1. What is the inspiration behind your design firm’s name?
Manish Kumat Design Cell is the name of our design company. Manish Kumat is the primary designer, and often what I see is the name of the designer, which is well-known and recognised. Most of the time, the name of the design business, no matter how innovative, is difficult to link with the name of the designer, so most of the time, it is the designer’s name that is recognised, which is why we kept it extremely straightforward.
The name of the firm is derived from the name of the lead designer.
2. What is that one design book/movie you found inspiring?
Architect Geofrrey Bawa’s book ” Geofrrey Bawa-The complete works “, serves as a great source of inspiration and motivation for my design practice. It was a great motivator for me to connect my design with nature and to travel all the way to Sri Lanka to study his works. I am constantly inspired by his project Kandalama, where the entire structure blends into the nature.
3. In what ways does your personality reflect in your designs?
Since my design has spent the last 10 to 15 years attempting to connect with nature in each way possible, it has practically taken on the characteristics of my personality. Every design, in my opinion, should blend with nature, and there should be extensive learning, about how to distinguish between necessities and desires in life.
The line between needs and greed should be drawn, and we should endeavour to take lessons from nature’s constant offering.
Since my entire way of living is shifting more and more towards Sufism, I now think of myself as more of a Sufi as a result of how my personality has evolved through time.
4. What inspires you in your day-to-day architectural practice?
Every project has a life cycle and a journey, and I always advise my clients to keep three things in mind: they must purchase the material required; they must make payments; and they must maintain patience.
By doing this, when the process has evolved and when a project is completed ethically, the end result is a satisfied client, and that Smile that happiness, when the project is complete is an ultimate inspiration and it inspires me in my day-to-day practise, which is of course comes from the creative side of the project.
5. Who is your favourite architect?
Of course, Geoffrey Bawa is the only name that comes to mind.
6. Do you have a signature style?
I don’t think I have a signature style because I think design is a challenge, a process, and every time we try to design differently. Of course, the client’s brief is very important, I try to design the project to have a client who is satisfied at the end.
This results in every project being designed and created differently, which is why I think I don’t have a personal signature style.
Of course, a few things get standardized over time
7. The one design philosophy you swear by?
A designer always takes inspirations from nature, perhaps the greatest designer is GOD himself. I appreciate beauty in its any manifestation, observe it, and try to learn from it. The stillness of mountains, forests and rivers ever fill me with calm and peace.
I observe mundane things around me, and if they give me joy, I ask myself WHY? This is a process of observation, which is always an ongoing process, and is reflected in my design.
8. The one design quote you find timeless?
This is a Quote by Francis of Assisi, which says-
“Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible and suddenly you are doing the Impossible.”
9. A hobby that sets you apart?
Hobbies act as life’s anchors, keeping you steady while The times are tough, They Hold You When You Swing.
Photography is a Hobby Which I Have Developed Over Last Few Years. Of course, I have always been interested in traveling, & traveling and photography have become a passion, so I hold my own solo exhibitions every year in the name of Padav, which has seen four such Padav, and it keeps me extremely inspired to travel and to do photography.
10. A message to those few young practising Architects out there?
Young professionals are lured to the glamorous features of the industry of architecture and interior design when they enter it. But every time I provide advice to prospective designers, I make sure to point out that success in our industry demands a lot of patience, along with dedication and hard effort. One must be ready to put up with alot of patience for possibly 10 to 15 years, with little rewards.
11. Which design blog/page/handle do you follow avidly?
Nothing in particular, but in general Artciles from Magazines like AD, Home & Design Trends etc. are the constant source of updates.