As
Zaha Hadid once observed, "Architecture is really about well-being. I
think that people want to feel good in a space... On the one hand, it's about
shelter, but it's also about pleasure."
This
sentiment resonates deeply as we celebrate the release of Gauri Kelkar's 20
x 20: Twenty Architects x Twenty Iconic Homes of India in an evening of
inspiration and innovation. The PechaKucha presentation style features four
architects from distinguished architectural and design studios offering a
profound glimpse into their design philosophies and showcasing their featured
projects. From modern urban dwellings to serene hillside retreats, witness how
these architects create spaces that are not just inhabited but truly
experienced.
Sönke Hoof is an architect practicing in Ahmedabad, India. Born in 1974, he was brought up and educated in Germany. Before studying architecture at the University Stuttgart, he formally trained and worked as a carpenter, which formed his understanding of details and sense for materials. In 2003, following a workshop with BV Doshi at Sangath, he returned to Ahmedabad to work on his graduation thesis “Masala Housing - building with recycling materials”. After his graduation he stayed on to work in Doshi’s studio on projects of various scales. In 2008 he was made partner of VSC. Together with his wife Khushnu Panthaki Hoof he founded Studio Sangath, a multi-disciplinary partnership focussing on residential projects, interior and furniture design, publications and curation of exhibitions and art shows. The main focus of their practice is to design spaces that encourage the permeability of the environment into their manifestation. Their work has been published in various books and magazines nationally and internationally.
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Sanjay Puri has been on the jury of the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona, Singapore, Berlin, Amsterdam & Lisbon being the first Indian architect to be on the jury. Sanjay has also been a judge for The Architectural Review Awards, UK, Dezeen Awards, UK, The Plan Awards, Italy, Inde Awards, Australia and been a speaker at several international & national conventions. Sanjay is a registered member of the RIBA, UK, Society of American Registered Architects (SARA, New York), Indian Institute of Architecture (IIA), Indian Institute of Interior Designers(IIID) and has been a part of the Heritage Conservation Committee, New Delhi. Sanjay Puri Architects have been ranked at number 32 on Archello’s list of Top 100 architects worldwide and are listed in Archdaily’s list of Top 100 architects worldwide and in the WA UK top 100 architectural firms as well as the Architizer New York’s top130 architecture firms in the world.
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Shonan Purie Trehan is the founder and a principal architect at Language. Architecture. Body. After completing her Bachelor of Architecture, from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in USA, she worked at Eisenmen Architects in New York City. She went on to work on various institutional and cultural projects at Le Groupe Arcop, Montreal and Arcop Associates, New Delhi. In 2008, she completed her Masters in Architecture from the Bartlett School of Built Environment, London, UK, with a focus in Advanced Architectural Design. In 2010, Shonan established Language.Architecture.Body in Bombay as a design studio that focuses on construction of relationships between narrative, environment and habitation. The practice has been working with great momentum over the last 6 years. The team of 18 architects have built over 57 residential, commercial, healthcare and hospitality projects across India and Africa. The work ranges from the planning of a 1600 bed hospital, Medanta The Medicity to the interiors of Ministry of New. LAB’s work has been widely published and awarded a spot on the AD50 list of 2015. For three years, Shonan was a visiting faculty member for the Bachelor of Architecture program at KRVIA. She has also presented at IDF, DesignxDesign 30under35, Studio X and close encounters.
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Abin Design Studio is engaging design in the urban fabric and peri-urban edge, as a catalyst for deliberate change. The studio’s work focuses on the idea of holistic design, not just limiting to ideas, but also physical manifestation through multi-disciplinary collaboration. His explorations intend to push the boundaries of thought, prevalent socio-cultural landscape and spatial construct, challenging the role of architecture in the society, by being unafraid of unfamiliar explorations. ADS work has been published as a monograph by The Architectural Review, London. The book “Making of Place”, a productive collision between a practice and a passionate community in peri-urban areas has been published by CEPT University. The studio is also the recipient of several national and international accolades. Very recently, ADS has been awarded the 4th Martand Singh Memorial Award 2022.
