AKDA

We approached AKDA with a single constraint/requirement that the cost of construction should be kept as low as possible since we were on a shoe string budget. We could not even fathom at that time that beautiful yet functional design and cost need not be mutually exclusive. Steve Jobs famously said "A lot of times, people don't know what they want until you show it to them.” With AKDA we had the opportunity to experience this first hand. What followed after just a few meetings was a house designed with not just the residents in mind but also the environment. AKDA had managed to give us decent sized bedrooms, a fabulous living space and a green backyard that also made use of the existing tree and added to the charm of the house. With a huge angled glass window in the front, they were also able to utilize the view of the park from our plot. The view of serene greenery and open spaces made us realize that we had not and would not have thought of these as top priority requirements/needs in the house. It was hard to imagine that a simple rectilinear plot of land surrounded by houses on all sides could feel so pleasant, airy and spacious. Put simply, we don’t need a holiday home. By managing and executing the construction through their own team, AKDA managed all this while keeping our construction costs within an unheard range of Rs. 1000/sq foot. To top it off, our house has already been featured in some of the top architecture publications around the world. As a home-owner, that gives us the feeling that we own a piece of history and possibly one of the finest houses in the area.

complete Design consulting services for a multifamily residential building. Very creative ideas , ample attention to details, and patient during the development process. Open minded and able to listen to our thoughts and needs.

Frank Gehry once said, “Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness”. I feel this quote quite aptly personifies Amit Khanna's approach towards his work. After having an interesting meeting with him, the one question that kept running through my mind was, “What took me so long to find this man?!” Because here was an architect who seemed to approach each and every project with the same level of scrutiny and analysis, regardless of whether he was dealing with a 3,000 SF area or 30,000 SF area. I realized that he understood my desire to build my home in a manner that is contemporary yet simplistic and livable. The one thing that I told Amit before he began designing my home was, “make each room unique and one-of-a-kind”. And he did exactly that. Understanding our wish for an earthy, contemporary ambience, Amit decided to give us exposed brick walls, natural oak wooden stairs and panels, big glass windows. The entire house is designed such, that each open space is illuminated with a different spectrum of natural light at different times of the day. Viewing this is a spectacle on its own! Throughout the designing process, I appreciated the way Amit would accommodate my ideas, even if it meant making additional changes to the design plan. Moreover, the level of personal involvement that he had, right from the designing stage to the construction stage, allowed me to feel more at ease with the overwhelming task of building a house. Amit made my home a place where I can enjoy being in each and every corner. He has truly made my house a place that I can call Home.

I hired (without pay) Amit to design a house that I was building for myself. Actually I should rather say that Amit hired himself for the project elbowing me out (I am an architect myself) and that's why he didn't get paid. I guess he wanted to do a design exercise in which he had a design appreciative client, (yours truly) and in which the boundaries could be stretched in pursuit of an idea with a slight disregard to mundane worldly requirements. In fact this could also be an exercise to see if these mundane worldly requirements actually amount to much. So, we began the process of design and construction in which he came up with a really unique scheme. We also devised a few new construction methods (building without foundation) that proved fruitful. Testament to that is the fact that the building is still standing and due to be occupied very shortly. Time to talk about Amit. If I could put it very concisely I would say that Amit is someone who does not have to be told to be truthful to his work. He does not cut corners, He is not lazy, He is honest and he is all these things because of his inner drive. So in case you hire him you are free of doubt as to the professionalism that he brings. you can be sure that he will do his job with the minimum of fuss and maximum dedication and you will not have to drive him to do it. And that's what you hire professionals for, isn't it? Rajnish Tyagi