Karishma Desai, is an Indian Architect, Interior Designer and Urbanist. Born in Surat, she is the only child to working parents, wholearnt to fill her free time synchronizing herself with Nature, since childhood and started connecting with Nature on a theological level. She noticed how beautiful nature is and gradually developed her ideas on how one can incorporate Nature withindesign concepts and build something inherently sustainable and beautiful, that celebrates the relationship of nature and architecture.
Beauty with brains
Karishma had aspirations to always become an architect, so it came as no surprise that she completed her degree in architecture from SCET, Surat, at a time when the degree in architecture and the role of an architect hadjust started to get appreciated.
Like engineering, architecture requires logic, detailing along with statistics and also needs to be aligned with the beauty and creativity of interior and architectural concepts. Her multitasking capability was evident from the time she started working as a Gate Scholar, while completing her Master’s degree in Urban Design from CEPT University. After attaining her degree she became the protégé of her professor for two years in Ahmedabad, where she honed her understanding and the value of coexistence between Nature and designs.
Mughal Architecture has always inspired her to understand beautiful narratives between architecture and the context and thereby come up with very unique design concepts. Integrating master plans of building future towns and cities, which include landscape as an integral part in design is her dream for the future of tourism and thereby establish a larger footprint on the sands of time. Their dream of creating Atelier Dsync as a global leader in design innovation and a platform for knowledge sharing is soon shaping into reality.
Knowing her closely
Karishma loves to read and has travelled to almost 40 countries to understand various cultures and landscapes. While growing professionally, her vision towards social work for the development of tribal children is a passion she cannot ignore.
She loves reading about life and philosophy. Self-help books and life enriching books are something you can always find her reading when she’s traveling. Like a true professional, she takes down notes and makes analysis on the subject of the book she is reading. Her logical and positive outlook to life makes her work-life personal life maintain the perfect balance. She knows when to lay down the law and when to follow her motto of Follow your Dream.
After getting marriedin 2006 to her best friend Ar Shivarao Channapattan, Karishma moved to Delhi and started working on large scale architecture and master planning projects with ARCOP, a Canada based company. Her professionalism was further shaped with Ar. Sanjay Singh, who was her first mentor to take the young and energetic architect under his wing and groom her further. His vision, techniques and dedication helped form the initial years of her career.
In 2009, both Karishma Desai and Ar Shivarao Channapattan moved to London, to pursue a second Master’s degree in Landscape Urbanism from AA, one of the best design schools in the world.
Karishma’s father was unfortunately diagnosed with cancer and her in laws were getting old. Karishma and Shivaraodecided to shift to her hometown Surat after the birth of their daughter in 2012, as she also wanted her daughter to imbibe the culture and morals of her family. The Desai family is a close-knit family, supporting each other and doing everything they can to help everyone achieve their goals and aspirations. She considers herself to be very lucky to have in laws, who have been extremely supportive and synchronised with all their decisions.
Following their footsteps
While studying architecture, Karishma began idolizing, Ar B.V. Doshi, who at the age of 90 is still a renowned name in the architectural field and a Pritzker winner, the highest recognition in the field.
Professor Chhaya, her mentor, who has also worked on a lot of prestigious projects, taught her discipline, sensitivity and dedication towards the field.
Internationally, Architects, REM, Koolhaas and Zaha Hadid, are her favourite, for their revolutionary ideas and global design practices. Their out-of-the-box thinking, inspired Karishma to grow her imagination outside the norm.
To say she did it all alone, is not completely true, because she had tremendous support from her family, especially her husband, who continues to support her in every goal and is her Business partner in all of their ventures.
Keeping up with technology
The new age of technology brings with it an age of excitement in terms of designs and creativity. Karishma and her husband started a firm called Atelier Dsync in 2012. They did however, work on several projects together before establishing their own firm. Their success has been noticed Pan India, in the fields of Housing, hospitality and commercial retail projects.
The duo is one of the most technical and creative architects in India. Technology has only added to their talent.
All that she’s accomplished
Atelier Dsync has been awarded as the“Most Innovative Design Practice in 2019” by the National Design Excellence Awards in Architecture and Interior design. She has been interviewed by the CEO Magazine, as the Company of the Month, to share her Entrepreneurial journey in the field of architectural design and research.
Atelier Dsync has also been a part of the team for the prestigious Mahatma Gandhi Mandir Project in Gandhinagar. Since 2014 they have also completed and are continuously working on affordable housing portfolio in Gurgaon with Adani Realty.
Her first Solo work as an architect was the Black Buck project in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, with which she is still associated since more than a decade. This unique project was recognized and earned her a nomination for the Asia Pacific Continent Award in Spain in 2019.
She has also been bestowed with the National Leadership Award and the prestigious NDTV Design Award. She also conquered the Young Architects Award and earned nominations for the WADE or Women n Architecture Award in India in the field of hospitality design.
Experienced and courageous.
Karishma Desai has over 18 years of experience. They also have an office in Gurgaon, in collaboration with the industrial giants the Adani group. Atelier Dsync decided to have the “think tank” in Surat as it is a developing city with great connectivity within the industrial hub of the country.
Being a young lady and that too being ambitious and talented, brought alot of hardship for Karishma, both in her personal as well as professional life.Every single day is a challenge to overcome practical as well emotional hurdles that come with the decision of dreaming big and taking the lead – right from extensive travels, late working hours, being a mother to an 8 year old, while also being a wife and a daughter to ageing parents.
Setting shop after moving back to Surat was a little difficult as most of her contacts had drifted apart. Also being a female role model was a tough pill to swallow for a patriarchal society and that too in a male dominant profession.
To understand her city more and learn how much had changed, Karishma started teaching and started to get her grip in the city once again. Her understanding of the clients requirements soon earned her the reputation of the new face of Architecture and Interior Design in Surat.
Conqueror and her future plunders
Karishma has always called her husband a “feminist” because he has always supported and fanned every dream and ambition of hers. She isn’t someone who dreams small but going global is a dream that may soon come true.
Karishma is not just a boss but also a leader and her relationship with her employees is what always keeps them motivated and on their toes.
With this vision, Atelier Dsync issoon to start working on projects in London as well as Dubai, building a restaurant in the heart of the big city.
Lastly, Ar Karishma Desai, with her team dreams of achieving the most prestigious Aga Khan Award in Architecture and work towards the Pritzker Architecture Award, which acknowledges the contribution to designers around the world.
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