Design Delight

Six architects and designers reveal how their craft sparks joy for them and what they love about the process of creating magic out of thin air.

- RIA GUPTA

There’s an unmatched elation in pursuing one’s passion, but an even deeper, almost reverent pleasure in watching it come alive as tangible spaces. From childhood fascinations to a responsibility for the future, myriad inspirations fuel the craft of architecture and design for these six experts, who take us through their process and talk about what makes them fall in love with the craft every day.

VINITA CHAITANYA

“Weaving stories is my forte,” confesses Vinita Chaitanya, the woman behind several stunning homes and commercial spaces across India. “I love how objects, art, and antiques all tell their own unique stories,” she shares. Chaitanya is known for her sorcery in curating eclectic palettes and pieces with artful finesse. But her partial preference lies towards vintage crockery, probably inspired by her life’s narrative: growing up in a colonial home, visiting clubs, and spending days over games of croquet and cricket. “There were butlers (or bearers, as they were called then), fine crockery, and linen all around, and these experiences had a profound impact on my sensibilities,” she shares.