Meet The Architecture BRIO Collective
Architecture is a collaborative act. Go behind the scenes at our Mumbai studio to see how our team creates spaces that balance nature, light, and materiality.
The Architecture BRIO team. Our practice is a collective of architects and designers from diverse backgrounds, united by a shared passion for creating thoughtful, well-crafted spaces.
The chaos and fun behind the scenes of our annual team photo. This video captures the energy and camaraderie of our studio environment.
Our team, gathered on the steps of our new office. The staircase is more than just circulation; it's a social hub, a place for presentations, and the heart of our studio.
We are honored to be included in the AD100 list for 2025. This recognition is a testament to the hard work of our entire team and the trust of our clients and collaborators.
The architects behind the DUA Villa: Robert Verrijt, Shefali Balwani, and Rohit Mankar of Architecture BRIO, with landscape architect Kunaal Maniar. Our projects are the result of close collaboration.
A portrait of our principals, Robert Verrijt and Shefali Balwani. Our practice is built on a decade of partnership and a shared vision for architecture that is both globally informed and locally sensitive.
A view from the lounge area of our studio, looking through to the meeting spaces. The use of glass walls and large openings creates a sense of transparency and visual connection throughout the office.
The dining table in our studio, framed by an arched French window that looks out onto lush greenery. This seamless integration of indoor and outdoor living is a principle we apply to our own workspace.
The perfect setup for our next client meeting. The live-edge wooden table, modern chairs, and view of the garden create an environment that is both professional and inspiring.
Our office courtyard, with its central frangipani tree, is an urban oasis. It brings light and nature into the heart of the studio and serves as a welcome spot for team lunches and breakout moments.
About The BRIO Collective: Our Studio & Team
Our Mumbai workspace functions as a living laboratory for our design philosophy. We designed it around a central courtyard that acts as a green lung, bringing light and nature directly into the office. This structure mimics the residential projects we build for our clients, ensuring that every desk and meeting area remains connected to the outdoors, whether through large French windows or direct courtyard views.
Architecture is not a solitary pursuit. It is a collective dialogue. Our studio is built on the belief that a workspace should actively foster the same principles we bring to our residential architecture and interior design projects.
A Laboratory for Design
The office is structured to break down the barrier between design and reality. We utilize a double-volume space where a prominent grid of marble shelves serves as both a library for our architectural models and a display for material samples. This allows our team to constantly engage with the physicality of our work. We do not design purely on screens. We rely on physical models, sketches, and hands-on material studies to resolve complex architectural problems before a single brick is laid.
The Role of Nature
Just as we prioritize the integration of landscape in our villas and duplex apartments, our office is anchored by an internal courtyard. This space features a central frangipani tree, creating a transition zone that brings the outdoors in. It acts as a light well, providing the consistent, soft natural illumination necessary for analyzing materials and textures. We use this space for team lunches and casual discussions, reinforcing our conviction that well-being is an essential component of professional creative environments.
Collaborative Architecture
Our team is a diverse group of architects and designers, led by Shefali Balwani and Robert Verrijt. We operate with a flat hierarchy where every hand gets dirty, whether during model making or on-site supervision. When you visit us, you are not just meeting a lead architect. You are engaging with the collective responsible for the sketches, the material research, and the final execution of your space. We invite you to step into our studio to discuss how we can bring this same collaborative rigor to your upcoming project.
Architecture Brio
We are a collective of architects and designers split between Mumbai and Rotterdam, united by a belief in slow living and architecture that respects the environment. Our practice is built on a decade of partnership and the conviction that the best spaces emerge from honest dialogue, tactile materials, and a deep respect for light.
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