AD100 2025: Classics

Abhimanyu Dalal Architects, Delhi

Abhimanyu Dalal

Project in focus: A farmhouse consisting of 30,000 square feet of built-up area on a two-acre plot at Pushpanjali Farms in Delhi. The house is located on one half of the plot, while the other half is for gardens, sit-out pavilions, walkways, and the client’s extensive collections of sculptures. Designed as a series of functional volumes, all are connected with trellises and open terraces. Sustainability forms an integral part of the design.

Upcoming projects: Several private residences; the primary block at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, Delhi; a fountain in sandstone at Karauli.

Materials you’re obsessed with: Brick and terracotta

Philosophy: “My work is informed by a respect for architectural tradition and an openness to contemporary material and ideas.”

Case Design, Mumbai

Samuel Barclay, Erica Barclay, Saleem Bhatri

Project in focus: Otra, a restaurant in Mumbai, for award-winning restaurateurs chef Alex Sanchez and Mallyeka Watsa. The design vision was to create a space that embodied the essence of Otra’s culinary philosophy of Latin American cuisine. It features influences of Central American architecture, deep, earthy hues, and a captivating semi-circular granite bar, finished in weathered wood.

Upcoming projects: Guest houses in Uttarakhand and Zanzibar; family homes in Alibag; a master planning and development project in Pawna; a farmhouse in Hyderabad; a school in Italy; houses in Texas and Bali; projects in Goa and Kamshet.

Material you’re obsessed with: Compressed earth blocks reinforced with a binder, developed by GreenJams.

Elsie Nanji, Mumbai

Elsie Nanji

Project in focus: A corporate dining room in a commercial building in Mumbai—designed for industrialist Harsh Goenka, this room got a makeover after a decade, retaining parts that are still relevant. The walls and pillars are painted a deep forest green, while glass walls showcase the patio outside. The space features precious artworks from the client’s collection, making it look like a maximalist jewel box.

Upcoming projects: A home in Alibag and an apartment in Mumbai with architect Sameep Padora; a maritime museum in Khandala with architect Harsh Manrao.

Material you’re obsessed with: Resin

Philosophy: “I believe in bringing design happiness into everyday life. The homes I create spark joy, the offices feel like home, and the public spaces are cheerful and welcoming.”

Khosla + Anand, Bengaluru

Sandeep Khosla, Amaresh Anand

Project in focus: A villa in Bengaluru that harmonizes with nature, optimizes the city’s climate, and allows for ample natural light and ventilation. The client’s love for contemporary Indian art and music also played a central role in shaping the design. All common areas maintain a visual connection with the garden, ensuring a seamless interaction between the built environment and nature.

Upcoming projects: A resort in Coorg; a beach hotel in Visakhapatnam; a villa development in Coonoor; restaurants in Bengaluru and Raipur; homes in various cities.

Material you’re obsessed with: Lime plaster, ceramic and marble

Philosophy: “To constantly evolve as we experiment and innovate with new materials and techniques of construction, without compromising on our ethos of quality architecture and design.”

Neterwala Aibara | Interior Architects, Mumbai

Phirosa Neterwala, Sunu Aibara

Project in focus: A show apartment in Mumbai where monotone hues merge with soft accents and vibrant touches, creating a balanced yet striking environment. Rich textures bring depth while organic curves enhance spatial fluidity, guiding movement through the design. The understated luxury reflects the wabi-sabi philosophy, where imperfections are celebrated, resulting in a design that feels both refined and natural. The home exudes timeless craftsmanship and architectural elegance.

Upcoming projects: Luxury apartments in Mumbai, Delhi and Dubai; standalone bungalows in Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Bhopal; holiday homes in Alibag and Pawna.

Materials you’re obsessed with: Reclaimed materials, resin, and organic materials like hemp, papier-mâché

Philosophy: “Versatility and adaptability with an open-minded and explorative approach.”

_OPOLIS, Mumbai

Sonal Sancheti, Rahul Gore

Project in focus: Nestled on a quarter acre, this home in Aamby Valley is a beautifully crafted retreat for a family. The innovative roof design seamlessly hugs the ground, harmonizing with the natural landscape while adhering to local building regulations. The material palette—robust stone at the base, smooth plaster, and traditional Mangalore tiles on a teakwood roof—adds aesthetic appeal and durability.

Upcoming projects: Several houses in and around Mumbai and Pune; two museum projects in Gujarat; the Sancheti Hostel in Pune.

Material you’re obsessed with: Exposed steel

Philosophy: “Keep it simple by asking ‘why’ at every stage of design to filter ideas and strip them down to their essence, resulting in pure and functional architectural solutions.”

Romi Khosla Design Studios, Delhi

Martand Khosla

Top two projects from the past year: A home in Mussoorie on a mountainside and another in New Delhi. The Mussoorie house is a stacked three-storey structure in stone and metal, sitting on a hillside with breathtaking views of the surrounding forests and mountains. The house in New Delhi is an inward-looking, four-storey stacked structure, abutting two buildings on either side. It features a series of double- and triple-height spaces, creating interesting sectional volumes in a small plot.

Upcoming projects: Two institutional projects and three homes across India, including a mountain home, a city home, and a seaside home.

Material you’re obsessed with: Stabilized mud as a building material—the firm is working on a building form that integrates steel and mud.

Philosophy: “Build simple, design elegantly, use local materials, and allow materials to express themselves in a building.”

Studio Sangath, Ahmedabad

Sönke Hoof, Khushnu Panthaki Hoof

Project in focus: A recently completed residential project that addresses the needs of a multigenerational family built on land where the homeowners have deep roots. Both homeowners come from families that have a rich history of using handcrafted methods, thus the design of the house also incorporates handcrafted materials. The house has a fascinating interplay between interior and exterior spaces that blurs the boundaries between inside and outside, while also providing intimate spaces for reflection, contemplation, and togetherness.

Material you’re obsessed with: Carbon-capturing concrete

vir.meuller architects, Delhi

Pankaj Vir Gupta, Christine Mueller

Project in focus: A 3,200-square-foot town house in South Delhi that was renovated for news icon Shereen Bhan. The home is simple, minimalist and clean with an air of understated elegance. The home is awash in calming tones of grey and white with windows allowing for ample sunlight to enter the home. The rooftop terrace has been converted into an open green space, complementing the trees that surround the home.

Upcoming projects: A range of institutional and residential projects.

Philosophy: “According primacy to the process of design, our work evolves as a response to the particular character of each programme, site and budget. At every scale, we emphasize the integrity of material and craftsmanship, establishing a fundamental relationship between the physical environment and the art of making architecture.”

Mancini Enterprises, Chennai

Niels Schoenfelder, Bharath Ram K, JT Arima, Avinav Venkatachalam

Upcoming Projects: A cabin in the mountains of North Carolina; a mountain estate; beach house in Australia; a large heritage estate in Madras.

Material you’re obsessed with: Zinc

Philosophy: “Trying to produce atmospheric and tactile qualities for our spaces that can be worthwhile backdrops to the lives of their inhabitants. We try to learn from the long histories of building and arts – searching for principles of space-making relevant to our tasks and times.”