Six architects and designers share the inspirations behind their craft and the magic of turning ideas into reality

There’s an unmatched elation in pursuing one’s passion, but an even deeper, almost reverent pleasure in watching it come alive as tangible spaces. From childhood fascinations to a responsibility for the future, myriad inspirations fuel the craft of architecture and design for these six experts, who take us through their process and talk about what makes them fall in love with the craft every day.

VINITA CHAITANYA

“Weaving stories is my forte,” confesses Vinita Chaitanya, the woman behind several stunning homes and commercial spaces across India. “I love how objects, art, and antiques all tell their own unique stories,”she shares. Chaitanya is known for her sorcery in curating eclectic palettes and pieces with artful finesse. But her partial preference lies towards vintage crockery, probably inspired by her life’s narrative: growing up in a colonial home, visiting clubs, and spending days over games of croquet and cricket. “There were butlers (or bearers, as they were called then), fine crockery, and linen all around, and these experiences had a profound impact on my sensibilities,” she shares.

If her ever-smiling portraits are any proof, Chaitanya doesn’t hold back in feeling the joy and spreading it all around her. “My craft does not feel like work. I love creating beautiful spaces, being creative, and becoming relevant every day.All of this passion often comes back as love from clients, who eventually become like family to me,” she tells Bazaar India. Her design process is an extension of her passions, and remains centred around listening to every client. Only after learning about their lifestyle and their dream for their home does she get down to designing and styling the space. The end result? An ecosystem that is unique to its inhabitants yet characteristic of Chaitanya’s personal touch. “Being meticulous about details, I personally approve each of them for every project, from the time of polishing for wood to the tile and paint texture used,” she confirms.

ASHIESH SHAH

For design doyen Ashiesh Shah, working with spaces was always about the creativity of the process. “Monotony scares me, so I found joy in seeing every day as a new challenge, a new way to look at things typically considered commonplace. This was possible because as architects and space designers, we’re not only solving problems but also innovating,” he shares.

Known for wabi-sabi aesthetics driven by a sense of ikigai, Shah works extensively to revive and sustain crafts that would otherwise die a slow death. His work with Channapatna’s wooden crafts is a stellar example of such a project. Forgotten as an everyday presence in life’s landscape, Channapatna’s handcrafted objects found new forms as Shah integrated them into his own collections. “It’s been a very special project for me because of how we’ve taken a toy-making village and made it into an industry. It’s a reminder of how something you see every day can turn around on its head in a new context,” he shares, revealing how the experience has brought him immense elation, and one might say, even revelations of philosophical measures.

RAVI VAZIRANI

Behind Ravi Vazirani’s journey as a designer is a passion for spinning narratives. “The greatest joy of being a designer lies in the power to tell stories through spaces. I love how design transforms into a tool for crafting experiences, influencing how people connect with and feel within a space,” he says. The self-taught designer has many popular projects to his name, from celebrity homes to retail spaces. But the inspiration behind his craft often comes from the most underrated, unexpected places—an antique market, a piece of art, or even a casual conversation.

Every step of the design process remains personal to him and commands his undivided attention and contribution.“But I am only as good as the people I have the privilege of collaborating with,” Vazirani says. Working alongside craftsmen, artisans, and what he calls his incredible team at Ravi Vazirani Design Studio, he continues to chase the magic in transforming abstract ideas into tangible creations.The journey takes shape as he works to craft a design language with materials, textures, and artfully curated objects. His favourite bit? Watching how the story behind the concept ties it all together, weaving life into the warp and weft of the picture.

ROOSHAD SHROFF

From The Gyaan Project catapulting Indian artisans to the fore to memorable exhibits of functional furniture, Rooshad Shroff’s initiatives speak for themselves. In his product designs as well as the collections he curates, Indian craft unequivocally steals the show. “I am a tireless supporter of Indian artisanship; it is the cornerstone of my private practice. If we don't fight for its preservation and incorporation into today’s design language, we risk losing these techniques forever. There is nothing in the world that can match the luxury and joy of bespoke and handmade crafts,” he says about finding a driven happiness in supporting local heritage. His dynamic journey in design has also been punctuated with several projects in product and space design, spanning restaurants, retail stores, and other spaces. “As a designer, it’s an indulgence for me to fantasise about and then realistically build upon any utopian vision,” he says. For him, the brief is crucial as the foundation upon which ideas are based. But his unique expression comes through via an “effort to align various aesthetics with my core passions, like bespoke solutions and craftsmanship.” If anything, the challenges faced in such execution of a thought into functional form only fuel him further.“The most exciting part of the design journey is in fact the metamorphosis from a drawing on paper to actual tangibility, and there’s no greater feeling than overcoming those very hurdles.”

RITU NANDA

“I begin every project with a vision, and the joy of seeing this vision turn to reality—in brick and mortar and colour and texture—is what excites me,” says Ritu Nanda. But her works are much more than that. From private residences to fashion stores and beyond, every space crafted by Ritu Nanda is perceived as a unique entity of authentic design. This is probably because of how the spaces stand more as culmination points of intrinsic motivations and external environments than as standalone works of concrete. Delving deep into the site and the space, Nanda delights in learning from the land. “The constant opportunity to grow as a designer with every home we build is my favourite part of the process. Even before I can think of building on it, I must first consider the lay of the land and the forces of nature,” she reveals. This kind of holistic approach is what has fuelled her segue into subsidiary arts such as landscaping and styling as well. “In my world of design, everything is deeply connected. Creating a space entails deeper lifestyle considerations—how a window dictates light, a door cues arrival, a ceiling height emits a sense of luxury, or how a swimming pool beckons you for leisure. That’s why I enjoy landscaping while building homes as well.”

Inspired by her own lifestyle, Nanda co-founded Quattroporte Luxury Homes in 2012 as a small boutique building business. Having lived in and loved Goa for decades, she enjoys building spaces that exude the kind of relaxed tropical luxury synonymous with the sunshine state.“We have unflinchingly stuck to our original plan of building only single, stand alone luxury homes, in line with the kind of lifestyle I love and seek,” she shares.

NANDINI SAMPAT

Nandini Somaya Sampat is redrafting public architecture, one project at a time. One half of the mother-daughter duo leading urban restoration in India, Sampat was developing an appreciation for craft even before she realised it.“Every Saturday morning for as far back as I can remember, my mother and I would set off to Jehangir Art gallery, finding our way through cottage industries and Khadi Bhandar among other haunts in Mumbai. This was my masterclass in the world of architecture,” she tells Bazaar India.

Building on her journey in law, she transitioned into the world of architecture to be able to make a difference. The road is tough and requires an unmatched passion for the profession, she says,“But the journey between concept and completion is fuelled with learning, collaboration, innovation, and moments that I find exhilarating. As an architect, I greatly value becoming a student of ecology, archaeology, sociology, history, science, and several other verticals at once.” Another facet to this excitement of learning is the thoughtful integration of Indian heritage in various forms, with a certain diversity in geography, materials, and artisanal touches to her final products.“It’s been a great joy and privilege to work across our land, building for and learning from its people,” she says.

This piece originally appeared in the December 2024 print edition of Harper's Bazaar India

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