Top 10 Architecture Designers in India

Architecture is known as one of the most rewarding careers in India. It also gives creative satisfaction to professionals as they can help people build the homes of their dreams. There are several top architecture designers in India who have been able to get great fame with their great skills and talent.

They can’t work without a 3D Visualization world. They need to virtually re-create the entire plan they put up on paper, to make their clients realize the entire plan.

Keeping in mind, these industry requirements for, many institutes diploma in interior designing.

Whether you work as an employee or a freelancer, you will definitely be able to build your projects completely from scratch to the final rendered product along with walk-throughs.

To get inspired by some of the best architects in India, we have prepared a list of the following top 10 architecture designers. 

The few Best Architecture Designers in India are:

1. Bimal Patel

Bimal Patel is one of the preferred architects in India who has more than 35 years of experience in architecture designing, urban planning, and urban design. Over the years, his contribution as an architect can be seen in the form of transformation of many Indian cities. India’s new Parliament House is one such example that can be seen. Dr. Patel built up several kinds of projects stretching to institutions, industrial buildings, from single-family homes.

Early Life and Career

• Bimal Patel was born on 31 August 1961 in Gujarat.
• In the year of 1984, Patel completed his professional degree in Architecture at the Center for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) which is an academic institution in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
• During his degree program, he was apprenticed to a popular German architect known as Frei Otto at the Institute for Lightweight Structures which is located in Germany.
• After completing his degree program, he pursued his M.Arch, M.C.P, and Ph.D. from College of Environmental Design which is located in Berkeley, California.
• With sound understanding of city and regional planning, he then joined many professional architects such as Prof. Mike Teitz, Prof. Manuel Castells, Prof. Donlyn Lyndon, and Prof. Allan Jacobs, at the CED. His working experience with professionals offered him with the chance to explore the arena of architecture and city planning beyond its confines.
• The Sabarmati Riverfront and the Kankaria Lake Development, are one of his popular urban design projects, which are no doubt the first of their kind in India.
• Some of his significant projects are:
  • The Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India
  • Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project
  • The Gujarat High Court Building, Ahmedabad
  • Vishwanath Dham, Sri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, Varanasi, etc.
  • Ministers’ Blocks and Secretariat Campus Development, Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar
  • Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, Gandhinagar
  • Aga Khan Academy, Hyderabad
  • New Campus, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
  • Tata CGPL Township, Mundra, 2009

Apart from all the above mentioned contribution, Dr. Patel is also involved in institutional development and leadership as the president of CEPT University since 2012. He is also appointed as the chairman of Board of Governors of the SPA which stands for School of Planning and Architecture the state of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Currently, he is also leading an architecture firm i.e. HCP Design, Planning and Management Pvt. Ltd which was founded by his father Mr. Hasmukh Patel in 1960.

Awards

Some of his significant awards are:

• Awarded as the Padma Shri, honor in 2019
• UNCHS, Best Practices Award in 1998
• In 2002, he was honored with the Prime Minister’s National Award for his work in the field of urban planning and design for his Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project.
• Got World Architecture Award in the year of 2001
• The Aga Khan Award for Architecture, 1992 for the Entrepreneurship Development Institute.
• Distinguished Alumnus Award at College of Environmental Design in Berkeley in the year of 2008
• He also received Emerging Architect Commendation Award, AR+D in 2001 

Some of the best Works of Bimal Patel

New Parliament House Project

Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project

New Campus, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad

Kankaria Lake Development

Aga Khan Academy, Hyderabad

The Gujarat High Court Building

Some of his popular ongoing projects are Parliament House and Central Vista Transformation, Government of India in New Delhi, restoration of Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad and development of the Mumbai Port Trust.

2. Hafeez Contractor 

Hafeez Contractor is one of the best architects in India, who is the man behind several noted projects in the country.

Early Life and Career

• He received his graduate diploma in architecture from the Academy of Architecture from University of Mumbai.
• His master’s degree was from Columbia University, where he won a scholarship.
• He has designed numerous skyscrapers in India, mostly in Mumbai, these include:
  • Hiranandani Gardens and Morya Regency in Mumbai.
  • He also designed Infosys GEC & SDB 4- Mysore and 23 Marina in Dubai, which is also the world’s tallest all-residential building.

Awards

He has been awarded with Padma Bhushan by the Government of India.

Website: www.hafeezcontractor.com

Some of the best Works of Hafeez Contractor

Main – 42 in Kolkata

British Gas, Hiranandani Gardens in Mumbai

The Imperial in Mumbai

Dr. L.H. Hiranandani Hospital in Mumbai

3. Brinda Somaya

Brinda Somaya is another brilliant Indian architect, who believes that development and progress must proceed without straining the cultural and historic environment.

