-known of numerous stupas. This is one of
the oldest and best-preserved stupas, attracting
thousands of pilgrims every year. The Stupa is
lavishly decorated with the best Buddhist
artwork.
The structure's body represents the cosmic
mountain. The 'harmika,' which carries the
'chhatraveli,' aka triple umbrella, is one of the
primary features of this architectural style. Its
hemispherical enormous roof astounds.
- Sayali Sangewar
• Meenakshi Temple
Temples are an important part of Indian culture. The heritage of
India owes much of its reputation to temple architecture, which
simply raised the bar. Even within this one architectural style, one
can see a variety of characteristics from many geographical
regions and ethnicities.
There are three major kinds of temple architecture, which may be
seen in numerous temples around the country. Nagara or the
Northern style, Dravida or the Southern style, and Vesara or the
Mixed style, are the three types.
Meenakshi Temple represents the pinnacle of Dravidian
architecture. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess
Parvati and is located on the banks of the Vaigai River. This
temple is famous not just for its Hindu mythical stories, but also
for the magniﬁcent and intricate designs that cover its walls and
roof.
This beautiful enormous building is comprised of towering gates
or ‘gopurams,' lofty pillared rooms or ‘mandapams,’ and carved
pillars.

Leveraging Authenticity with Modern Designs
Architecture, at its core, exists
to create the physical
environment in which people
live; yet it is more than simply the
constructed environment; it is also a
component of the rich culture. It
represents how the world looks as well
as how people perceive the
environment.
The recognition that architecture is a
field within itself and that it is equally
vital for architects to continue to push
the boundaries of structures in new
ways holds its own beauty. The belief
that the designs process has to be
continuous, ever-evolving, creative,
and should reach its best possibility is
rare. One such company that follows
this ideology is Mobius Architects.
Mobius is committed to achieving the
equilibrium between the project design
aspirations and its budget while also
focusing on timely delivery. During
our endeavour to find the Most
Innovative Architectural Firms, we
came across Mobius - a firm that is full
of innovation and ideas with satisfying
customer solutions. Read ahead to
know about this dynamic firm in detail.
Describe Mobius in detail.
Mobius Architects is a multi-
dimensional firm based out of Mumbai,
specializing in Architecture, Urban
planning, and interior designing
headed by Ar.Megha Harkut Laddha
and Ar.Akhil Laddha.
We follow an inventive approach to
construction in rhythm with the
concept to achieve an elegant end
product. To us, ‘Mobius’ represents
continuity till the infinite edge. The
process has to be continuous, ever-
evolving, creative, reaching the
extreme unseen point. We believe that
each of our clients has a pattern in life.
We thrive on getting into the basic
geometry of their pattern and reaching
the infinite point to create the space
that is unique to them—the space,
which is a replica of their personality
and context.
What made you venture into the
field of architecture?
We are passionate about designing and
how the sketches turn into
reality—exploring forms and learning
from the surroundings always excited
us. In architectural terms, we are
interested in the initial diagram and
idea of each project and exploring its
potential through the design process.
The inspiration for ideas comes from a
range of influences, with no fixed or
preconceived viewpoint.
What kind of offerings does Mobius
provide to its clients?
We do Urban Design, Master Planning,
Architecture, Landscape, and Interior
designing. We also handle corporation
clearance in Navi Mumbai and
Vidharbha region.
What kind of challenges has Mobius
faced while entering the architecture
industry?
I started the firm, and later my
husband, Ar. Akhil joined me. As a
woman in this male-dominated field,
the initial few years were critical to
have a firm ground in front of clients,
manage the site works and convince
the clients about the feasibility of
projects for me.
Also, it is a very unorganized sector
where one has to overcome language
barriers, manage labourers from
various backgrounds, and get good
quality work done from them.
How was your firm/business affected
in these pandemic times? What steps
did you take to curb the damages
while helping your clients all the
while and maintaining the safety of

