Our Process: From Concept to Craft
We believe architecture isn't just about the final render. It is about the full-scale mock-ups, the material testing, and the on-site collaboration that makes a space truly yours.
Here we are reviewing a full-scale mock-up for a granite jaali (screen). This step is critical for us to understand the play of light and shadow before final construction, ensuring the design works in reality, not just on paper.
A detail shot of the granite jaali mock-up, made from waste off-cuts from a nearby stone processor. This process of prototyping allows us to test sustainable material use and refine textural details.
The finished mock-up of the granite screen shows the pattern of voids and solids. This hands-on testing is a core part of our design process for creating unique architectural and furniture elements.
An artisan puts the finishing touches on a custom-designed bar at our Alibaug project. The bar front is clad in vertically laid marble tiles, a detail we refined through on-site collaboration.
A close-up of the craftsmanship involved in the verandah bar. We work closely with skilled craftspeople to ensure every detail, from the curve of the counter to the fit of each tile, is executed perfectly.
The process of grouting the marble tiles on the custom bar. This image captures the hands-on work and precision that goes into creating the refined textures in our bespoke furniture pieces.
Our process often involves material experimentation. Here, we are testing a new technique, creating a concrete block using wood waste from a furniture factory as an aggregate.
Grinding down the surface of our experimental block to expose the wood chips within. This prototyping phase is where we discover new textures and sustainable material applications for our projects.
A close-up of the finished texture from our wood waste experiment. This process of discovery informs our designs for unique wall panels, furniture, and other custom elements.
An artisan carefully works on a prototype, a crucial step in our design development. This hands-on approach allows us to refine the form, texture, and feel of a piece before final production.
About Our Process: From Concept to Craft
We never finalize a design without first building full-scale mock-ups. Whether it is a granite screen in Nandi Hills or a custom bar in Alibaug, we need to touch the texture, watch how the light falls, and test the joinery ourselves. This phase of prototyping is how we ensure that a design works on-site just as well as it does in our sketches.
Why We Prototype
Design is not just about a 3D render. It is about how a material feels under your hand and how it ages over time. We frequently experiment with waste materials, like turning granite off-cuts from local processing units into load-bearing jaali walls, or casting concrete blocks mixed with wood waste from furniture factories. By testing these ideas at scale, we eliminate guesswork and discover new textures before we ever start the main construction.
Collaboration as a Method
We work directly with the craftsmen who build our designs. From the Alibaug project to our courtyard houses in Hyderabad, our team is on-site, refining the curves of a counter or the grout lines of a marble wall. This hands-on approach allows us to make real-time decisions, ensuring the final piece is built to last and sits perfectly within the narrative of your home.
Integrating Craft with Architecture
We treat furniture and lighting as extensions of the architecture. If we are designing a light fixture, we are also considering the electrical drivers and the thermal management. If we are building a console, we are looking at the specific marine plywood carcass and the soft-close mechanisms. Everything we build follows a rigorous development loop—concept, CAD detailing, prototyping, and final execution.
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