1. What is the inspiration behind your design firm’s name?
Initially, it was called design square. A square is like a plaza a team of people come together to formulate, and put the ideas in place. The consortium was created through brainstorming and ideas generation. In the process of making it inevitable as people prefer shorter names for programming, conversation, so we converted it to DS square, where square is the hypertext in mathematic arithmetic. That’s how we became DS2.
2. What is that one design book/movie you found inspiring?
My personal favourite is this book “Why We Build” by Rowan Moore. In this he tries to explain different perspectives. For instance, if you see a building in Dubai, you’re going superlatives, because they want the challenging jobs to be done by someone else, while the White House was built to be a symbol of power and power.
We are taught all our lives that we make buildings according to requirements, which is always Shelter and Protection. But today, even when India is getting to a certain point, we are building for luxury. We are trying to communicate with our building, there is emotion, there is power, there is super relatedness, and it is trying to make a statement.
3. In what ways does your personality reflect in your designs?
It’s much beyond my personality. An architect actually has to fit into the client’s personality.
4. What inspires you in your day-to-day design practice?
Kaizen is a Japanese word for continuous improvement, and I tend to use it at large. Continuous improvement is a core principle of Kaizen, and it is very relevant to our practice, because the way you built yesterday is not the way you build today.
5. Who is your favorite architect?
In my opinion, Charles Correa has done a good job with his practice as one of my favorite architects.
6. Do you have a signature style?
My style is to always fit in with my clients’ shoes and requirements.
7. The one design philosophy you swear by?
Buildings and details are more important than the architect themselves.
8. A hobby that sets you apart?
Being able to connect with people and listen to their opinions is one of my favorite hobbies.
9. A message to those few young practicing Architects out there?
Keeping an open mind allows ideas to cross-pollinate.
10. Which design blog/page/handle do you follow avidly?
ArchDaily is one of design page I avidly follow.