Architecture Design – Vol 43 Issue 3 March 2026 – Architecture Design

Every project begins as a new conversation shaped by the people, architecture and context, making each home distinct yet unmistakably thoughtful.” —KRUTI SHETH, Co-Founder & Principal Designer, a&k Design Studio March 2026 ARCHITECTURE+DESIGN Trends can inspire, but they shouldn’t dictate a home. We focus on function, proportion and emotion—elements that don’t date. When a space continues to feel relevant years later, that’s true success.” —AARTI SOMANI, Co-Founder & Principal Designer, a&k Design Studio However, while working on our family home’s design with my mother, I discovered an unexpected passion for the design process.

This experience marked a turning point. I subsequently enrolled in a full-time interior design diploma at Nirmala Niketan, and it was there that I truly found my calling. Kruti Sheth (KS): Design was all I could think about. My love for stylish spaces started in childhood, and by eighth grade, I knew interior design was my calling.

Soon after my tenth grade, I went on to pursue my government diploma at Rachna Sansad, followed by a Master’s degree in the same college. Since then, there’s been no looking back. SS: What’s the earliest design memory that left a mark on you? A building, a space, or maybe an object that sparked something? AS: My first project as an intern was designing a small room in this stunning bungalow. Standing there, I thought, “One day, I’d love to design homes this beautiful and meaningful.”

That moment stuck with me. KS: My earliest memories are of Sydney Opera House’s fluid, solid silhouette against the sea. It sparked my fascination with how shapes and forms transform a space. SS: Take us back to the beginning– how did the two of you meet, and what sparked the idea of starting a&k Design Studio?

AS: We met years ago while freelancing for the same designer. There was an instant connection—we hit it off immediately. In fact, the very next day, I asked her for her biodata because my brother was looking to get married. Ironically, she had started working to escape the arranged marriage setup, while I was trying to introduce her to one.

KS: Life had other plans. We remained close friends for years, always wishing for the right partner while working independently. Eventually, ten years later, karma brought us together professionally, and a&k Design Studio was born over a simple coffee conversation. We became partners and family in a completely different way. SS: How has your partnership evolved over the years?

What’s been the key to your collaboration? AS: Our partnership has many layers. We share an effortless chemistry at work and can often begin or finish each other’s thoughts.

A Home with Multiple Personalities The Rock House, Kolkata Kiran Gala & Associates 82 The Pivot Point One Icon, Pune Anarchment Studio 86 A Press Rewritten Philtre and Co, Lucknow Atelier Varun Goyal 92 A Second Take Apartment, Mumbai Studio Osmosis 76 68 66 64 58 60 62 70 CONTENTS Protecting the night sky BEGA pole-top luminaires with BugSaver® technology protect nocturnal fauna by reducing the color temperature from 3000 Kelvin to an amber color around 1800 Kelvin, which reduces the light attractive effect.

The color temperature and output can be controlled dynamically. bega.com/bugsaver Das gute Licht. Ԙռ՟ڑڟԏԒռڑԎԒռڑԐԎԐԖ Frankfurt am Main ¡Ǹ˓˓ڑԒռԎڟևڟƋʹǸ˷ɒ Iڟԙԏ March 2026 ARCHITECTURE+DESIGN 4 Some of the most interesting conversations around design today are no longer just about style or aesthetics. They are about voice, authorship and the perspectives shaping the spaces we inhabit.

Across architecture, interiors and craft, there is a noticeable shift in who is leading those conversations. Women designers, architects, curators and entrepreneurs are increasingly shaping the cultural and creative landscape—often bringing with them a sensibility that is both intuitive and fearless. It appears in many ways: in renewed respect for craft traditions, in businesses built around community and collaboration, and in interiors that embrace personality rather than restraint.

When we photographed Aarti Somani and Kruti Sheth for our cover along Mumbai’s Coastal Road near Breach Candy, that spirit felt especially evident. Their work celebrates colour, confidence and individuality—an approach that reminds us that design need not always whisper. Sometimes it can be expressive, layered and unapologetically bold. Beyond the visual language of interiors, what stands out across this Issue is the growing influence of women who are shaping the wider ecosystem of design.

Some are preserving and evolving craft traditions, while others are redefining how contemporary design is practised and experienced. Together, they represent a generation that is expanding the possibilities of the field. As writer Maya Angelou once said, “Each time a woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women.” In many ways, the stories in these pages reflect exactly that. Happy reading. (Sonal Das) Director – Editorial and Brand Solutions FOREWORD 6 Entire contents Copyright © 2018 Burda Media India Private Limited, Ambience Mall, 7th Floor, Gate No. 4, Ambience Island, NH-8, Gurugram – 122002, Haryana, India.

All rights reserved throughout the world. Reproduction or translation in any language in whole or in part without the consent of Burda Media India Private Limited is prohibited. Requests for permission should be directed to Burda Media India Private Limited Published by Simon Clays from Burda Media India Private Limited, Ambience Mall, 7th Floor, Gate No. 4, Ambience Island, NH-8, Gurugram – 122002, Haryana, India.

Printed at Galaxy Offset (India) Pvt. Ltd, 184-185, Sector 8, IMT Manesar, Gurgaon, Haryana – 122053.

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

Book Information

• Unique ID: 4f325126928e147a
• File Extension: .pdf
• File Size: 58,692,641 bytes (55.974 MB)
• Title: –
• Author: Unknown
• ISBN: 9769574481, 4445508411, 1414922396
• Pages: 101
• Language: English (en)

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• Estimated Reading Time: 125.42 minutes
• Total Words: 25,085
• Total Characters: 172,825
• Average Words per Page: 248.37
• Average Characters per Page: 1711.14

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