Indian architecture is a complex tapestry woven with threads of culture, history and spirituality. From the wood and stone kath-kuni houses prevalent in the northern highlands to the intricate carvings of ancient temples of the south, Indian architecture reflects the diverse geographies and traditions that have shaped the sub-continent over thousands of years. Throughout years of documented Indian history, indigenous building techniques evolved and progressed, culminating in a resilient and coherent architectural form. Further, with the assimilation of diverse cultural influences, this progression gained complexity, resulting in a multi-layered architectural heritage.
While remnants of past glory persist, the current architectural panorama, showcasing a new generation of architects navigating rapid sociological shifts and urbanization, cannot be disregarded. Contemporary Indian architects are finding ways to honour the nation's rich culture and history with a mindful stance on ecology, recognizing the intrinsic link between architecture and sustainability. Below is a list of 25 architectural firms shaping a new architectural epoch, bridging the gap between heritage and innovation.
Sanjay Puri Architects, a Mumbai-based firm comprising over 70 individuals, provides design solutions that are contextually sensitive, responsive, and promote social engagement. Led by founding partners Sanjay Puri & Nina Puri, the firm has secured architectural projects across various countries like Australia, Spain, Montenegro, UAE, Oman, and Dallas, USA, with ongoing projects spanning 36 cities in India. It boasts a varied portfolio spanning townships, educational institutions, hospitality, retail, and office spaces, exploring innovation and sustainability on a grand scale.
Founded in 1996 by Sonali and Manit Rastogi, Morphogenesis is globally acclaimed for its multifaceted work across various specialized domains, including master planning, residential, commercial, workplace, institutional, hospitality, and houses. The firm has an in-house integrated project delivery covering sustainability, interiors, landscape, digital technologies, and design management. With offices in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and New Delhi, Morphogenesis is an award-winning practice that operates across India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Afghanistan, and the UAE.
Established in 2002 by Ambrish Arora, Ankur Choksi, and Sidhartha Talwar, Studio Lotus is renowned for its pioneering work in architecture and spatial Design in the region. Embracing conscious design as its core principle, the studio emphasizes local resources, cultural influences, meticulous attention to detail, and an inclusive approach. Its methodology involves iterative innovation rooted in historical and local contexts, crafting forward-thinking solutions that respond to evolving societal needs.
Chandigarh-based Studio Ardete, established in 2010 by Badrinath Kaleru and Prerna Kaleru, blends innovation with sustainability, using techniques like parametric modelling. Studio Ardete has successfully executed projects across India and internationally, spanning parts of Asia and Europe, including Japan, Italy, and France. Its work has gained recognition in various national and international architecture and design publications, alongside commendations such as being WAF 2015 finalists, AR Design Awards runners-up, WAF 2017 finalists, Euro Shop Retail Design Award 2017 recipients, FOAID 2017 Silver winners, and recipients of NDTV Grohe Awards for Best Washroom Design, among others.
5. Sameep Padora & Associates (sP+a)
Sameep Padora and Associates (sP+a) is a Mumbai-based architecture, interior design, urban design and research practice founded by architect Sameep Padora. Through research, collaborations, and a collective structure, the firm adopts a hybrid model, enabling it to adapt to local specificity through subjectivity-driven methodologies. It seeks to challenge static preservation and explore how traditional elements interact with contemporary socio-economic dynamics.
Established in 2006, Architecture BRIO operates from offices in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and Mumbai, India, led by architects Shefali Balwani and Robert Verrijt. With the idea of BRIO originating from Sri Lanka, where the founders first met and were inspired by the work of architect Geoffrey Bawa, the studio embraces Bawa's approach of bold interventions in striking yet delicate environments. The firm has received numerous national and international accolades, including Archiprix, Europan 2008, and the World Architecture Community Awards. It was honoured as the "Best Practice in India" at the Trends Excellence Awards 2014 and has consistently been recognized recognized by being named as part of the AD100 list by Architectural Digest India from 2014 to 2022.
Vastushilpa Sangath LLP, formerly known as Vastu Shilpa Consultants, was established in 1955 by the renowned late Balkrishna Doshi, a recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize. The organization is headed by Ar. Rajeev Kathpalia. The firm approaches each project uniquely, resulting in several projects that are now considered industry benchmarks, frequently cited in academic circles and honoured with numerous national and international awards. The firm believes that its relationship with projects extends for a lifetime, recognizing that while the construction phase might be brief, a building's life is extensive, and the evolution of institutions is ongoing.
