Celebrated architect Kohelika Kohli talks about working with Sir Norman Foster, her passion for furniture design & more. This series takes a look at the aesthetics, influences and practices of some of India’s biggest names in the field of architecture and design.

1. Tell us about your beginnings as an architect and later as a furniture designer.

At Millfield School in the United Kingdom, one of my A-Level subjects was Design Technology. So one was sketching and designing scaled school projects which were on a micro scale. This and model-making continued through my years at an architectural school in Pratt in New York. And, one soon realised that all the architects and designers I admired, from Frank Llyod Wright to Carlo Scarpa to Zaha Hadid, had all successfully designed projects and products on different scales. So one knew one was on the right track!

1. How was it working with Sir Norman Foster? What was your most cherished experience during your learning years?

Honestly, it was an experience that has played a pivotal role in my becoming a practising architect. The passion, drive and vision that was so central and integral in the London Office where I had worked can never leave one. It is imprinted indelibly and forever in my memory.

In my early days, I was part of a team working on a competition for the restaurant on top of the Swiss Re Building in London, informally known as ‘The Gherkin’. Later, I worked with the team that was working on the Foster Extension to the I.M. Pei-designed East Wing of the Boston Fine Arts Museum in Massachusetts. The thought processes of how objects and words could be converted into spaces and experiences was a complete eye-opener, and the knowledge and understanding that architecture and form can be conceived from the simplest of objects and organisms.

1. One project you are most proud of, and why?

It is difficult to name one. But, I guess one of the most difficult projects I had to design was to build a weekend home for my family. During this project, I truly understood the nuances of designing a family home for a varied age group from 10 to 60 years and that all had to be happy with the final product. It was a daunting task. Fortunately, the final outcome was very aesthetically satisfying and had pleased all age groups.

1. Could you share a trade secret that homeowners should know?

The true value of a good designer is invaluable. People always want to save on the design fee with unrealistic negotiations, whilst in reality they would rarely negotiate fees with a lawyer or a surgeon. I always think, then why not pay the rightful due to a professional who is going to design a space you will physically inhabit and which is going to give you emotional, physical and mental well-being?Spaces not only have the potential to define one but also have the potential to enrich one’s life.

1. What are the current challenges for the Indian design industry?

Not being paid well. And, not having a balanced team which is knowledgeable, from the top of the pyramid to the bottom.

1. Tell us a bit more about your journey into furniture designing. What materials do you specifically like working with? As a furniture designer, what’s the greatest challenge you face today?

I have always enjoyed working with wood that is hand-hewn, and that is where I started my journey. I am also fortunate to be a trained carpenter. Today, we also experiment with bronze and brass … be it forged, cast or just tubular.We are also working with stone, ceramics and blocked glass, and woven thread. We constantly keep discovering and finding new ways to work with different skill sets and experiment with different materials.

1. Your mother is a much-celebrated designer. How has she helped shape your design philosophy?

I grew up hanging around my mother’s design studio straight after school and before we ran off for our horse riding lessons and practice at the President’s Body Guard grounds. The most valuable lesson she has taught me is that there is no substitute for hard work and research. The reason she has a very rooted yet contemporary approach to design is because she continues to be a student of history, literature, archaeology, design and architecture.

1. One element you think every home should have?

An outdoor, open-to-sky space. It uplifts the spirit, I think.