Hardik Shah

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Hardik Shah ("HS") for their original perspective and innovative approach to design as well as their creative lifestyle, we are very pleased to share our interview with our distinguished readers.

DL: Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?

HS : I just followed my internal drive into this after schooling. I have no such design background though. I did my Bachelor's of Architecture from Sarvajanik College of Engineering and Technology(S.C.E.T.), based in Surat itself. With the right atmosphere and my keen interest in designing meaningful spaces, has driven my process since then. I feel very fortunate to have worked with Mathew and Ghosh Architects during my internship. The journey there, has formed the base of my practice. It helped me realize how a systematic approach to things can help realize dreams better.

DL: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?

HS : I feel highly obliged to have opportunity and ability of creating spaces for lifestyles and cultures.

DL: Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?

HS : I chose to become one.

DL: What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?

HS : Our practice is involved in creating beautiful residences, compelling retail spaces, sustainable furniture, experiential restaurants, inspiring institutional spaces, and more. I wish to design public spaces like crematoriums or resorts more often.

DL: What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?

HS : Young designers!! I believe i am quite young yet :) However, for freshers, for those who have just stepped in this world, I would like to say, believe in what you do, because design is not business, that you shut down your pc and it is over. It is a part of your life, it is in harmony with you! What you design will reflect your beliefs and life philosophies.

DL: What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?

HS : A good designer makes a perfect building in terms of aesthetics, functionality, etc. But, a great designer goes beyond, something that influences lifestyles and culture.

DL: What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?

HS : Detailing is what makes a good design a really good design. Functionality and detailing to improve efficiency is something I look while evaluating a design. And the inherent aspect of design - aesthetics, always remains. With any number of complications, or any amount of good vision, it is always important for a designer to maintain proportions and aesthetic value.

DL: What is the value of good design? Why should everyone invest in good design?

HS : A good design inspires and influences lifestyles and cultures. The g-local culture of today's world has exposed people to various lifestyles, trends, etc in one click. And a good design is necessary for advancement of society, because just the way people look up to internet for trends in clothes and politics, they do the same in terms of designs. So whether or not designers incorporate nature, materials, cultural arts, graphics, comfort , leisure, etc. in their design will determine how people look at all these aspects. And hence investing in and promoting a good design is very important. Also, from the view point of laymen, they should invest in good design because it simplifies and improvises their lifestyle and activities.

DL: What would you design and who would you design for if you had the time?

HS : I would design for public. Public buildings like crematoriums and resorts interest me.

DL: What is the dream project you haven’t yet had time to realize?

HS : Frankly, there's no such dream project. We design projects as they come to us and strive to make the best out of it.

DL: What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?

HS : The most important, not so secret ingredient is nature. Nothing more , nothing less.

DL: Who are some other design masters and legends you get inspired from?

HS : To name a few - Bedmar and Shi, Geoffrey Bawa, Anjalendran, Bijoy Jain, Matthew and Ghosh.

DL: What are your favorite designs by other designers, why do you like them?

HS : There isn't one. Many tropical designs by Bedmar and Shi , Geoffrey Bawa, Anjalendran are my favorites. To specify, The Belmont House, by Bedmar and Shi is one such project.

DL: What is your greatest design, which aspects of that design makes you think it is great?

HS : I admire the skewed house a lot. The incorporation of artwork that speaks of culture, the control on lavish scale and newer ways of bringing in nature like outlining of glass , a more than serene double-heighted pooja space, distinct the design from other modern contemporary residences. Most importantly the relaxed ambience of the Skewed House can be attributed to its substantial green-scape and not technology !! I think that makes it a good design. Being my debut project, this house to me represents the firming up of several convictions: that each building is unique by way of its users, setting, function, and more; that you will deliver quality if you care enough; that there is no substitute for nature; and that architecture can leverage the innate beauty of every material, by creating the right balance between less and more.

DL: How could people improve themselves to be better designers, what did you do?

HS : A caring nature for everything around shaped me to be a better designer. Because the more you care and become aware, the more you become sensitive as a designer. Second most important thing every designer should learn is management. If you are not good at time management, or are not organized, things can be really messy.

DL: If you hadn’t become a designer, what would you have done?

HS : A Lawyer or a psychiatrist

DL: How do you define design, what is design for you?

HS : Design for me is a medium to inspire, enhance and create spaces for different lifestyles and cultures. It is an expression, a functional art. An expression that strikes a balance between less and more. And to supplement a living or an activity precisely, every tiniest of the details ranging from door handle, to chair anthropometry, to materials, everything should be thought of. That makes a complete design.

