The Social Network

‘Nishita Kamdar believes in designing residential spaces more smartly and efficiently’

Nishita Kamdar dons many hats. A multi-faceted personality, she is a name to reckon with in the interior design space. Other than being the founder and principal architect of Studio Nishita Kamdar, which she established in 2014, she also runs a bakery business with her mother and a bespoke furniture design company P.O.D (Pieces of Desire). She is also a visiting faculty at her alma mater KRVIA, guiding future architects and designers. Kamdar believes that designers have the incredible power to create social patterns by designing the way people live their lives.

Hailing from a family of artists, designers and architects, Miller grew up in an atmosphere that fostered art and design. Her parents were the founders of the prominent architectural firm ABM Architects.

Being a Mumbai-based business comes with its own challenges. Spaces are becoming smaller and smaller than ever before while expectations are becoming larger than ever. “I think the challenge for us, at least for Mumbai-based designers, is how to creatively design something within a realistic shoestring budget.”

“We are of the belief that we need to design more smartly and efficiently when it comes to quintessential residential spaces in India.”

At Studio Nishita Kamdar, a new project means taking up a whole new task from scratch.

They follow an exhaustive meditative process backed by a lot of research not only in design but also in understanding the client’s vision. As she says, “As designers, we are problem solvers as well as service providers. We take a lot of pride in space designing and like to call ourselves space designers and not interior designers because space is three-dimensional and that’s how all projects are.”

Her favourite project is the recently-completed Domestic Lounge ‘080’ at Bangalore International Airport T1. “My design philosophy is echoed in this project, where the use of colour and a combination of eclectic materials with wood brings in a beautiful blend of traditional Indian aesthetics with modern sensibilities.”

The Studio’s favourite project is their very first one, a lovely farmhouse in Karjat, called ‘Under the Mango Tree’, which is appreciated for its simple but aesthetic design. As Kamdar puts it, “It’s always about the simplicity of it which actually wins over complexity.”

Another interesting project undertaken by her studio was a smart, efficient, centralised vacuum system for an entire house for their client, Dreamvac.

In her words, “Doing your own little thing is always the best way to make a larger difference. We collectively work towards the singular goal of achieving something that is best for design and best for the environment.”

By Kamayni, Studio Gulmohar