Established in October 2005 by Abin Chaudhuri, Abin Design Studio views architecture as an artistic expression. Over the past decade, its completed projects have earned numerous awards, including recognition from the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, in 2014. The firm offers holistic design and management solutions encompassing interior, industrial, graphics, signage design, and architecture. Notably, in the last three years, it has secured significant projects in the education, hospitality, and museum sectors through national and international competitions. Currently, it is engaged in several prominent public and private building projects across the country.
Anagram Architects, a New Delhi-based multidisciplinary firm, emphasizes ecological reconnection and responsible living through innovative design. In the last seven years, it has offered design consultancy across various projects like offices, residences, and scenography for television and film sets. Additionally, the firm has excelled in architectural renovations, exhibitions and graphic design. With a collection of over 60 national and international awards, Anagram's work has been recognized for its excellence, including a nomination for the esteemed Aga Khan Award in 2010.
Founded in 1995 by partners Sangeeta Merchant and Sanjeev Panjabi, Spasm is an architecture studio driven by intimate, research and innovation-based practices focusing on user-friendly projects. SPASM prioritizes a human approach, emphasizing inclusivity in every aspect of design, occupation, and future use, always seeking a poetic touch without compromising appropriateness. Each project serves as a journey of self-discovery through the proposed designs and constructions.
IMK Architects, founded in 1957, is a Mumbai and Bengaluru-based firm specializing in architectural, urban planning, and interior design. With a 50-year legacy, its commitment lies in delivering exceptional work, rooted in its design philosophy of Biophilic Architecture. Guided by a seasoned team, it employs a rigorous design process across various sectors like healthcare, hospitality, education, and residential townships. Additionally, the firm handles engineering coordination, tender documentation, and site supervision, collaborating with reputed engineering firms for specialized designs. Having executed 150 projects in India and abroad, IMK Architects boasts a roster of esteemed clients like the Taj Group, JSW Energy, and Symbiosis Society.
The Purple Ink Studio is an emerging young architectural practice that is defined by its dynamism and experimental nature. Led by Principals Aditi Pai, Akshay Heranjal, Nishita Bhatia, and Arpita Pai, has transformed into a highly collaborative practice in less than a decade, recognized by Forbes India 30under45 and Perspective Hong Kong's 40under40 Asia, acknowledging it among the influential architects shaping the future of design. The studio's achievements include accolades like the 'Best Practice in India' from TRENDS in 2016, iGEN's Top 50 Next Gen Architects in 2017, the WADE Asia 2017 Young Architect of the Year award, CWAB Awards 2019 for Top Architects in the South, and the ID HONOURS in 2022, among numerous other national and international honours.
Since its inception in October 2004, Mindspace has emerged as a distinguished architectural firm, showcasing expertise in an array of projects including residences, institutions, research labs, and corporate offices. Founded by Sanjay Mohe, Vasuki Prakash, and Suryanarayanan, the firm's endeavors have earned numerous national and international accolades, securing consistent features in leading architectural journals. The firm's design philosophy revolves around utilizing 'light' as a foundational building element, respecting the five senses, and harmonizing with the five elements of nature.
Founded in 2003 by Pankaj Vir Gupta and Christine Mueller, vir.mueller architects integrates architectural research, education, and practice. With an emphasis on the design process, its approach caters to clients’ program, site, and budgetary requirements. The achievements of vir.mueller architects have garnered international acclaim and been featured in global publications.
Founded by Nisha Mathew and Soumitro Ghosh in 1995, Mathew & Ghosh Architects has earned multiple accolades both locally and globally, including awards like the World Architecture Community Award, A+D & CERA Architecture Award, TRENDS Award for Architecture & Design, and EDIDA. The duo advocates for a modern architectural approach that creatively blends context and historical elements with industrial or vernacular materials. Emphasizing a design ethos focused on lightness and allowing natural light to sculpt spaces, this aspect remains a prominent feature across all its projects.
16. Samira Rathod Design Atelier
Established in 2000, Samira Rathod Design Atelier (SRDA) originated as an architectural and interior design practice. Starting with modest projects like a small farmhouse and furniture designs, SRDA has evolved into a sought-after firm engaged in expansive architectural and interior design ventures across the country. It has garnered national awards and gained recognition in both local and international publications. Beyond design, SRDA actively conducts research and promotes documentation endeavours.