Early Life and Career

• She completed her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Mumbai University.
• Her Master of Arts was completed from Smith College in Northampton, United States.
• She is also the member of:
  • Editorial Board for MARG Architectural Books
  • Committee Impact Assessment of New Construction Projects
  • New Industrial Estates for of Environment & Forests’ Government of India 
• Some of her most famous works include Mumbai and Holiday Inn, Bangalore. 

Awards

• She was awarded the Indian Institute of Architects – Baburao Mhatre Gold Medal for Lifetime Achievement.
• Also, she was named an Andrew Dickson White Professor-at-Large at Cornell University in 2017.

Website: www.snkindia.com

Some of the Best Works of Brinda Somaya

Tata Consultancy Services in Indore (Madhya Pradesh)

Nalanda International School – Vadodara

Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai

The Kensington Club in Nasik (Maharashtra)

4. Raj Rewal

Raj Rewal is an Indian architect and urban design consultant.

His approach to architecture, responds to the complexities of rapid urbanization, the demands of climate, cultural traditions, as well as building crafts and technologies. 

Early Life and Career

• He attended the Delhi School of Architecture in New Delhi.
• After completing a degree in architecture in New Delhi, he attended the architectural association school of architecture for one year and the Brixton school of building, London. 
• His works include a wide range of building types, including:
  • The Nehru Pavilion
  • Scope office complex
  • Central Institute of Educational Technology
  • World Bank building
  • The National Institute of Immunology
  • The Parliament Library, and the Asian Games Village, all located in New Delhi, India
  • As well as the Ismaïli Centre in Lisbon, Portugal.

Awards

Being one of the top architecture designers in India, he has been awarded with several awards like:

• Gold Medal by the Indian Institute of Architects
• Robert Mathew Award  by the Commonwealth Association of Architects
• Mexican Association of Architects award for regional values
• Architect of the Year Award by J.K. Trust for the design of World Bank Resident Mission building in New Delhi
• Great Master’s Award  by J.K. Trust for lifetime contribution to Modern Architecture
• Lifetime achievement award by the Institution of Engineers (India)
• Ordre des Arts et des Lettres award by the French Government

Website: www.rajrewal.in

Some of the Best Works of Raj Rewal

Indian National Science Academy in New Delhi

Hall of Nations – Pragati Madan in New Delhi

Parliament Library Building in New Delhi

Visual Art Campus in Rohtak

5. B V Doshi

Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi is an Indian architect. He is a well – noted architect because of his contributions to the evolution of architectural discourse in India.

Early Life and Career

• Dr. Doshi studied at the J. J. School of Architecture, Mumbai.
• He is considered to be a significant figure of South Asian architecture because of his work.
• Above all, he is known for his contributions to the architecture of Indian Institute of Management Bangalore.

Awards

Dr. Doshi has received several international and national awards and honors like:

• Padma Shri
• Government of India
• Honorary doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania
• France’s highest honor for the ‘Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters’, and for Architecture for Aranya Community Housing

Some Best Works of B V Doshi

Sangath in Ahmedabad

Amdavadni Gufa in Ahmedabad

IIM Banglore

NIFT Delhi

6. Charles Mark Correa

Charles Correa was the famous Indian master architect, urban planner and activist. He is acknowledged for his contribution in the enhancement of modern architecture during post-independence era in India.

Early Life and Career

• Correa began his higher studies at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
• After his studies, further he went to University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in, Massachusetts for master’s degree.
• His first important project was “Mahatma Gandhi Sangrahalaya” (Mahatma Gandhi Memorial) at Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad
• Some of his other work consists of:
  • Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly in Bhopal
  • National Crafts Museum, New Delhi
  • Jawahar Kala Kendra (Jawahar Arts Centre), in Jaipur, Rajasthan
  • British Council, Delhi
  • The McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, Boston
  • City Centre (Salt Lake City, Kolkata)
  • The Champalimaud Centre for The Unknown in Lisbon, Portugal. 

Awards

• He was also awarded the  Royal Gold Medal for architecture, by the Royal Institute of British Architects.
• Above all, he was awarded the Padma Shri and the second highest civilian honor, the Padma Vibhushan given by of India.

Know more about him: Charles Correa

Some Best Works of Charles Mark Correa

Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly

National Crafts Museum

British Council in New Delhi

Jawahar Kala Kendra in Jaipur

Parumala Church in Kerala

7. Sameep Padora

He is a practicing architect and principal of the design studio sP+a in Mumbai. His great interest is in typo-logical research and history that consequently lead his architectural skills to the next level.

Early Life and Career

• He received his diploma in architecture from Academy of Architecture.
• Later he went on to study at SCI-Arc in Los Angeles, and received his Masters from the Graduate School of Design, Harvard University in 2005. 
• Moreover, recently he has collaborated on a research project for the ‘Uneven Growth’ Tactical Urbanisms exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, New York.
• The studio has 25 architects and works on projects ranging from small-scale urban interventions to large-scale developments in India.