The Innovative Leader
Megha has completed her Architecture
from Sir.J.J. College of Architecture,
Mumbai. Recently, in 2020, she did
Executive MBA from IIM (Kolkata).
Later she worked for Kadri
Consultants Pvt.Ltd and Architect
Hafeez Contractor. She focuses on
identifying, developing, and satisfying
client needs by listening and
collaboration.
This allows preconceptions to be
challenged in an air of client trust to
ensure quality and value for money.
Her rational and systematic approach
to brief development and concept
design is highly sought-after. It is an
iterative, collaborative process, which
ensures that the client’s objectives are
enshrined in the design from the outset
and delivered in the completed
building.
your employees?
The pandemic showed us a really
difficult phase in Architecture. There
was a shortage of labours and funds.
Clients were not ready to pay the
approved rates as their business was
facing loss. We focused on simplifying
the design and going ahead with a
minimalistic approach to curb cost and
still deliver a good outcome.
What would you like to advise the
young generation of entrepreneurs
and enthusiasts who want to venture
into the field of architecture?
As Zaha Hadid quoted, “If you want an
easy life, don’t be an Architect.” So, I
would suggest young architects to be
hardworking and be always eager to
learn.
Where do you envision your
firm/business in the long run, and
what are your future goals? How do
you plan to embrace the changes
happening in your industry?
We envision being in the top 10
Architectural firms in Mumbai that are
doing amazing designs in architecture.
This industry is very volatile as it is
dependent on the construction industry,
political developments, and economic
ups and downs. We plan to focus on
projects in developing cities.
“ “
Ar.Akhil Laddha
Megha Laddha
Principal Architect
We try to design
and make good spaces
with uncomplicated buildings

Constructing Vision with Exceptional Skills
urrently, the architecture
Cindustry is in a slight observer
role. The world has indeed
changed a bit; and with it, finances and
investments have also changed. But
2021 is seeing some good turnarounds.
The pandemic is also creating new
opportunities.
Various compliances have increased,
and as the country moves from a
‘developing’ to a developed country,
statutory, and standards compliances
will further increase. Being aware of
all this and how it impacts architecture
in an integrated manner is key to the
success of any practice.
Focus on health and amenities have
made architectural companies relook at
what other spaces can it provide in its
design. One such company is VK:a
Architecture, which is a firm that has
made its work of finding the right
balance of design and intent even more
intensive.
VK:a is led by Hrishikesh Kulkarni
along with his father. With his unique
style, he has brought in new methods
of working at VK:a Architecture. His
research-oriented approach,
collaborative thinking with consultants,
and proactive client interaction leads in
the shaping of any project.
The Genesis of VK:a Architecture
VK:a architecture is a multi-
disciplinary architectural design
practice based in Pune, India. VK:a
architecture was founded in 1973 by
Ar. Vishwas Kulkarni, after graduating
from Sir JJ College of Architecture,
Mumbai, and working with Ar. Charies
Correa. He started the firm with two
employees, and today, VK group
(Architecture, Environmental,
Interiors, Operations, and Urban) has a
strength of over 200 qualified
architects. Urban Designers, Planners,
Landscape Architects, Environment
Design Experts, Environmental
Scientists, Civil Engineers, Valuers,
and Project managers are included in
the team. In 2021, VK:a Architecture
completes 48 years of successful
architectural practice in India.
What started in the year 2003 as being
the first architectural practice in India
to be certified under ISO 9001 has
today become a group certification for
ISO 9001-2015.
The practice is helmed by a very
dynamic leader Ar. Hrishikesh
Kulkarni, along with the values and
tenets that are laid down by Ar.
Vishwas Kulkarni, who still actively
practices. But VK:a is much more than
what one would perceive as a
conventional architectural practice.
It is an organisation that strongly
believes in empowerment and creative
freedom where associates and team
members also drive the organisation
forward through a collective
philosophy of ‘Better by Design’.
VK:a Architecture keeps working in
collaboration with many international
firms and consultants on various
projects with roles ranging from
consortium leader to managing all
compliances. Currently, it is excited to
work on some cutting-edge projects
with Surbana-Jurong and Pei-Cobb-
Freed in Asia, Middle East, and
beyond.
Motivating Leader
Ar. Hrishikesh Kulkarni is a Partner at
VK:a Architecture. As a Lead Director
for various projects, Hrishi looks after

