Professional qualification

Dipl.lng. Arch. , TH-Karlsruhe
PG Town Planning, TH-Karlsruhe
University of Karlsruhe, Germany

Specialization

a. Residential Architecture with emphasis on construction technologies & energy conservation.
b. Exploration of structural systems in residential architecture

Membership of professional bodies
a. Member- Council of Architecture (COA)
b. Member- Indian Institute of Architects (IIA)

International association

Associate Architect with Dipl.lng. Thomas Rischmann Architects (BDA) Mainz, Germany.

Pedagogical & Work Experience

February 1990-Present
Managing Partner & Principal Architect- Matra Architects & Rurban Planners
1991-2002
Visiting faculty at the University of School Architecture & Planning (USAP), •
November 1987-January 1990:
Senior Project Architect- M.N. Ashish Ganju & Mark Warner Associates, New Delhi
March 1986-December 1986:
Project Architect- B.V. Doshi, Ahmedabad
March 1984-Feburary 1986:
Associate Architect. Michael Nickel Architect & Urban Planners, Karlsruhe, Germany

Distinctions

HIJDCO Commendation Award 1990:
Urban Resettlement in Delhi.
GEDA Prize 1991: Application of renewable energy resources, Campus design at Baroda.
J.K. Awards 1997: Housing in Urban Context, Group Housing for Bachelor’s
President’s Award 2000: Residential Schools in New Tehri Town (Associate Architects with DKS)
MGAHV Commendation Award 2002: Campus Design for the Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya.
A+D /Spectrum 2002: Commendation Award, Restaurant Interiors, Vatika —The Fox, Gurgaon.
WAF (World Architectural Festival Barcelona 2008): short listed project for Everest Industries
IIA Award 2009 — project Everest Industries Ltd. Roorkee
WAC Award 2010 — project Everest Industries Ltd. Roorkee
WAF (World Architectural Festival Singapore 2013) : short listed project for Ireo Gallery, Delhi
AD 50 Award 2016 (Architectural Digest)
Trends Award 2016 — Jury Award for best project 2016
AD 50 Award 2017 – 50 best practices in India
Trends Award 2017 — Winner Residential Project
Trends Award 2017 — Winner Temporary Architectural Project
ADIOO Award 2018 – 100 best practices in the Subcontinent
AD 100 Award 2018 – House of the Year

Inspiration

Cities are and will certainly be centres of change, however, they need not be seen as only mercantile arrangements but as place, addressed towards people, their cultures, communities, climate and humanity-at large, to emerge as meaningful paradigms.

The growing densification in residential areas are affecting nearly all Indian cities and subsequent pressure on the infrastructure demand a rethinking of the existing building  types. Change in pattern of living and trend towards maximizing covered area tend to erode more quality space.

The challenge today hence lies in developing building typologies that reinstate a balance between built and open landscape areas, fundamental to integral living.

Program & Form

Two duplex units, dovetailed as two L-shaped juxtaposed building volumes, contain the stilt floor, gf/ff and sf/tf respectively and are designed to accommodate the client’s brief consisting of two self-contained residences of similar area program.The entire methodology of generating the comprehensive forn is based on chiselling out vertical and horizontal volumes, enabling light penetration, vistas, insertion of structure/services and hanging gardens within.

Structure & Material
Two exposed concrete cores of similar size integrate staircases/lift/MEP services and are the only structural support to the building above the stilt area. This nearly indiscernible arrangement reinforces the idea of spatial continuity and porosity of all spaces.

The monolithic textured concrete, created by use of pine wood shuttering, constitutes the main building material and blurs the distinction between structure and surface, inside and outside. In contrast, the bare rock form awaits natures dynamic.