1. What is the inspiration behind your design firm’s name?
From the inception of the company, we intended to become a one stop solution for our projects. Be it Architecture design, Interior design, Landscape design, Structure, Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing services. Our intent was to provide a comprehensive solution to all. Therefore, brainstorming for the name we arrived at 42mm. “42” stands for universal solution to all problems (reference Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) and “mm” – millimeter is the smallest unit of measurement. It was apt representation of the company philosophy.
2. What is that one design book/movie you found inspiring?
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was the source of inspiration for the company’s name
3. In what ways does your personality reflect in your designs?
Simplicity in design and making it seem effortless is how my personality is reflected in design. To bring a building together there are a lot of pieces that need to be stitched well together, to reach the final product. This process as a whole is extensive and complex. Simplifying that complexity to a level of comprehension and effortlessness is the my best form of representation in a project.
4. What inspires you in your day-to-day architectural practice?
“From the initial client’s objectives and functional requirements to the form‐shaping and aesthetics, the code, weatherproofing and technical aspects, it takes a lot to put together a building. It’s an extremely interwoven and complex process.” Combining the thousands of pieces and parts it takes to develop a project from conception to completion is the component of the architectural process that motivates me.
5. Who is your favourite architect?
Tadao Ando’s fundamental sense of architecture, the monoistic approach, the simplicity of understanding the most complex situations is inspiring
6. The one design philosophy you swear by?
Our style is our process that is the reflection of our end user. The end user can be a single person or an intellectual public group. To understand, interpret and reflect their personality is what embeds meaning to the build form. Our buildings do not contradict the personality of its user unless we desire it be a contradiction. Hence our emphasis is highly on the spatial arrangement/planning and the research to adopt any particular architectural style that can express the interpreted meaning to our built form. The style is not a part of our process but the research that leads to it. Therefore, as an end product all our buildings are distinctly different from one another. But the building’s discectomy unveils the projected personality of its user which is the common unifying factor.
7. The one design quote you find timeless?
There a quote by Buckminster Fuller
“When I am working on a problem, I never think about beauty but when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong.” which I feel is timeless and true.
8. A hobby that sets you apart?
Community work out is a hobby I feel that sets me apart. Workout as a routine helps me channelize my energy. However, when done in a community it pushes me towards achieving more than my benchmark and creates support system to achieve excellence together.
9. A message to those few young practicing Architects out there?
My advice to young professions is not to be reserved rather experimental. Be bold in choice of work. Moreover, they should invest their formative years in gathering as much knowledge in terms of technical details, execution strategies and management strategies. They must work tirelessly to create a strong ground work for their professional journey ahead.
10. Which design blog/page/handle do you follow avidly?
Archdaily is a page I avidly follow. I feel it captures innovation, variety and excellence at one platform.