AD100 2025: The new craftsmen

Abin Design Studio, Kolkata

Abin Chaudhuri

Project in focus: A duplex apartment in Kolkata, “Connected Harmony” embodies the togetherness of a joint family. Inspired by their ancestral home in Rajasthan, the design transforms two stacked apartment units into a cohesive duplex with a central double-height cut-out. A feature staircase becomes a key architectural element between the floors.

Upcoming projects: Luxury condominiums and private villas; Pahal institutional project for the Takshila Foundation; clubhouses for Godrej and Birla Estates; a Lodha World School project.

Materials you’re obsessed with: Brick, concrete, brass, wood, steel, wicker, fabric, ceramic

Philosophy: “We see architecture as a comprehensive and artistic form of expression that goes beyond its mere practical and technical aspects, transforming into a symbolic representation of the human experience and the world we inhabit.”

DeMuro Das, Delhi

Puru Das, Brian DeMuro

Project in focus: An 18,000-square-foot, four-storey villa in Kanpur. The client’s brief of creating various entertaining zones resulted in one on each floor. The third floor features a rooftop swimming pool along with a home gym and a spa with multiple massage rooms. A sweeping spiral staircase connects all floors, making a dramatic statement.

Upcoming projects: The DeMuro Das London showroom in Chelsea; two homes in Delhi; designs for an art fair that explore the intersection between technology and ancient craft techniques.

Material you’re obsessed with: Cast glass

Philosophy: “Blending global influences with Indian craftsmanship—a fusion that results in unique pieces that cater to a contemporary, international audience while retaining a connection to Indian heritage.”

Studio Lotus, Delhi

Ambrish Arora, Sidhartha Talwar, Ankur Choksi, Asha Sairam, Harsh Vardhan

Project in focus: The Sunita Shekhawat Museum and Flagship Store transforms the luxury retail experience, honouring the history of Meenakari enamelling as well as the city it is located in. The store celebrates craftsmanship and draws inspiration from multiple historical influences to create a unique composite distinct from any particular style. The museum’s inclusion into the programme elevates the brand from a jewellery label to a custodian of the craft, setting a new precedent in luxury retail design.

Upcoming projects: The Piramal School of Leadership in Jaipur; a new campus for the Indian Institute of Art and Design in Gurugram; Taj Hotel Properties; Oberoi Vindhyavilas in Bandhavgarh.

Material you’re obsessed with: Lime-based construction techniques and exploring materials that have low embodied carbon.

Philosophy: “Our work philosophy is grounded in the principles of conscious design, an approach that celebrates local resources, cultural influences, an inclusive process and a keen attention to detail. Our current focus centres on ensuring we are deeply mindful of the amount of carbon our buildings embody at the construction stage. That is where a huge percentage of a building’s emissions over its lifetime lie, and that needs to be our focus.”

Ravi Vazirani Design Studio, Mumbai

Ravi Vazirani

Top two projects from the past year: A 6,000-square-foot penthouse in Hyderabad and fashion designer Arpita Mehta’s showroom in Delhi.

Upcoming projects: Multiple apartments across the country; a large home in Mumbai; two residential projects in Hyderabad; a home in Goa; a retail project in Kolkata.

Material you’re obsessed with: Paper pulp

Philosophy: “Create with emotion and soul. Design is an experience beyond the tangible. The physical elements must connect to those emotions. Don’t create just to please—create for the joy of it. That’s my mantra.”

Rooshad Shroff, Mumbai

Rooshad Shroff

Top two projects from the past year: The first is a new furniture collection titled Balance. The pieces are inspired by anomalies in nature and feature several new mediums that the studio has been exploring in recent years. The second is a design centre for Asian Paints in Mumbai, covering 90,000 square feet, scheduled for completion in January 2025.

Collaborations in the past year: A collaboration with artist T Venkanna on a capsule collection called INpLAY. Craftsmen in Agra translated Venkanna’s drawings into hand-cut marble pieces, which were then inlaid into select furniture the C-Collection, crafted from recycled Burma teak.

Upcoming projects: A 50,000-square-foot primary residence in Bengaluru; stores for Rahul Mishra and Manish Malhotra’s new label, Diffuse.

Materials you’re obsessed with: Marble remains a permanent obsession, though onyx has recently come into focus.

Philosophy: “My design philosophy is built on the foundation of handcrafted, bespoke, time-consuming luxury.”

Ashiesh Shah Architect, Mumbai

Ashiesh Shah

Project in focus: A thoughtful blend of modern functionality and personal heritage, the Indiabulls home embodies the vibrant social lives of its clients. Designed for effortless hosting, it balances dynamic entertainment areas and cosy family spaces. With a palette of warm woods, soft pastels, and textured materials, the ambience is both vibrant and serene. Handcrafted and contemporary touches celebrate Indian craftsmanship, creating a space that feels both meticulously curated and intimately personal.

Upcoming projects: Bar concept for Masque in Mumbai; large scale villa in Goa.

Material you’re obsessed with: “Currently, I’m drawn to the Aranmula Kannadi from Kerala—a mirror crafted from an ancient tin-copper alloy with a secret Vishwakarma formula.”

Philosophy: The atelier’s vision is to empower the karigar, working alongside master craftsmen from across India to create designs that honour artisanship while layering in a contemporary flair.