Block By Block

Ranjit Wagh is all for designing multi-funtional spaces and building less

If you concentrate on the architecture, everything else comes along for the ride.’ This is the mantra Ranjit Wagh, architect and founder director of Dar & Wagh keeps dear to his heart.

Having studied at the renowned CEPT, Ahmedabad, and graduating as a gold medallist, he was influenced by the teachings and works of stalwarts like Balkrishna Doshi, Anant Raje and Kurula Varkey. In his own words, “Great teachers bring good luck.” He garnered rich experience working with some of the most renowned practices in India, Bali and Singapore for 13 years.

Returning to India he founded Dar & Wagh with his interior designer wife Amber Dar Wagh. The beginnings were challenging as they had to start from scratch but with persistence and hard work, Dar & Wagh has become a name to reckon with. Their portfolio boasts of 17 completed and nine upcoming projects. Their built work spans India, China, Bhutan, Bali, Maldives, Malaysia and Singapore.

Alila Villas Uluwatu in Bali and Parkroyal on Pickering in Singapore have been Wagh’s star projects, while working with WOHA, Singapore.

For Dar and Wagh, time is of utmost importance; minimising delays and controlling client budgets are their priority. As Wagh says, “We’re big supporters of pre-fabrication.” In a country like India, it becomes one of the best ways of maintaining quality. For one of their resort projects in Maldives, large parts have been pre-fabricated, shipped and installed.

“Most of our work goes through multiple iterations before being built. It allows for appropriateness and refinement,” adds Wagh.

Dar and Wagh also believe that architecture and design are collaborative processes. “Context—that’s the magic word. We try to achieve a certain simplicity that looks deceptively effortless,” says Wagh.

The key is “adaptive reuse, to integrate something existing and come up with a cohesive solution that allows us to be minimally invasive. We think this is the sustainable way of building.”

“Convincing clients to build less by making multi-functional spaces is a critical part of developing a brief. This works best for putting together successful projects and clients are happy too,” Wagh adds.

India, with its unique culture, has been at the forefront of design in the world but now seems to be losing out. As more thoughtful designers and practices emerge, Dar & Wagh wish to be a part of rebuilding India’s design thread.

By Mohan Siddharth, