- What is the inspiration behind your design firm’s name?
The etymology of the word “chrome” traces back to khroma, which means “colour” in Greek. Our designs are rooted in a subtle, gripping, and riveting juxtaposition of colours, patterns, and textures, with a tinge of exclusivity. I think that is where our minds were at also when we named the design practice ‘Chromed Design Studio’.
2. What is that one design book/movie you found inspiring?
One movie that has really inspired and moved me is Inception. It teaches me how an idea is the hero for all things in life, bud from a thought. It also pushes me to focus on what exists now and what can be created by the power of imagination. Continuing the same thought, it is important for us to tap into our curiosity, ingenuity and originality to get the best of results. The mammoth of power in our minds is genuinely unimaginable and can turn the tables of existence.
3. In what ways does your personality reflect in your designs?
Being an architect by profession, I have always been inclined to keep learning more, evolving with the ongoing trends, and being up-to-date with the vogue of the architectural and design industry. Hence, there has always been an ardent desire to keep thinking, imagining, innovating, and inventing space elements that either already exist or even do not. I believe that this is where my design practice meets my everyday persona, which results in upmarket, sophisticated and refined designs.
4. What inspires you in your day-to-day architectural practice?
The most enthralling part of architecture and design is the fact that it is absolutely unforeseeable. You never know what sort of project crosses your path or which thought or concept would pop up in your head – that will define the way you perceive a space and interact with the design. Therefore, every step of the design process and the project is always stimulating and engaging. I think that’s what keeps me and my team going. We’re always up for a challenge and an adventure along the way!
5. Who is your favourite architect?
The image of my favourite architect in my mind is set- settled in his office within the concrete jungle where dreams are made of, Midtown Manhattan, is Peter Marino. I absolutely admire how his works are a perfect retrofit of light (natural and artificial), materiality, colours, textures, volumes, scales and the contact interaction between the built environment and the outside nature. His inventive and futuristic sense of juxtaposition of space-making elements to concoct spaces as pieces of art in the realm of high-end modern architecture and interior design is definitely a paradigm shift in the industry.
6. Do you have a signature style?
I come from the train of thought that we should always do what we love as well as enjoy and chase our passions relentlessly. Hence, expressing fun and joy through architecture is where all my concepts and designs are rooted. Architecture is not just science or art, but it’s a way we can emote our line of thinking.
7. The one design philosophy you swear by?
I thoroughly believe in concocting human-centric spaces that are an artful retrofit of the gifts of Mother Nature with non-living products. Moulding several constituents of space-making to stay in tune with the existing surrounding context is what our designs are rooted in, and this is what we are dedicated to. We strive to keep working towards, each day, passionately. The aim is to imbue and infuse the built environment with elements that have been breathing for centuries way before we did.
There is this quote by Maggie Macnab, the author of the book ‘Design by Nature’. It reads: “Effective problem-solving in design requires a balance of strategy and spontaneity, intelligence and creativity.” I think this quote has stayed with me for quite a bit, and every time I sit down with a new concept to work on, this thought always lingers in my head, guiding me with the path I need to pick with my ideas and helping me sort them out, one at a time.
8. A hobby that sets you apart?
A hobby that helps me reset by immersing myself in nature and global cuisines, and exposes me to the world out there is Traveling. I thoroughly enjoy it as it allows me to cross roads with people from diverse cultures and different traditional backgrounds. To top it all off, it gets me out of my comfort zone yet allows me to reflect back and find the answers by pushing my personal boundaries. In the end, it leaves me with a bagful of cherishable memories and life-altering experiences.
9. A message to those few young practising Architects out there?
My message to the young budding architects would be that you must understand that five years of architecture school hasn’t trained you for everything that lies ahead. There is a whole world out there for you to dive into and find your own Atlantis. It is important to know that the design realm is vaster than the ocean itself, and it is extremely crucial for you to analyze and closely scrutinize every design decision that you mull over. Lastly, to have it imprinted in the back of your mind that if one design doesn’t do the job or solve your problems, there is definitely always another one waiting at the brink of your thought process.
10. Which design blog/page/handle do you follow avidly?
As an architect, it’s important to stay on top of trends and keep evolving as well as learning and unlearning concepts and theories, and social media in times as such makes things easy for us. I have been following Dezeen for a while now, which helps me catch up on the upcoming trends and remain up-to-date on the new projects and works that have consumed the architectural fraternity globally. I also follow Parametric Architecture to educate myself about the computational and parametric design elements that constitute an architectural marvel.