The Crystal Hall Residential Interior

Crystal Hall's interiors attempt to change – or perhaps retrace – the design paradigm as we know it.

For one, its aesthetic philosophy is new: Form follows Function follows Feeling. Form follows Function is a mechanistic interpretation of design, emphasizing the ephemeral (utility, stability, affordability, and durability) rather than the ethereal (that goes beyond the materialistic and the immediate). “Function alone does not drive form,” said the Shaker pioneer Mother Ann Lee, "(Rather) audience needs, client desires, ethical obligations, aesthetic inclinations, material properties, cultural presuppositions, and functional requirements” shape form. And to this, we can add Feeling – which goes beyond the designer's or client's emotions, to embrace that of nature, community, and humanity.

The other philosophical underpinning here is Paleomodernism (paleo, lit. first) – returning to Design101: balance, rhythm, scale, harmony, Golden Ratios...Paleomodernism is not new: Louis Kahn's work, for example, resembled classical design without plagiarizing it.

Our aesthetic preferences are timeless and yet we must imbue the place, time, and technology we inhabit, sensitive to the diversity, equity, and inclusivity of our communities, and environments.

I mainly wanted to bring about a change in the culturally dominant worldviews and set a mark for more sustainable, socially responsible and eco friendly products and practices in the field of design. As a strong believer and practicer of sustainable, socially responsible and economically effective practices, I believe that my work would serve as a catalyst in enabling people to realize that design is more than just creating something pretty.

I look forward to the Crystal Hall fulfilling its true purpose which is contributing to the society both in terms of function as well as in terms of inspiration as a landmark for innovative, sustainability and Environment First design.

While the building was primarily designed as a residential unit, it's also meant to be a home office for some of its residents. In fact, some of its spaces on the outside and the inside have been designed to be used as social spaces like for literary readings, art shows, fashion shows and film shooting.

Almost as soon as the building was finished, without any publicity whatsoever and though its off the beaten track – Crystal Hall, has become a magnet for architects as well as non-architects who come to enjoy the building and spend their time around it, like a tourist attraction.