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Shefali Balwani is the Founder and Principal of Architecture Brio, working between Mumbai and Rotterdam while leading design projects in India and Europe. Born in Mumbai, she studied at the School of Architecture C.E.P.T. in Ahmedabad and participated in an exchange program at TUDelft in the Netherlands. Shefali excels at integrating architecture and interiors, creating spaces that are functional, beautiful, and tailored to their unique users. With a keen interest in materiality, she emphasizes how materials inform the architecture of each project. Committed to excellence, she oversees planning, design, and execution at Architecture Brio. Her work has been widely featured in various architectural publications. The project "The Riparian House" was featured in the BBC documentary "World’s Most Extraordinary Homes." Alongside her partner, Robert Verrijt, Shefali and her team strive to create architecture that transcends the built environment, embracing the beauty of nature and its surroundings.
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Indian Residential Architecture Styles
India's architectural styles have been diverse and reflective of the unique regional influences, materials available, and design traditions. In the North, houses often had a fort-like aesthetic, with grand havelis and palaces featuring frescoes, marble work, and jharokhas (overhanging enclosed balconies).
The Dravidian influence characterized the architectural styles of southern India, showcasing decorative elements, elaborate wood carvings, mural paintings, and brassware that highlighted the region's artistic traditions. The towering gopurams (ornate gateways) and intricate carvings with a lot of colors of southern temples were also distinctive features.
Moving eastward, the architecture of regions like Bengal featured mud and bamboo houses, as well as the unique "pukur dwip" or pond houses. Gujarat, on the other hand, was known for its ornately carved wooden houses, courtyards, Chabutaras (raised platforms), and the pol system of interconnected houses.
The architecture of Maharashtra displayed a diverse range of influences, from the Maratha to the Portuguese, with features like sloping roofs, wooden pillars, and courtyards. Forts were also an integral part of the Maharashtrian architectural landscape.
Overall, India's traditional residential styles were remarkably diverse, each reflecting the cultural heritage and unique regional identities that have shaped the country's architectural legacy.
Pecha
Kucha Presentation Format
Pecha Kucha, a Japanese presentation format, follows a strict set of rules that create a dynamic and engaging experience for both the presenter and the audience. Introduced in 2003 by two architects in Tokyo, this format has since been adopted across various disciplines, from poetry to analysis and reporting.
The key elements of Pecha Kucha are its timing and visualization. Each presentation is limited to 20 slides, with each slide displayed for only 20 seconds. This means the entire lecture is confined to a concise 6 minutes and 40 seconds, ensuring a fast-paced and to-the-point delivery.
The rapid succession of slides, coupled with the strict time constraint, encourages presenters to focus on the most essential points. This format doesn't allow for distractions or lengthy explanations. The result is a comprehensible and insightful presentation that engages the audience from start to finish.
Modern-Day Architecture and Climate Change As the world grapples with the pressing issue of climate change, the role of architecture and design has become increasingly crucial. In the current times, buildings must not only be aesthetically pleasing but also eco-sensitive, cost-efficient, and energy-efficient. Architects and design firms in India are leading the charge in this shift towards a more sustainable future.
Trupti Doshi, working at the Shabna Rural Development Centre, is one such architect who is dedicated to creating value-based designs that are in harmony with the environment. Similarly, Biju Bhaskar and his wife Sindhu have been working with indigenous knowledge systems to build mud houses that are both cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Gopal Shankar, Benny Kuriakose, Eugene Pandala, Dhruvang Hingmire, and Priyanka Gunjikar are pioneers of sustainable architecture in the country.
Other notable firms include Biome Environmental Solution, Made in Earth, Ashok B. Lall Architects, Masons Ink Studios, Morphogenesis, Zero Energy Design Lab, Footprints E.A.R.T.H, Mosaic Design, Stapati, and the Auroma Group. These organizations continue to push the boundaries of sustainable architecture, creating buildings that are not only functional but also contribute to a greener, more eco-conscious future.