VK: a Architecture
believes in being
a team member
with the clients
from before
the start to beyond
the completion of
a project
“
“
design, delivery and providing expert
technical guidance for making each
project special.
Hrishikesh completed his Diploma in
Architecture at the Academy of
Architecture, Mumbai, India. Later, he
did his Masters in Environment and
Energy at the Architectural Association
(AA) in London 2002-03.
He specialises in performative
architecture, energy eﬃcient design,
human comfort studies, and built
environmental simulations. He is a
qualiﬁed assessor in Building Research
Establishment Environmental
Assessment Method (BREEAM),
which is similar to LEED or Green
Building Rating Systems (GRIHA). He
has lectured at the London
Metropolitan University in the same
subject.
After completing his Masters in
London, he worked with Stubbs Rich
Architects, UK, for four years, where
he worked on many large-scale
projects in the UK and Europe. He was
later instrumental in forming a
collaborative company VKOPEN with
OPENArch Ltd., in 2007.
Apart from his professional
involvements, Hrishi is passionate
about the new trends and techniques
being developed worldwide. Hrishi is
an active member with professional
bodies, such as Council of Architecture
(CoA), Indian Institute of Architects
(IIA), Architects, Engineers, and
Surveyors Association (AESA), and
Indian Green Building Council
(IGBC). With his involvement, he
advocates better policies at the
government level for changes in rules
and regulations.
Hrishikesh Kulkarni
Partner

After returning to India, Hrishi was
involved in supporting ‘Study Tours’ of
CREDAI Pune Metro to various
countries multiple times. This was a
novel initiative of CREDAI with the
intention of their members getting to
visit unique, interesting projects and to
connect with the designers and
developers of these projects.
Hrishikesh co-founded VK:e
environmental with Dr. Poorva Keskar
and Ar. Anagha Paranjape Purohit in
2009. VK:e environmental is a leading
firm in India providing green building
rating services, building physics
studies and simulation, and all required
environment compliances on
construction projects.
With Ar. Vijay Sane, he co-founded
VK:u urban, a practice that focusses on
various government and international
projects, including smart cities, town
planning schemes, integrated
townships, program management for
large scale housing, and other urban
infrastructure projects.
He also leads a interior design and fit-
out team called VK:i interiors. His
passion for research and change in the
development planning policies led to
the formation of an NGO called
sustainability initiatives. It works in
capacity building, policy advocacy, and
research on urban issues.
The Mission to be the Best
Hrishikesh’s father, Ar. Vishwas
Kulkarni has been a practicing
architect since 1973 in Pune, and
Hrishi used to work at his office on
weekends since his school days. As
one of the early adopters of CAD and
use of computers in architectural
practice, he became really interested in
computational tech building design.
From the two main interests of physics
and architectural design, he decided to
pursue the latter. Seeing his father so
passionately involved in the practice of
architecture motivated him a lot. His
father not only worked for the purpose
of creation but bettering and bringing
happiness to the people who occupied
his buildings. This was an inspirational
statement for me as I studied
architecture.
Hrishi’s father laid down the tenet that
better design leads to a better life,
something the team made into a more
defined motto, ‘Better by Design’. And
the more Hrishi made his exploration
into this field, the more it captivated
him. Much later, as Hrishi got really
into research-based design and
building physics simulations, he
explored his other interest in Physics.
Fruitful Offerings
VK:a has designed over 2000 projects
in various sectors. It has been involved
in many successful projects in
residential, commercial, education,
hotel, malls, public sectors with proven
expertise in architecture, master
planning, and energy and
environmental disciplines.
VK:a believes that it should be the
integrated, holistic consulting services
partner for its clients in their projects.
The company lean on its lineage but
move forward, bringing past, present,
and future together in designs that
inspire innovation.
The company has developed competent
teams that focus on the end user at
every stage of the project cycle. It is a
unique organisation, which provides
the full suite of design and engineering
services coupled with full statutory
compliances.
VK:a does project Feasibilities and
TDDs, Architectural Design, and
Detailing, All Statutory Compliances,
Integrated Services with MEP+F,
Landscape Design, Periodic Support,
and Consultancy both during and after
construction. Overall, it places as a
responsible, multi-disciplinary, project,
and user centric architectural
consultancy that likes to involve itself
in all aspects of the project creation.
The Path Filled with Thorns
The entry for the company was
actually in 1973 when Hrishi’s father
started the practice. He entered in 2000
as he completed his studies. The main
challenge at that time was on how to
best use new tools and technologies for
CAD and Design. At that time, Hrishi
led the practice in developing the
company’s CAD standards, server
centric working system.
“I remember we had our own email
servers, which was before even Gmail
started. I transitioned back to Pune in
2008 when you can say I almost had to
re-enter in this field,” states
Hrishikesh.
He continued with further integration
of technology, not just software tools
but adding industry-grade hardware,
which was never considered by
architects.
At that time, the real challenge was to
win projects from government and
public sector. After sustained efforts
over more than a decade, VK:a has
been able to develop a large portfolio
of these projects. Another challenge
was building a great team. Sometimes
Hrishikesh feels the team is blessed to
have with continuous efforts and
support from its operations team. And
the team is grateful to many of its

