Interview with Architect Salil Ranadive, Mumbai

When did you first start your practice and what kind of projects have you been doing? When did you start SR Architects? The first project I got along with my batch-mate Anish Shah, was in 1988 – while we were still doing our Dissertations at CEPT. It was for an Art Gallery at Kemp’s Corner – and as it happened – we received a Best Public Place Award for it from the IIID (That incidentally was the first & last time I participated in an Awards Competition). After that, our Two-man partnership, grew to Three. Then, into a Private Limited Company, which continued till 2013. In September 2013, I moved away and started SR+A Architects – along with all the wonderful team-mates I had worked with all these years. Tell us something about your approach to your projects? For us, the key to every project – is the Client. And this could be an Individual, a Family, a Company or an Institution. It is imperative for to be able to establish an equation with them – to understand the way they function, their imperatives, their goal, their likes & dislikes, their joys. We then aim to be the Facilitators – who can create a Poetic Solution to their primary functional need. Simultaneously, it’s equally important to address the Pragmatic aspects of a Project as well : Budgets, Time Schedules, Materials & Details and of course to recognize that the team includes the Engineers, the Contractors, the Suppliers, the Workers & the Craftsman too. Which has been your most favorite project so far? All Projects where my Clients have become my friends, and have called me back and cooked me a nice meal – are my favorites! Critically of course, my favorites are our “Shoebox” Series of Projects in Bombay: One, a house with an elevated Courtyard The Other, an Office – that engages with the Outside through and Enclosed Street, and it is arranged around a Tree of Knowledge. Meanwhile another, is a Corporate Learning Centre in Gujarat – that is being built. Source: Zingy Homes