DL: Who helped you to reach these heights, who was your biggest supporter?

HS : My inner voice gives me constant strength.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

HS : Just as I mentioned above, a caring nature , that makes you more aware and being organized are the keys to being sensitive. And once you are sensitive enough, design follows.

DL: What were the obstacles you faced before becoming a design master?

HS : I am constantly facing challenges and learning through them to become one.

DL: How do you think designers should present their work?

HS : We are in a creative field and I do not think there are any guidelines to mediums of presentation these days. There are infinite possibilities. But yes, there is an underlined guideline, how-so-ever innovative and beautiful, your presentation should be easy to understand and interpret.

DL: What’s your next design project, what should we expect from you in future?

HS : There are various projects going on residences, farm houses, retail outlets, etc. We are exploring many things. As we struggle through the unknown, we only see the beautiful future that is not less than nature itself, and not more.

DL: What’s your ultimate goal as a designer?

HS : Making infusion of nature into design , a very basic principle which every designer practices, and every laymen client desires. Making it a way of life. I wish every individual who has worked with me or will work, or has seen my work , takes this with them as a way of life.

DL: What people expect from an esteemed designer such as yourself?

HS : Expectations of people differ according to their roles, like co-workers, clients or mentors. However a certain benchmarked quality of spaces and architectural expression previously created is an underlined expectation everybody has. Which can only rise and improve in terms of quality of work. I just hope I am meeting expectations people has.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

HS : Just as mentioned above, A good design inspires and influences lifestyles and cultures. The g-local culture of today's world has exposed people to various lifestyles, trends, etc in one click. And a good design is necessary for advancement of society, because just the way people look up to internet for trends in clothes and politics, they do the same in terms of designs. So whether or not designers incorporate nature, materials, cultural arts, graphics, comfort , leisure, etc. in their design will determine how people look at all these aspects. Being socially and ecologically responsible as designers can help create a better society. What we endorse as designers is adopted as a way of life. It replicates and makes our world a good or bad place to live. Just like us, our designs should not be in isolation. They should live in harmony with the surroundings. Being environment friendly in terms of material usage, reusing of material, incorporating nature in terms of green-scape, and bringing in ecological harmony by providing niches that invite birds or animals are some of the environmental responsibilities. Designers produce or reproduce cultures, hence being sensitive to use of artworks and sculptures, establishing appropriate linkages and respecting the context, are some social responsibilities. Also, when designers work on social cause projects like rural schools, or anything that is in their surrounding , it improvises the quality of life at the lowest level. Designing then becomes about sensitivity and not affordability.

DL: What are you currently working on that you are especially excited about?

HS : Everything excites us. Each and every project or task is special, because without our heart into it, we cannot do proper justice.

DL: Which design projects gave you the most satisfaction, why?

HS : All my designs constantly evolve when in process, ensuring I have done the best possible I could do on my side, and therefore because of the constant dissatisfaction in the process and an urge to improve, makes me satisfied at the end. And even if something remains, I take it is as a learning. With each project I have learned something new and am satisfied about the same.

DL: What would you like to see changed in design industry in the coming years?

HS : The design field has grown a lot in recent times. A lot of designers, coming up with new concepts and setting benchmarks and I feel quite happy to be a witness and part of this phase of design era. However, the need of a designer , is not completely understood to every laymen. Around us there are numerous projects I see which are just built by builders or contractors without appropriate knowledge of design. Also designers at times do certain projects for the sake of doing. I just wish to see design being rooted in everything that is created.

DL: Where do you think the design field is headed next?

HS : I think we are headed to mars and moon.. In fact competitions for that has begun as well. Because that is what remains. The parameters and scope of designing has widened enormously in the present day. 1. The categories and detail - Design is not just limited to architecture or fashion anymore. Graphics, miniatures, products, sounds, music, everything is designed with a different level of detail today. Templates have been substituted by newer details and techniques which owes to greater level of customization happening around us. Which means we are becoming highly sensitive towards the uniqueness of individual beings and their aspirations. From furniture, pens, bag to movies and songs, there is stuff available for all kinds of people - modern or traditional, rich or poor, an attempt to cater to everybody is there. 2. Material and technology - With growing concerns towards sustainable aspects, and the advent of technology , people are doing wonders to create newer techniques , reusing materials, modernizing older techniques like ferro-cement, bottle walls, rammed earth respectively. And there is so much more in terms of forms and spaces, tall buildings to courtyard houses to ocean houses.

DL: How long does it take you to finalize a design project?

