Nitin Bhardwaj

Since childhood, travelling to historical places like Rajasthan palaces and forts imbibed the intricate designs and concepts. During the years of growing up I always had inclination towards art and design. After completing my graduation, there was a choice between Architecture and Engineering, I opted for Architecture considering that Engineering would always be a part of Architecture.

Ours is a small design studio consisting of 10 designers with very open atmosphere to express ideas. As an Architect I always be there in studio interacting with everyone and grasping ideas. We also take ideas from artisans and we ask them to make small dummies for complicated designs. In our studio we believe to combine design concepts of all designers and also add from the experience of trained artisans to create new possibilities and designs.

Design is probably reinterpretation of Indian architecture concepts which have lot of clues to tackle the environment in presently situation and by combining modern conveniences with concepts of Indian architecture creates good living environment for example central courtyard space in Indian architecture plays very important role in the design layout.

Mostly we design individual bungalows and commercial showrooms as we can enlist our creativity.

Personally favorite is my own residence as function and efficiency take priority without the addition of any frills. Its design makes subtle references to vernacular architecture, interpreted with contemporary technology. The facade has a pleasing geometry which combines brick and textured stone. At the centre of the house is the traditional courtyard which draws attention at the wooden jaalis. The cantilevered ledges at the windows provide informal seating recalling the jharokas. Adjacent to the kitchen is the cantilevered staircase with wooden treads and suspended ropes. There is a glass walkway supported by wooden member traverses the central portion of the house which has been left transparent.

The first thing I designed was a furniture showroom for a company.

All locally available natural stones like Jodhpuri stones, steel grey granite stones, kota stones, etc. with various finishes like leather finish, sandblasting on these materials.

When I am in my studio interacting with my designers where even irrelevant ideas can spark solutions to lot many things.

I always put functionality first during designing. My personal believe is that design should be functional and abound to aesthetics is a by-product.

At times it is more of euphoria and at times it is more of meditation where I get engrossed in the process that I cut-off from the surroundings.

In the initial time I really feel good and satisfying but after sometime I start feeling that I could have done better and there would have been better solutions to what I have done.

For me successful design is the person using that space is happy and satisfied and he could relate to it. That makes a successful design for me.

As I always put functionality at first place, so when judging a design, first thing I always consider is the negative spaces that are created during the process of designing.

Designers play a complex role in modern industrial societies. Designers not only create useful products and images but they also produce and reproduce cultural meanings through those products and images. In modern societies, designers have become significant creators of meaning in everyday life.

Designers will be using a completely different tool set in 10 years, we will see a renaissance of applications that make the designing and building process more powerful and efficient.

Nature is my source of inspiration. Normally I take a break and go to forest, just looking at the imperfection and serenity of the nature really inspires me a lot. Also visiting to historical sites also gives lot of inspiration.

My design style is more of minimalist and contemporary. We try to keep more open to sky spaces and also green spaces inside the building to bring nature inside.

I stay in India which is culturally rich country with lots of historical palaces, forts, havelis (mansions). India has a distinct architectural styles suited to different areas like “Kath-kuni” architecture style in hilly area, “Bhunga” architecture style in desert areas and many other styles like “Indo-Saracenic” style, “Mughal” architecture style, “Indo-Islamic” style, etc. which really affects the designing process.

We are design Consultant Company so we give design consultancy along with concept development, estimation and tendering process.

Usually in companies, they have very short deadlines which really affects the quality of design. I would suggest the companies that they should envisage the project a little earlier so that designers get quality time to design.

There are few basic steps in the whole process:-Meeting and understanding requirements.-Space planning and concept creation.-Design execution.-Build and install.

5 most favorite design items at home are: 1. Wooden jaalis in central courtyard. 2. Cantilevered stairs. 3. Art corner around the staircase. 4. Main door having names of family members engraved in wooden strips. 5. Glass Bridge connecting two spaces.

A typical day starts at 9.45 a.m. by going to the on-going sites, then interacting with the artisans and clients and then coming down to the studio and interacting with designers and guiding them. The day usually ends up at 7.00 p.m.

My suggestions for young and up-coming architects would be that they should go and explore historical relevant site to seek solutions to present day challenges and believe that history has all the answers for present challenges.

Positives of being a designer are it influences the lives of people staying in the space that you designed. Since you are exposed to so many good things being a designer which improves your taste that reflects in the quality of life which you live.Negatives are that being a designer you get obsessed with the project or problems which you carry forward long after the working hours.

Basically three skills should be very sharp for a designer and those are visualizing, sketching and verbal communication.

Tools which are used by me during design are some software like AutoCAD, Revit Architecture, Adobe Photoshop CS3, 3D Max and Sketchup and various magazines like Architectural Digest, Domus, Inside Outside, Interior Exterior, etc.

Initial concepts are discussed with the designers in the office and then they start working on drawings and again fine tuning is done by me.

It depends on the detailing of object, basically time ranges from two months to three months.

Most frequently asked question to me as an architect is “Why you take up architecture as a career option?”

I never got an opportunity to do job under someone because from day one I started my own firm.

There are varied clients like from individuals to showroom owners to corporate entities

I mostly enjoy doing interior of retail showrooms since showrooms are visited by more number of people, recognition is more instant.

My future plan for a social cause is to create affordable houses and toilets for the deprived people and for the office, it would be designing hotels.

We work as a team where lot of interaction takes place on various aspects of designs and lots of suggestions are welcomed from every side.

We are doing a commercial space with stone finish which resembles a “Haveli” (mansion) with lots of stone carvings and embellishments at the same time creating spaces for exhibiting merchandise.

People contact me through mails, calls, messages and even through social media.