Dipen Gada Associates

Albert Einstein once quoted, ‘The only source of knowledge is experience.’ For designer and architect Dipen Gada this certainly rings true. A civil engineer by education, Dipen honed his skills through intensive self-learning and progressively developed a deeper sense of aesthetics.

Dipen Gada & Associates was established in Vadodara in 1993 and has steadily evolved to become one of the leading interior design and architectural firms in the country. Adhering to the diktat ‘Less is more’, the firm consciously focuses on making it look effortless. Though his work screams minimalism it is deeply rooted in traditional local practices. Their work strives to strike a balance between functionality and aesthetics with a perfect juxtaposition of art, landscape and architecture - as is seen in their recent project, a riverside retreat ‘Nirant’.

Dipen shares with us snippets about his 24 year long journey, his ideologies, and interests.

From securing a degree in civil engineering to choosing architecture as your vocation, it’s been an interesting journey. Please walk us through it.

I have always sought knowledge and exposure which boarded me on a path of self-learning. Intense travelling, study and seminars helped me to create a niche identity for my practice. I have implemented the learning and experiences to take definitive steps towards achieving perfection and have worked towards implementing micro-level changes in my design with each progressive project.

My first opportunity came in the form of my cousin’s project after my graduation, which became the turning point of my career and professional life.

What according to you is the foundation of good design?

It is important in the first stage of any design process to carry out a meticulous research of the site, and identify its spirit and context. Deliberate efforts must be made to create structures that along with being aesthetically appealing also blend subtly with the context and respond to the environment. Functionality should be the core of any design, and aesthetics should cohesively merge with it. This, I think is the key to timeless design.