Awards

His work has received numerous international awards such as:

• The Architectural Review’s Emerging Architecture Award in London
• The MARMOMACC International Award Architecture in Stone in Verona
• The WAN 21 for 21 Award for 21 Emerging International Practices for the 21st century.

Website: www.sp-arc.net

Some Best Works of Sameep

Maya Somaiya Library in Kopergaon, Maharashtra

Shiv Temple in Pune

Sanskriti Vihar in Mumbai

Craft Deli in Mumbai

8. Rahul Mehrotra

Rahul Mehrotra is an architect, and educator who is the founder of RMA Architects that is an architecture firm. He is also a Professor of Urban Design and Planning and Chair of the Department of Urban Planning and Design at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. 

Early Life and Career

• He did his education from School of Architecture, Ahmedabad and graduated with a Master’s Degree in Urban Design with distinction from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard.
• Some of his well-known projects involve:
  • Hathigaon (Jaipur, Rajasthan)
  • KMC Corporate Office (Hyderabad)
  • Visitor Centre at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (Mumbai)
  • Taj Mahal Visitor Centre (with Taj Mahal Conservation Collaborative) (Agra)
  • Hewlett-Packard Software Campus (Bengaluru)
  • Campus For Magic Bus (Panvel)
  • Extension To The Prince Of Wales Museum (Mumbai) etc. 

Read more about him: Rahul Mehrotra

Some Best Works of Rahul Mehotra

KMC Corporate Office in Hyderabad

Hathigaon in Jaipur (Rajasthan)

Tata Institute of Social Sciences Rural Campus in Tuljapur

Visitor Center at CSMVS in Mumbai

Taj Mahal Visitor Centre in Agra

9. Rajiv Saini

He is a well known self-taught Indian architect/designer. The best thing about his designs is that they are deeply rooted in Indian culture despite being modern and classy. 

Early Life and Career

• He studied computer science engineering and but in the year of 1995, he moved to this industry by setting up his own design studio.
• His best work includes:
  • The Devigarh Palace in Udaipur (which won several international design awards such as the Conde-Nast Best Design Hotel)
  • The Marriott Hotel (Goa)
  • Resto-bars like Senso (New Delhi)
  • Rain and Velvet (Mumbai)
  • Carma fashion store (New Delhi)
  • Several high-end homes spread across the country and overseas in places like Thailand, Dubai, the U.S. Europe.

Some Best Works of Rajeev Saini

House in the Himalayas in Kasauli

Carma Fashion Store in New Delhi

Devigarh Palace in Udaipur​

Rishikesh House in Rishikesh (Uttarakhand)

Check more his words on Rajiv Saini’s Instagram

10. Sanjeev Panjabi and Sangeeta Merchant 

The design duo of Sanjeev Punjabi and Sangeeta Merchant, who come together to form a company called SPASM Design Architects, that is regarded as one of the best in the country.

Early Life and Career

• Both were educated at the Academy of Architecture, Mumbai.
• Their early work comprised of several interior refurbishments and interventions.
• These ranged from a post-production studio to residences.
• From 2000 onwards, they took architectural projects such as single-family homes, luxury villas, and commercial office towers.
• Their fresh ideas and innovative creations have taken fame, both in India as well as East Africa, the countries where they provide their services.
• Some of their projects are:
  • AON Insurance Headquarters
  • The Twin Houses
  • Exim Tower and much more.

Website: www.spasmindia.com

Some Best Works of Sanjeev Punjabi and Sangeeta Merchant

AON Insurance Headquarter

Diya in Ahmedabad

Exim Tower in Tanzania

Twin Houses in Alibag 

11. Kapil Gupta and Christopher Lee

Both of them are the co-founders of Serie Architects and Principal of Serie Mumbai.

Early Life and Career

• Kapil graduated with from Sir JJ School of Architecture, Mumbai followed by post-graduate studies at the Architectural Association School of Architecture London.
• Lee did his graduation in (Honors) from the AA, received the RIBA President’s Medal Commendation Award, and his Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture and Urbanism from the Berlage Institute and TU Delft.
• Their current projects include:
  • The revitalization of four disused factory buildings in Hangzhou
  • Bohacky Residential master plan
  • Housing in Bratislava and 440-units of Middle Income Housing in Ruzinov, Bratislava, and two schools in Mumbai.

Website: www.serie.co.uk

Some Best Works of Kapil Gupta and Christopher Lee

Meswani House in Pavna Lake (India)

Aarvli Resort in Goa 

The Tote in Mumbai

Vornada Master Plan in India

In conclusion, we hope that the above list of top architecture designers in India has inspired you and left a positive impact.

Do share with us your favorite architects and their best work in the comments section below which has motivated you to make a mark in the field of architecture design.

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