Kirthana Shetty

Kirthana Shetty, an expert in the field of architecture, received her Bachelor of Architecture degree from UVCE (University Vishveshwaraiah College of Engineering), Bangalore University. She was talented in art (painting and drawing) and on the advice of her teachers, she pursued a career in architecture though she was absolutely clueless about the field. But during the course itself she realized that she had made the right decision, and that realization only grew stronger as she began working and practicing. She completed her academic internship at Mistry Architects. That’s where she got interested in residential architecture. After graduation, she worked for a firm called Centre for Design Excellence, where she gained valuable experience in Interior Design. Subsequently, she joined Monalisa Interior Decorators, one of the leading turnkey agencies for Corporate Interiors at the time.

Working in this firm provided her with hands-on experience in handling large-scale turnkey projects, from design to execution, including all aspects of project management, which aided her greatly in establishing her own practice later on. She worked for Sundaram Architects for a few years after leaving Monalisa. All along she had been freelancing too, and in 2006, she established her own practice, Space N Form. It began as a consulting firm and gradually evolved into a design and build firm. Space N Form has completed several residential architectural and interior design projects, as well as some corporate and retail interiors. She has also worked as a BOH consultant for some of the leading hotel groups on projects in India and abroad.  She stated that it had been a fantastic journey and that every moment had been exciting, and that she could not have been in a better profession than this.

She was influenced greatly by Leonardo DaVinci’s famous quote, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.  Good design is about eliminating the unwanted and incorporating the meaningful. Uncomplicating and decluttering life to make the journey easy and light is the philosophy which even Vedanta teaches us. The spaces where we live or work, play such an important role in our lives. Well-designed spaces enhance our living, they have the capacity to influence our emotions and thoughts.

Good design creates the right energies that is needed for an enriching experience, so it is very important for the designer to create the right balance. A good designer should know where to stop; it’s a fine line between over designing and under designing and that’s the balance that the designer has to get right. A design done with a clarity of purpose, a design that exudes simplicity and elegance while engaging all the senses is what appeals to her.

Time is the essence of any project, and so is communication. For a project to be successfully implemented, it is crucial for the designer to have a sense of time management and plan the course of the project effectively.

For good management of time and resources, smooth communication is a must. Communication with the client and the execution team has to be handled well so that decisions are taken on time, thus avoiding confusions and re-work.

Rigorous follow-up is required for the successful completion of a project, with clients for decisions and payments, with vendors for deliveries and with contractors for timely completion of tasks. Discipline is the key which she tries to implement in all aspects of life and this has helped to maintain the efficiency of her organisation too.

Changes to the design intent for various reasons during the course of the project execution, unreasonable delivery schedules, material and human resource shortages are other challenges that one faces. Proper planning and prudent management can help overcome these challenges.

Most clients look for clutter-free and functional spaces that are vibrant, appealing and easy to maintain; spaces that suit their lifestyles and reflect their personalities. They expect budget friendly execution of the project within their preferred timelines.

When asked how she stays up to date on new designs and trends, she mentioned the Internet and social media, as well as travel and interactions with industry professionals.

Taking the plunge into private practice has been the most defining moment in her career.  She stated that it has been 16 years since she founded Space N Form and a total of 25 years since she entered this profession after graduating. The testimonials from happy and satisfied clients, the repeat orders and references from them are her trophies. Every project is a new challenge, a new learning experience, and a new opportunity to improve and grow.

This industry needs to be more organized and technology driven to keep pace with the changing times. There must be skill training institutes that provide formal training in various disciplines such as carpentry, painting, plumbing, electrical work, and so on. In fact, these skills should be taught in Architectural and Interior Design Institutes so that students can gain hands-on experience and technical knowledge to help them become better Architects/ Designers.

Passion and patience are prerequisite qualities that one needs in this industry. While the academic course teaches the student the fundamentals, the actual learning happens only when one starts working in an Architectural/ Interior design firm. Even in a firm, the most important learning happens at the project site. So young architects should spend as much time as possible at project sites and observe and learn how things work. Interpersonal skills are very important in this industry. An architect has to interact with people of all classes and categories whether it is the client, the material vendor, the contractor or the labourer working at site. Having an inquisitive mind that can create and innovate, good observation skills with an eye for detail and the humility to constantly learn and improve are important for an Architect/ Designer.

Vendors should have periodical interactions with Architects/ Designers and Contractors to understand the challenges and needs of the industry and take the feedback from these interactions for their R&D and strive to innovate and improve. Regular presentations are important to keep everyone updated about new products. Young Architects and Designers must be encouraged to visit manufacturing facilities in order to gain a better understanding of the materials/ products.

Turnkey contractors should have a clear and transparent communication with everyone involved in the project. They must be truthful and realistic in their costing and project delivery commitments. They must keep the client informed of any issues or challenges, whether it is a cost increase, a technical problem in execution, or a labour issue. They should strive to maintain the highest quality standards possible.

Lead by example. Keep motivating your team not just in work aspects but in other aspects as well, encourage them to be better humans. Better individuals make better teams. Architecture/ Interior Design is all about team work, so keeping the team in cohesion, and leading them towards the goal with constant motivation and guidance is the team leader’s responsibility.