In an era where architecture firms are keen on establishing their own niche, here comes a couple that is out there to bring your dreams to reality. With customization as their mantra, and imagination as vivid as some of their clients, here is a story on ZERO9’s work and journey before and post the pandemic.
What drew you towards Architecture as a profession?
“I clearly remember thinking about the entrance exams for engineering and medical and thought to myself, this is definitely not something I want to do. I think I was fascinated with the whole concept of visual language adaption, or telling a story through visuals. But I didn’t plan on taking up Architecture as such, it just happened.
The thing about this field is, when you start learning about it you realize how we are surrounded by design everywhere. I mean if you look around even a toothbrush is a designed product; as is a bedsheet. So studying architecture really changed the way I perceive design, even in nature.”
Today we notice a lot of architects emphasizing their niche or design style, what according to you is your design statement?
“With us, we always tell our clients that we don’t have a design style only because we our facilitators that will bring the clients dreams to life. So I rather not attach myself to a particular style or design element. What ZERO9 really does is customize and achieve the client’s expectations.
I personally feel our strength is to understand each client. Whether they want to spend 30 lakhs or 3 crores, our job is to listen to them, weave a solution for them, and design an identifiable space for them that has emotions attached to it. I remember once I was speaking to a very prominent colleague who mentioned that a well-known architect had designed his house and did a great job, but when he would go home he would feel like he had gone to a hotel and not ‘his home.’ I realized that day that it’s not about the visual appeal, but the simple fact as to whether or not the owner can identify with their own space.”
As you rightly pointed out, many people don’t identify with their own spaces because they are designed based on trends or on visual appeal. Do you think the pandemic has made them change their thought to a more functional approach?
“Before I dive into the client’s perspective, let me share my personal story. Anu and I moved into our new house on the 31st of January 2020. We did a basic housewarming, post which we were constantly traveling for work. Almost living out of packed boxes. I remember light-heartedly telling Anu that we’ve made this house but we aren’t even able to enjoy it and on the 15th of March 2020, we were all asked to sit at home. So frankly like many other people we got the opportunity to enjoy our house for the first time during the lockdown.
We had breakfast on our balcony, lazed in the living room, used every corner of our home in its true sense, which we would have never done without the pandemic.
Now coming to the client-side, I’ve seen a major shift in the design expectations. Some of the projects that were already running before the pandemic wanted changes like, a better backdrop for their video calls. Many clients wanted to combine their guest room with a study room.
But with the fresh projects, there is a completely new approach. Many clients want a kid play area to the extent of including slides and monkey bars in the room. Many couples want two office studies for their work. People want small organic gardens attached to their kitchens.
The basic shift is that when people bought a 4 bhk earlier, the classification was 2 bedrooms for the family and 2 guest bedrooms. But now people want multi-functional rooms. They want gyms, home offices, libraries, and bars, play areas and so much more in their homes. Earlier this was a trend with just the luxury home segment, but now even regular homeowners want to incorporate these elements in their space.”
Do you feel the pandemic has made people want bigger spaces or is functionality enough to cover the lapses?
“Honestly, that depends on the cost factor. Most of our clients outside Mumbai definitely want larger spaces but within Mumbai the shift is more towards functionality, the financials being the clear divide between the two.”
Do you think that in the present times the entire family is involved in the design process, rather than a single member?
“Absolutely! This is a shift that came in well before the pandemic. A lot of teenagers these days are actively involved in the design process. Honestly, on certain projects, we have been hired by our clients, majorly because of their kids. As the younger generation is very active on social media and they see our designs online and encourage the parents to approach us. In some cases the kids have themselves approached us first and we’ve not taken them seriously, only to realize over a video call with the entire family, that the children are sharing their research with their parents.”
Among all your projects, which ones have a great story attached to them?
“Honestly most of our projects have a challenging element attached to them because we are all about customization and I feel Anu and me don’t enjoy run-of-the-mill concepts, hence we purposely choose clients who challenge us in every way.
I can share an interesting story about a family of 3 that moved from a 5,000 sq ft bungalow in Virar to a 900 sq ft apartment in Juhu. There were 3 things here that made the project challenging, the change is the square footage, the shift from a bungalow to a flat, and the shift in the locality.
We named this project the Urban Retreat; we took small elements from the client’s bungalow and incorporated it into the flat. Their old kitchen had an arch, so we designed their new kitchen in the same way. We bought natural elements of flowers that use to be fallen in their courtyard and embedded them into the flooring. We converted elements from their swing into a console making sure that the new space still reflects their previous home.
In another project, we customized a marine aquarium of 12 feet length with salinity, sunlight, moonlight, and temperature control as a bar. The client was keen on this because he’s had an aquarium since his childhood and wanted to incorporate it in his new space in a unique way. The top of this bar was customized using carbon fiber, the same as what Apple uses for its devices. So even if someone decides to stand on top of the aquarium to dance, it would not get damaged. Yet the top is so lightweight that it can easily be lifted to clean the aquarium.”
You’ve worked on many fascinating projects; do you have a dream project that you would like to work on in the future?
“I think this would have to be my own weekend getaway home. I would love to design my own home with more sustainable elements. I think sustainability is still not explored very well and I’d like to decode it and challenge the existing concepts.”
