Our Architectural Philosophy & Process
We treat architecture not as a set of drawings, but as a conversation with the land. Our practice is an ongoing search for equilibrium between what exists and what is needed.
In this talk from the AZA Conference, I discuss our role as architects in these interesting times. We are custodians of an accumulated intelligence, and our work is a search for equilibrium, planting seeds and observing what they grow into.
Good design should feel like it belongs, that it isn't enforced. In this conversation, I explain our process of listening to a space and responding to its history and material, a method that is more akin to archaeology than conventional architecture.
Our studio in Mumbai's historic Ballard Estate is a space for experimentation. The area itself, with its century old structures and unique urban character, provides constant inspiration and a rich context for our work.
A special afternoon spent in conversation with Pritzker Laureate Peter Zumthor at our IF.BE project. Engaging with radical thinkers is a vital part of our own process of reflection and evolution.
Discussing the design of a project with Peter Zumthor, explaining how we used local stone from the excavation to build the lotus ponds. This kind of material honesty and connection to the site is at the core of our practice.
About Our Philosophy & Process
We do not believe in imposing a vision on a space from behind a desk. Before we draw a single line, we spend days on-site, scraping back old plaster, examining timber beams, and understanding the thermal path of the sun. It is a slow, often messy, and thoroughly manual process of listening to what the site needs to become.
For us, a building is not an object you place on land; it is an evolution. We see our role as custodians of a site's memory. When we approach an old structure in Ballard Estate or a greenfield site in Alibaug, we stop. We observe. We treat architecture like archaeology, carefully peeling back layers of time to understand the structural logic beneath.
If you look at our work at IF.BE, you see this process in action. We did not set out to build something new from scratch; we set out to save the old. We found that pulling on one loose thread, such as a decaying beam or a hidden foundation, could unravel the whole, so we moved with surgical precision. We prefer pinning, suturing, and buttressing to demolition.
This extends to our new builds, too. We prioritize material honesty. Whether it is locally sourced Basalt, Sandstone, or handcrafted Terrazzo, we choose materials that age gracefully and respond to the local climate. We do not chase trends. We chase equilibrium, a balance between the rational needs of a modern home and the spirit of the land it stands upon. It is a slow, deliberate practice, but it is the only way to ensure that what we build belongs exactly where it is.
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