"We don't take up work that doesn't excite us

From camaraderie and clever designs to smart aesthetics and stylish spaces, Delhi-based architects Rahul Bansal and Amit Aurora walk us through their journey

- RIDHI KALE

We could go on about the many awards, the multi-disciplinary nature of the firm; or that they have widely acclaimed projects across residences, retail, hospitality and offices. However, that would all fall short when you actually meet the brains and perhaps even brawn behind groupDCA-architects Rahul Bansal and Amit Aurora.

The two make for an interesting pair, having shaped the Indian landscape one building at a time. If Bansal is serious, Aurora is playful; if the former is all about going by the book, the latter believes in rule breaking; if one is prim and proper, the other is playful and carefree. While it does make them as different as chalk and cheese, but it also leads to amazing designs, a thoughtful approach and spaces built to last.

But how did it all start? When they walked into School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi.

"Destiny intervened and we walked in a few minutes of each other. A senior called us and made us the net and the ball (part of ragging). The bonding just happened," recalls Aurora, who still has a picture of that from a college magazine. They also worked together during this time and supported one another. Once they graduated, they went their own way doing internships and then jobs, yet remained connected. It was in 1993 when they decided to start a practice together and formally set up groupDCA, three years later.