– Narendra RahurikarCW Design Build spoke to Narendra Rahurikar to about storytelling through design, his vision and philosophy. What is your vision for D’fine Art? As a design and build firm, we want to create designs so amazing, that they will change the way the world thinks about design. How has your philosophy on design changed over time, especially in the light of the pandemic? What changes have you made in your work protocol due to the pandemic? There have been lot of changes due to pandemic. Our process of design starts with hygiene and safety in mind. We are taking immense care of these aspects in our designs and execution by using special materials like paints, sofa covers, curtains etc., that are fungi/bacteria free and hygienic. Our design team mostly works from home but execution team has to be on site. We follow all government protocols issued to stop the spread of the pandemic. How do you approach design to accommodate aesthetic and functionality in residential and commercial projects? Aesthetic and functionality go hand in hand. Just good designs will not work if they are not comfortable or are not easy to use, functionality comes first. Residential projects have scope of experimenting on designs. We always give something different which reflects the character and liking of the clients. For commercial projects, we stick to brand identity and colours. For execution we stick to global standardisation. How do you incorporate sustainability in your work? We design our projects keeping sustainability in mind. We tie up with brands that align to our philosophy and use products of certified standards and have a have higher warrantee and guarantee. Tell us more about your experience of designing theme parks. What specifics did you follow as a design firm to curate that space? After designing 55 films, we’ve got a hand in creating entertaining spaces. We design parks with themes which are missing in India, keeping in mind its experience which creates a good impact of the theme park’s visitors. We believe, that an amazing experience of the themes will be instrumental in bringing them back the parks. I believe that, “You can't tell any kind of a story without having some kind of a theme, something to say between the lines”. For us every project is a different story. What ideology do you follow while designing a film/television set? Tell us more about the process of storytelling through interiors. For films and television, we have to follow the script’s ideology. We have to create the mood of the scene through our locations. When we designed the set for Golmaal movie series 1, 2 and 3, we used vibrant colours to create a happy mood but in for a movie like Singham, we used very dark grey and monotone colours to portray the seriousness of a cop’s struggle. While designing interiors for an actor or actress, his or her character should reflect in that room. We keep in mind what their profession is, what are their hobbies. The goal is that the space should talk for itself. How would you define your style of design? How do you ensure that your projects bear your signature? Mostly our design style is aligned with client’s choices, from classical to Indian contemporary. Designing a home is very personal and we respect the choices of the client. Together we design their dream home. Our signature comes through great finishes and client satisfaction. Which types of interior projects do you enjoy working on the most? Why? Indian ethnic. We love Indian heritage, values and cultures. We have lots of cultural differences in architecture and I personally endorse it. We get good furniture and artefacts to match the theme of this décor and it gives richness to the home. I believe that it is important that it passes on to the next generation for them to love it and protect it. Take us through your design process from conception and design to final build. We give a basic questionnaire to our clients to understand their style and liking. Post that we present to them the look and feel through visual aid and zero down the first drafts based on their liking. Following this we make 3D models of their home to give them the most realistic look of their home Once final, we head to execution. What changes have you perceived in your clients (in terms of demands, awareness, aesthetics, etc.)? Today’s clients are well informed due to internet and vast social media use. They are well-travelled and this know exactly what they want. We always try to strike a balance between the requirements of the client and harmony of our designs. Tell us about the projects you are working on currently. We are working on two duplex and three apartments in Pune, three theme parks two of them based in Nagpur and couple of bungalows in Lonawala. What advice would you like to give to aspiring architects/designers? Understand the requirements of the clients and use technology in such a way that it enhances the beauty of your designs. Try to conserve Indian culture and make homes look like homes and not like hotels. Your designs should speak the language of your clients desires and needs.