Interview with The Grid Architects

The Grid Architects ("TGA") interviewed on Monday, 4 May.

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?

TGA : tHE gRID is a multidisciplinary architecture firm based in the bustling city of Ahmedabad Gujarat India and was established about 15 years back. Snehal has done his maters in sustainability and Bhadri is an Interior designer from APIED Vidyanagar Gujarat. The firm incorporates an array of design combinations and experiences, qualification and skills and deeply committed to excellence. Our endeavour has always been to satisfy the environmental and meaningful aesthetic needs simultaneously. We are very versatile in our portfolio from architecture to landscape to interior to specialized furniture design, all incorporated by sustainable and environmentally friendly designs. For us DESIGNING IS A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

How did you become a designer?

TGA : Snehal was born in a carpenter’s family and always saw small ideas developing into enormous results. When he sees end users happy and enjoying the design and understanding the meaning the feeling had a lasting impression and motivated him to choose this line of profession. Bhadri was always inclined towards art and craft and at a very young age chose this path. For both its not just a profession but it’s their passion. Snehal is a civil engineer and has also done his Masters in sustainable Design and Bhadri (spouse – wife) is an Interior Designer from APIED Gujarat India.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

TGA : Functionality, proportions, aesthetics, comfort to the end user are our prime concerns while designing. Sketching is the first tool. Stationery, pencils, colours, books, I pad are our other aides.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

TGA : Spiritual and calm and sacred

What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?

TGA : Meditation and sports, reading and travelling are our interests

What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?

TGA : To be able to do more sustainable work. we also have a product design company “Carpenter’s “and we would like to design more products and furniture and take it ahead. Next is doing more meaningful designs.

What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?

TGA : Passion, love, consciousness and consistency and persistence. There is no alternative to hard work.

You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?

TGA : We should start from the scratch, unlearn everything when we start a new design and only remember the flaws in the previous design. To work and design with the inner consciousness, and thoughts driven by the heart because it’s an honest pathway to the project and meaningful.

What is your day to day look like?

TGA : Morning meditation, GYM and breakfast and then office. All geared to design. I have my schedule in place – meetings and design time and site visits. I am happiest when I am sketching, and my concepts are translated on paper. We start and end our days with design news.

How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?

TGA : Design sets the trends but maybe trends are temporary, but class is timeless. Nature is the mother of all inspiration and we follow our instinct consciously. The concept of a sustainable design benefiting the performance of the architecture is our humble philosophy

How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?

TGA : Functionality, proportions, aesthetics, comfort to the end user are our prime concerns while designing.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

TGA : Normally in planning we freeze the plan once its viable functionally and resolve the aesthetics, but onsite changes flexibility is always there in some cases. If we manage to convert all our ideas into realty for the particular project, then we know it’s a success.

What is your biggest design work?

TGA : Biggest and best design is yet to happen. We are excited about a very close to heart project - Animal shelter - This animal welfare centre facility aims to rehabilitate these orphaned and traumatised domestic animals, birds and mammals, and is concerned with the health, safety and psychological wellness of the animals and provides free treatment. To RESCUE, TREAT AND REHABILITATE and create a caring and loving environment. To create public awareness and set an example for the next generation. To sensitise through mutual interaction.

Who is your favourite designer?

TGA : My favourite designers are – Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Kahn, Richard Neutra, Luis Barragan, and many Japanese architects. 1. Falling water by FLW – because it’s a great amalgamation of nature and architecture 2.Church of Light by Tadao Ando- great sense of minimalism 3.Casa Gilardi by Luis Barragan – the courage to use colours in black and white era (digital) He is my hero architect as far as colour sense is concerned

Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?

TGA : India has a very unique and diversified culture. We live in India which has a very rich cultural heritage and a huge history of sustainable designs and paths for architecture. This has a great impact on our design and its processes. There is a tremendous amalgamation of so many mix cultures living together We are working on a very interesting project - Animal shelter - This animal welfare centre facility aims to rehabilitate these orphaned and traumatized domestic animals, birds and mammals, and is concerned with the health, safety and psychological wellness of the animals and provides free treatment. To RESCUE, TREAT AND REHABILITATE and create a caring and loving environment. To create public awareness and set an example for the next generation. To sensitise through mutual interaction. The future of design is learning from the roots and implementing in today’s technology

Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?

TGA : “The use of green ensemble is a way of inspiring our fellow designers and tell them that our passion and creativity can make an ordinary material transform a space. This is our way to integrate sustainable and traditional architecture in the urban lifestyle. Initially one may feel that they have to make extra efforts to design a green building, space or interior but once the practice becomes your belief then it becomes a part of the natural process of designing,” concludes the duo. For us, designing is a spiritual journey.

What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?

TGA : A good understanding of a sustainable and approachable design helps the people to be more sensitive to small details and creates awareness to the necessary and gives clarity. It makes them realize the importance of the earth’s resources and preserve. Snehal Suthar and Bhadri Suthar, have set a mandate for contextual design, something that is timeless. Therefore, our designs are founded in simplicity and clarity, and create structures that are closely connected to the earth. While we strive towards compelling and dynamic spaces, we do so by combining clarity with quiet and thoughtful innovation; we endeavour to achieve the delicate balance of order and invention followed by integrity in work. Our architecture and interiors are mindful of international standards of designs, including those for the physically challenged, known as Barrier free spaces and Green and sustainable buildings and spaces.

What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?

TGA : participating in design competitions is a great learning experience. We realize areas where we need to improve, by the experience and feedback of the judges who are evaluating our design. The competitions have broadened our horizons and encouraged us to write and put down on paper the design processes and beliefs which have been on our subconscious mind while designing. it requires us to organize and document it very clearly to articulate our client’s goals and our design intentions in a very succinct way. The different requirements from the different type of competitions bring in more clarity in data, it hones our communication skills and allows us to reflect on the outcomes." . A design competition is an opportunity to document your work and put down all points and justifications in a set format. It’s about learning, about introspection of our designs. Its also about meeting other fellow designer and interaction and sharing of knowledge. To be respected and recognized is what matters. the vision, mission and actions were the first step. the fact that you had such a transparent system and the score system actually excited us, and we decided to apply and the more data we uploaded and the kind of constant immediate guidance that we received was so energising. The more I read the more I was inspired and we were super impressed with the amazing clarity that you as a team had about the competition and its goal and the end result.

The Grid Architects Profile