SpaceMatters, an integrated design practice rooted in New Delhi, offers expertise in architecture, interior, urban design, and habitat research. Established in 2005 by architects Amritha Ballal, Moulshri Joshi, and Suditya Sinha, this award-winning firm has been involved in notable projects like the Bhopal Gas Tragedy Memorial and one of the first Integrated Development Plans (IDP) for urban villages in Dwarka. With projects spanning diverse scales and contexts, SpaceMatters, even after more than fifteen years of operation, stands as one of the pioneering, women-led practices in the country.
Taliesyn, established in 2010 by Shalini Chandrashekar and Ar G S Mahaboob Basha, seeks to craft architectural solutions that prioritize creating purposeful spatial interventions. Its portfolio spans various domains including residential, hospitality, recreational, institutional, and cultural projects across Southern India. The firm's design ethos revolves around interpreting architecture deeply connected to the environment and echoing the local characteristics of the site and materials.
19. Srijit Srinivas Architects
Srijit Srinivas Architects, a distinguished architectural studio located in Trivandrum, Kerala, India, stands as a recipient of multiple international awards. Established by Srijit Srinivas, the firm specializes in crafting luxurious buildings with timeless value. Its diverse portfolio encompasses a range of projects including apartments, residences, healthcare facilities, commercial structures, institutions, convention centres, resorts, and more. Notably, its Brick Lattice House received the Jury award at the 40th World Architecture Community Awards 2022, and the Benziger Hospice Home in Trivandrum was honoured as a Jury award winner at the 34th World Architecture Community Awards.
At Wallmakers, the commitment lies in utilizing natural materials, primarily mud and waste, to craft structures that are utilitarian and captivating. The inception of 'Wallmakers' in 2007 stemmed from a determination to advocate for sustainable and cost-effective architecture, sparked by numerous revelations during founder Vinu Daniel's professional journey. With a focus on using available site materials or recycled elements like debris, Wallmakers researches and pioneers techniques like the Debris Wall and the Shuttered Debris Wall.
Charged Voids, based in Chandigarh, is an award-winning firm that navigates a deliberate blend of Western modernism and Indian architectural elements, striving to honour architecture's fundamental principles: gravity, light, human perception, and nature in each project. Principal Architect Aman Aggarwal's distinct approach evolves from an in-depth analysis of our contemporary era, ecological influences, and collective experiences. Its portfolio spans diverse projects, encompassing interiors, educational institutions, and expansive master plans, alongside rejuvenating institutional and commercial structures, hotels, and residences.
Malik Architecture is an award-winning multidisciplinary design practice based in Mumbai with over 47 years of expertise. Since its inception, the firm has sought to craft a contemporary design language for the Indian subcontinent by merging "ecology" and "spirit" in architectural endeavours. Its diverse portfolio encompasses residential, commercial, R&D, healthcare, hospitality, educational, cultural, institutional, and master planning projects. Its approach emphasizes the revival of Indian craftsmanship and the utilization of local materials, evident in projects employing load-bearing brick masonry, stone masonry, and exposed concrete.
banduksmithstudio, an architectural practice based in Ahmedabad, established by architects Sachin Bandukwala and Melissa Smith serves as a platform for exploring diverse inquiries concurrently, where each project presents an opportunity for exploration, revelation, and resolution. While primarily focused on constructing or reshaping buildings, its expertise extends to graphic design, urban planning, and research initiatives. Its portfolio spans diverse scales, encompassing furniture, interiors, renovations, residential, institutional, and commercial architecture.
24. Renesa Architecture Design Interiors Studio
Renesa Architecture Design Interiors Studio is an acclaimed creative consultancy specializing in architectural and interior design consulting throughout India. Situated in New Delhi, the design studio and project planning office, led by Mr. Sanjay Arora, a seasoned and licensed architect, and his son, Mr. Sanchit Arora, the Studio Head Architect, host a team of associate architects and architectural assistants. Renesa also collaborates with leading industry experts in architecture, interior design, and furniture manufacturing, providing clients with oversight to ensure projects are completed on schedule and within budget, offering enhanced purchasing advantages.
CPKA, founded in 1969, is a New Delhi-based firm that boasts a vast portfolio comprising 1000+ projects, a team of 200+ employees, and collaborations with clients from over 30 countries over five decades. The practice offers integrated services in master planning, architecture, urban design, and various engineering disciplines. The firm has received recognitions such as the BUILD Review’s 2018 Architecture Innovation Awards, naming it the ‘Most Innovative Indian Architectural Design Firm for 2018’.
The '25 best firms' series is curated by the Archello editorial team. The selection is based on a number of factors including the number of projects a firm has uploaded to its Archello profile, the number of projects that have been featured by Archello, as well as the size and quality of the projects included in each firm's Archello portfolio.
