Design Shapes Lives: Exploring Community Spaces
My World as a Child
My childhood home in Hyderabad was a little world of its own. My grandfather’s vibrant paintings adorned the walls, the melodies of old songs, the playful notes of my father and grandfather practicing the sitar, and our garden buzzed with the life of birds and butterflies. It was a place filled with stories and traditions, and the love of family bound us together.
Those early days, spent gardening with my grandparents under the shifting light, sparked something in me. I wanted to understand how spaces, like our home, could feel so warm and welcoming. That curiosity led me to architecture. I thought it was all about making beautiful buildings. But as I started designing, I realized there was more to it.
I yearned to capture the essence of a space – the way light falls on a wall, the energy of a crowded marketplace, and how people move and interact within buildings. That’s when I swapped my drafting tools for a camera and became an architectural storyteller.
India: A Land Built on Stories
India is a treasure trove of stories told through its architecture. Just think of the ancient step-wells of Rajasthan. They weren’t just about water – they were where people connected, shared news, and built community. Their cool steps offered a comforting break from the relentless desert heat.
Or the Havelis and courtyard homes across India, designed to suit the weather while keeping families close. Those open courtyards are the heart of Indian life, where laughter echoes and traditions unfold.
How Design Changes Us
The spaces we create can do amazing things:
- Bring us together: Parks, libraries, and community centers designed for everyone build bridges and make us feel like we belong.
- Honor the past: Restoring old, beautiful buildings keeps our history alive and makes us proud of where we come from.
- Make us healthier: Buildings filled with sunlight, fresh air, and bits of nature just feel good – they’re good for our bodies and minds.
- Nurture our creativity: Museums, galleries, and theaters give artists a place to shine and inspire us all.
My Mission as a Storyteller
My journey as an architect turned filmmaker taught me that beauty and meaning exist all around us. It’s in the warmth of sunlight on worn stone, the lively hum of a marketplace, or the quiet intimacy of a family courtyard. These moments, these spaces, shape us. They remind us of the joy of community, the depth of our history, and the endless possibilities that lie within well-designed spaces.
I hope my work encourages others – architects, designers, and everyday people – to look at the built world with fresh eyes. If we pay attention, the buildings we live and work in have incredible stories to tell, stories that shape who we are, as individuals and as a society.