clients who have been a part of this
journey and invested in its approach.
Being a Warrior in Difficult
Situations
The pandemic did catch the world off
guard. In a way, it was humbling for all
in the building and creative industry.
The team focussed on its welfare and
health when they knew that the real
estate industry would not be going full
steam for a while. 2020 passed by
through observation, patience, and a
sort of focussed resilience.
The company is grateful for both its
core systems and agile temperament
that allowed VK:a to work from home
when it needed to and then come back
to work when things were better, in a
stagewise manner. Huge credit goes to
VK:o operations team and the IT
Team, which made work-from-home
possible with minimal downtime.
The staff was also very cooperative.
Through the downs and uncertainties,
not once did any of them grumble or
complain, they knew the company had
their back, and the employees always
had the company’s. So, they worked
hard. Right through the initial months,
the company kept on working and
monitoring its progress and updating
the clients, as a lot of their sites were
still operational.
The company also took the opportunity
of available time to invest in VK:a.
Through training and workshops, it
remained abreast of the requirements
its contemporary practices need.
Employees started to come back to
office from June onwards, and now,
most of them work at office while
maintaining necessary health
precautions.
There really is no great substitute for
architecture happening physically at an
office. The team made it work the best
it could, through online means, from its
own respective homes, but the
collaborative design experience that
enriches its final product through
discussion, debate, and the tangibility
of paper and pen, is a wondrous,
inimitable experience.
Opinion that Matters
“I guess Architecture is not for
‘enthusiasts’ in the strict terminology
of things, but Enthusiasm, Agility,
Humility, an ability to continuously
Learn, pushing boundaries and
collaboration are some of the key
fundamentals of this profession,” says
Hrishikesh.
“Another aspect is hard work. I know
many will talk of smart work, and that
is also true. But working smart only
happens once one knows how to work
hard. There really is no shortcut to
that,” adds Hrishikesh.
“I guess it’s worthwhile to repeat
something that has been drilled into my
head, from my father and my teachers.
Design DOES make a difference. And
we need to continue to pose interesting
questions in Design and not just
continue with the solutions already
available,” expresses Hrishikesh.
Robust Future Plans
The company is constantly progressing
over the last few decades, and it hopes
to continue doing that. Architecture is a
vast field, and the team at VK:a will
continue to add more and more
expertise and disciplines as it grows.
Currently, the firm is looking to
explore projects in Healthcare,
Industrial/Logistics, Urban
Infrastructure, Hospitality, and
Integrated Townships. The team
sincerely believes in teamwork, and
collaborative approach will always be
keen on exciting collaborations.
This year, VK:a has tied up with the
Pritzker Award winning New York
based firm of Pei Cobb Freid, founded
by legendary Ar. I M Pei. The firm is
working jointly on super exciting
projects in Middle East and India. It is
also likely to expand on its work
together with infrastructure advisory
firms like EY, Mckinsey, and SGS, etc.
It has not exactly planned on where to
be in the future, but the team feels that
it is on a journey to position its
organisation as the unique choice for
total Design + Engineering +
Compliance services on projects.
VK:a also believes that innovation in
the industry will not be limited in the
future to design ideas and material
exploration but will also be seen
through products, methods of
fabrication and prototyping, and
increased use of generative tools for
forms. The organization is exploring
these ideas with concerted efforts and
investments.

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