"DESIGN IS A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS"

Mapping the design journey of one of the country’s most prolific architects, Zafar Choudhary

- RIDHI KALE

Here’s a fact that no one can deny. An architect, who throws the rulebook out of the window with no fear of defying traditional architectural conventions, is the one to watch. The result? His buildings quietly emphasise community and connectivity without fanfare. Having won several national awards and accolades, he is just as much at home at his offices in Delhi and Ludhiana as he is a trustee member of Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board. Zafar Choudhary is clearly a force to reckon with. In fact, he has been instrumental in shaping the design landscape of the country, one brick at a time.

“My design journey started when I was a keen art student in school. We used to draw in all sorts of mediums, whether it was charcoal or oil or even sculptures, we experimented a lot. So, architecture came naturally,” says Choudhary, who along with his wife Monika and architect friend Ranjodh Singh set up Habitat Architects in 1994.