HS : It is very subjective and varies as per the specifications of each project.

DL: When you have a new design project, where do you start?

HS : Site conditions, client requirements and a basic spatial diagram in its accordance. That is how we start.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

HS : Our practice exists to challenge the Indian architectural landscape that is still quite unorganized, where ‘layers of materials’ have ruled over ‘purity of materials’. We believe in architecture that gives importance to the beauty of each material, by creating the right balance between less and more. We believe in creating form that not only follows function, but creates spaces for lifestyles and cultures.

DL: Do you think design sets the trends or trends set the designs?

HS : It works both ways. Because what is designed and published is what becomes trending. And then clients come to you with those pictures asking you to design something similar. So, it's like a cycle. Therefore, it is important for good designs to be published and reach wider platforms.

DL: What is the role of technology when you design?

HS : Our aim being creating space or lifestyle and culture, technology in our case follows design. Any new technology is experimented which comes as a medium to achieve a particular idea. Like we explored ferro-cement in a cafe project where achieving a fluid and organic environment in low cost was our aim. But it is not our top most aim to explore a technique and then design accordingly.

DL: What kind of design software and equipment do you use in your work?

HS : Talking about the tools and techniques, we use both softwares and conventional methods. We believe certain things are best understood while you make physical mock models, as you realize the whole process, you get more aware about every junction and how it can be solved. At the same time aesthetics, colour, etc are best tested in computer aided renderings, giving it a real like touch and helping us to visualize better. Our process involves working on different mediums in parallel. To mention the softwares, we use, AutoCad , Google Sketch Up, 3Ds Max, Adobe Photoshop, and any other that comes up as a need for exploration in a project. Also, we have a huge library, which is referred to every now and then and it inspires us to work in detail for each and every aspect of a design.

DL: What is the role of the color, materials and ambient in design?

HS : Once a structure is built, it is the colour, material and ambience that determine how a space will feel - live, mundane, dark , peaceful, etc. Just how, dimensions affect anthropometric comfort, there are visual ergonomics which are guided by light and colour. Food courts or restaurants usually use red, because red associates to eating. Similarly all colours and textures guide emotions and hence play a very magnificent role in design.

DL: What do you wish people to ask about your design?

HS : Not just our projects, but for anybody, I wish people to ask about the process behind a beautiful project or product, as that's where they can appreciate the efforts and discover details about how things have been achieved.

DL: When you see a new great design or product what comes into your mind?

HS : "What would be the process that lead to it" is something that always comes to my mind. People are creating wonders, and it feels great to be a part of the design fraternity, come in touch of great minds, learn and share.

DL: Who is your ideal design partner? Do you believe in co-design?

HS : All of my designs are co-designs, as they constantly evolve, everybody involved in the process works together to make it better.

DL: Which people you interacted had the most influence on your design?

HS : Mathew and Ghosh

DL: Which books you read had the most effect on your design?

HS : Romancing the tropics - Bedmar and Shi, The Architectural heritage of Sri Lanka - works of Anjalendran.

DL: How did you develop your skills as a master designer?

HS : I am still developing.

DL: Irrelative of time and space, who you would want to meet, talk and discuss with?

HS : With my staff, it is interactions with them which help us reflect back and grow together.

DL: How do you feel about all the awards and recognition you had, is it hard to be famous?

HS : The awards and recognition brings along a lot of motivation. However, for me it has never been about fame, it is about reaching to wider sections of people with similar inclinations, or people with newer ideas, interact with such people involved in the design fraternity and grow in a symbiotic manner.

DL: What is your favorite color, place, food, season, thing and brand?

HS : Shades of Grey, Himalaya, Thai food, Winter and Spring that follows, and antiques respectively.

DL: What makes your day great as a designer, how do you motivate yourself?

HS : Our studio motivates me. It is an ever-evolving space. The seed that was sown in 2011 has now grown from a sapling to a tree. Years of dedicated work, and a nature to curate beautiful art has resulted in a space that is soothing and inspiring at the same time. Ideas can be conceived here easily because the space enables one to think—after all, that is the function.

DL: When you were a little child, was it obvious that you would become a great designer?

HS : No , It wasn't that obvious.

DL: What do you think about future; what do you see will happen in thousand years from now?

HS : To be point- blank, the way we are using resources, I just can't imagine 1000 years from now, only scarcity, and the death of humanity that would follow with the rising quarrels over things is what I see.

DL: Please tell us anything you wish your fans to know about you, your design and anything else?

HS : Thank you for all the faith you have bestowed in us.