Spaces unfold as you move through them

A building is experienced as a sequence of spaces, not as a single static image. At DPS Chhatarpur, near Khajuraho, open corridors lead to courtyards, which open onto others. Along the way, glimpses of distant steps invite the eye forward. Varying scales, materials and natural light give each part of the journey a different character. The architecture intentionally reveals itself gradually, creating a sense of discovery and surprise.

People and place shape the architecture

A building is more than its tangible requirements and amenities. It is also a place for people to meet, interact and build a sense of community. At KC High School in Chennai, the plan centres on a circular amphitheatre where students and faculty gather. Partly shaded by the surrounding buildings and open to cross breezes from the sides, it becomes a comfortable, informal place for shared experiences. The space is shaped by the life it accommodates.

The thinking remains, whatever the scale.

From modest residences and small schools to large institutional campuses, the scale may change. The attention to people, place and experience does not. A charitable village school of six classrooms in the Himalayan foothills receives the same care in the design of its spaces as a campus spread across 50 acres.

Nothing without reason

Every element has to earn its place. Exposed brick can serve as structure, finish and thermal mass; jaali screens can filter daylight while allowing air to move through. Where conditions allow, we prioritise daylight and cross-ventilation before relying on mechanical systems.

Our preference for local materials and building techniques goes back to our early years working with Building Centre, a HUDCO sister concern. The principle remains the same: choose materials for their relevance, and make each element do more than one job. Sustainability often begins with restraint.

Structure as expression

At Neetee Clothing in Gurgaon, structure is an integral part of the architecture. Mushroom-shaped columns support flat slabs, leaving the floor plates clear and services easier to route. The reinforced concrete is left exposed, retaining the character of the formwork. When a structural idea is well resolved, it can give a building as much character as any applied finish.

Design with feeling, deliver with rigour

An idea worth having is also worth building properly. At KC High School in Chennai, an elliptical skylight and curved balconies bring daylight into the heart of the school. Their success depends on more than the initial idea: on the proportions, the slender railings, the junctions between slab and glass, and the resolution of every edge. Design intent must survive the demands of a real site, a real budget and a real client. That is where experience and rigour matter.