Priyank Mehta Principal Architect, Studio PM “LuxeBook is the best way to find out what’s new in travel, design, food, art and fashion” Early in life, Priyank Mehta realised that we travel mainly to see and imbibe the culture of a place, and that a large part of understanding that culture comes from our experience of the native architecture. “I was lucky to have learned from great architects while I interned at the offices of Ratan Batliboi and Nitin Killawala,” acknowledges Mehta, who did his B.Arch at the Rachana Sansad Academy of Architecture. “Sameep Padora mentored me for my thesis, which also had me spend days at architect BV Doshi’s office – Sangath in Ahmedabad.” Bolstered by the confidence gained from this strong foundation, he ventured out on his own after completing his M.Arch at the Mackintosh School of Architecture, Glasgow School of Arts. Studio PM, founded in 2017 out of a desire to generate novel spatial design solutions through rigorous research and experiments with materials and form, began by doing a couple of redevelopment projects along with many hospitality interiors projects. “We completed more than 60 projects in the first five years of the practice,” recalls Priyank. Today, his team of young architects, interior and graphic designers has completed several projects in the hospitality, residential, commercial and retail sectors. Over the past 12 years, Priyank has helped shape the generation after him by teaching Architectural Design at Balwant Sheth School of Architecture to 4th year and final year thesis students. Rahul and Ojas were on an exploratory sabbatical after completing their graduation at Rizvi College of Architecture, when they decided to work together after gaining experience under renowned architectural firms in Mumbai. What started as a friendly collaborative experiment in 2011, turned out to be a runaway success with their first project getting widely published and gaining recognition. The philosophy of the firm is spelt out in its name: Studio TAB - The Architecture Break. The award-winning, multidisciplinary design practice is engaged in architecture, interior design, brand identity, art installations and product design. “Each project begins with breaking down every stereotype attached to it. Once we achieve this, we understand what it truly needs. Then begins the design exercise, at micro and macro level,” explain the founders. This approach has helped them design & build projects in over 20 cities across India and to foray into the international arena (Qatar, Spain and Estonia). Luxury is never about the price, maintains this duo who believe that luxury means class, finesse, “God in the details” and comfort. Their journey has taught them that learning can come from many sources – from the mason fixing the walls, to the craftsman making the joinery, to the fresher bubbling with unadulterated ideas – if the head is up in the sky to dream and grow, but the feet are firmly on the ground. “LuxeBook has always been our goto for keeping up with luxury” Rahul Das Menon & Ojas Chaudhari Principal Architects & Co-founding Partners, Studio TAB | 37 | 36
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