Karl Wadia: Raising the Bar
Architecture + Design|February 2024
In an in-depth conversation with A+D, architect Karl Wadia talks about his design philosophy, the built environment of the country, and his vision for the future.
SEEMA SREEDHARAN
Karl Wadia: Raising the Bar

Minerva is officially the tallest building in India,” says architect Karl Wadia, Design Principal at Architect Hafeez Contractor, as he strides in with an air of laidback confidence. “It’s 300.6m tall,” he corrects one of us as we get the dimensions ever so slightly wrong. Precision, I guess, comes naturally to an architect so passionately involved in his work. Karl Wadia joined AHC as an intern in 1999, and since then, has played a significant role in defining the built identity of the nation. We met him at 25 South, yet another prestigious project that stands testimony to the city’s economic and socio-cultural growth. We are on the 47th floor, and as we stand in awe of the unsurpassed skyline of Mumbai, Karl reiterates, “The future is vertical.”

Known for his culturally modern and sophisticated, yet often playful and colourful approach to architecture, Karl Wadia is now recognized as one of India’s most renowned architects. On earning his Master’s degree from Columbia University, New York, and gathering four years of precious work experience at KPF London, Karl returned to India to set up his design studio under his long term mentor, Padma Bhushan Shri Hafeez Contractor. Through sheer hard work and his philosophy of empowering talent at the workplace, he now heads a design studio of over 150 young and exciting designers.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة February 2024 من Architecture + Design.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة February 2024 من Architecture + Design.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN مشاهدة الكل
A GRECIAN RETREAT
Architecture + Design

A GRECIAN RETREAT

Shimona Bhansali imbues a subtle touch of opulence to this home in Mumbai

time-read
2 mins  |
A+D August 2024
A BOLD STATEMENT
Architecture + Design

A BOLD STATEMENT

Dhampur Sugar Mills Limited's workspace in New Delhi designed and built by Officebanao adopts an industrial narrative

time-read
1 min  |
A+D August 2024
A BREATH OF FRAGRANT DESIGN IN DELHI'S HEART
Architecture + Design

A BREATH OF FRAGRANT DESIGN IN DELHI'S HEART

An office that smells like perfumery; that is the vision that TWI brought to life in this office space designed for an acclaimed perfume company in India

time-read
3 mins  |
A+D August 2024
MASTER OF ALL TRADES
Architecture + Design

MASTER OF ALL TRADES

The ethos of forward-thinking and ingenuity finds its architectural counterpart within the walls of Nikhil Kamath and Abhijeet Pai's office-a vision of organic design infused with the essence of India

time-read
3 mins  |
A+D August 2024
A TOUCH OF OPULENCE
Architecture + Design

A TOUCH OF OPULENCE

Designed by Aparna Kaushik, this Delhi office displays an interesting balance of classic aesthetics and contemporary sensibilities

time-read
2 mins  |
A+D August 2024
THE WOODEN WONDERLAND
Architecture + Design

THE WOODEN WONDERLAND

Priyanka and Piyush Mehra envision a stunning experience centre for Vikas Plywood

time-read
3 mins  |
A+D August 2024
THE HUB: BUILDING COMMUNITIES
Architecture + Design

THE HUB: BUILDING COMMUNITIES

Studio Lotus designs a dynamic mixed-use community hub that activates Chennai's largest IT Park

time-read
2 mins  |
A+D August 2024
THE WINNER'S PERCH
Architecture + Design

THE WINNER'S PERCH

Baldiwala Edge designs a Singapore-based ship broker's office as a torch collector's paradise, offering a 360-degree bird's-eye view of the Mumbai skyline

time-read
3 mins  |
A+D August 2024
THE DIRECTOR'S CABIN
Architecture + Design

THE DIRECTOR'S CABIN

Designed by Envisage, this office gives a new definition to the traditional notion of biophilia

time-read
2 mins  |
A+D August 2024
Designing Corporate India
Architecture + Design

Designing Corporate India

From weaving the magic of a Star Trek-themed command centre to crafting bespoke block-printed workstations, Vijaya Bhargav and Arnab Ghosh-the trailblazing co-founders of Ostraca-have astonishingly transformed a staggering 29 million square feet of office space for India's tech giants and global enterprises-all while maintaining a flat hierarchical company culture-fuelling a master class in corporate design

time-read
10+ mins  |
A+D August 2024