It is said that art is not what you see, but what you make others see, and Padmini Pandey proves this with each of her projects. In the present times, when most architects blindly follow trends, here we have someone whose actively looking for projects that are poles apart from each other.
Today we discuss with her the fascinating world of architecture and the impact of the pandemic on it. Let’s explore the path that she is making for herself in this unique time.
Why did you choose architecture as a career?
Honestly, as a child, I didn’t know what to do with myself, and I was more of an outdoor kid. Though I was not very hardworking I was a good student and so my family wanted me to become a doctor, to suit the trend back in the day. But my sister guided me to opt for Architecture cause she felt I had the creative aptitude for it.
I remember when I started my course, I hated architecture because everything was so technical and I wanted it to be creative. I felt like I was stuck and during my entire degree, I was bored. But when I started working on projects and collaborating with creative people I fell in love with this field.
The funny thing is, as a student who hated studying architecture I actually went on to do a master’s in the field too because working physically on projects made me realize the importance of technical aspects as well.
It’s interesting to see a lot of artistic emphasis in your work, would you say that is your style?
The thing with art is that when you make art you can’t repeat it even if you want to. My working style or thought process is that every house or every project is a piece of art, which can’t be replicated. I look at it in an artistic way, I don’t mean literal art, because that depends on the interests of the client, but I don’t repeat my designs. Every project is different because the thought behind it is unique and it has to reflect what the client is envisioning as well.
I think this thought process makes me choose projects that are very different from each other. So when I’m asked what my style is I would only say that it is bespoke, but honestly what I mean is that my style is to reflect the personality and the lifestyle of my client through me. So you may say that my style is artistic in the way I approach each project, but I’m not really stuck to any genre, I can go classical or minimal based on who the client is.
How do you think the pandemic has impacted the lifestyles of everyone, and their relationship with space usage?
I think being locked up in a single space is the most dangerous thing that can happen to anyone. I recently heard a few companies announce that they would like to shift their entire working model to work from home and I felt so sad for their employees.
Change of space helps you keep your routine in check. It is important for people to explore different spaces in a day because the change of physical space is also a change in the person’s emotional and mental space. If people remain cocooned in a single area it won’t be great for their well-being. So it’s natural that many people have struggled during the pandemic as their space was constantly invaded.
However, on the plus side, for some people, this has also been a time for evolution. They were able to take out time for themselves and enjoy their physical space for the first time. So if you ask me space has definitely played a crucial role in the overall well-being of people during the pandemic. Also, I think the lockdown has made people realize what they really want from their physical space too.
Do you think the pandemic has impacted the way clients want their spaces designed now?
Absolutely, I feel that my clients have become more conscious of their space and everyone wants a comforting home now. Being locked up for a year has made them realize the value of their home. I see this change more in the men than the women. Also, there is a shift in the mindsets where just a beautiful home is no longer a priority, but a self-sufficient one is.
Another visible shift is that people are buying bigger homes. If someone was living on a single floor earlier, now they have added another floor to it. Because the pandemic has made people realize that everybody needs space. Personally, if you ask me physical space = mental space = emotional space.
I’ve also noticed that since people had a lot of time on hand during the pandemic they have looked up all the designs on Pinterest and followed all designers on Instagram, which has made them very picky. This has pushed towards a very social media savvy culture for the entire architecture/interior design industry. Earlier people wanted to work with designers based on word of mouth, but now they also want to consider their social profile.
Do you think the increasing popularity of Instagram and Pinterest has made people want picturesque homes?
I think it’s made people trust photographs way more than they should. As I said earlier making a home is a very personal experience and involves a lot of interaction with the architect. It’s important to work with someone who matches your temperament but how can you judge the temperament of a designer through his or her social media page?
Also, designing a space is a very physical experience. You need to visit a location to understand how it should be designed. Shortlisting designs based on photographs cut out the entire sensory experience of visualizing a space. I personally tell people not to hire me by looking at my social media page too. Designing a space is so much more than that.
You work with people across the globe; do you think your location impacts your design?
Well, the things that definitely make a difference are the climatic conditions, the topography, and the basic culture of the region. For me, it’s very important to keep all these factors in mind while designing a space. You could opt for any style, contemporary, modern or classic, but it has to have the local context. You need to respect the location of every project; it’s always good to incorporate the local technique, skills, and craftsmen of the location into your design.
Which has been your most memorable project so far?
It would definitely have to be Taj Aravali, Udaipur. The project is very close to my heart not just cause of its size but the entire journey that I had with it. It’s a 45-acre property and I worked on it from scratch, starting with the master planning, architecture, and interior designing. What made it even more special was that I had an all-girls team for this project.
The entire project has a lot of landscaping as it’s based on the Aravali hills and in a city, which is known for traditional architecture I decided to go contemporary with my design.
The client started off as a 3-star property, but it ended up being a 5-star property. The fact that they trusted me with such a huge project singlehandedly was a great feeling. Nothing matches the joy of an entire structure coming to life from scratch, and in this case, it would not just be about a single structure but an entire complex synergizing with all its elements.
What would you love to work on in the future?
I would love to do a farmhouse on a lake or a waterfront with no rules or space restrictions. My favorite projects are where nature comes together with architecture and this would be an ideal example of that.
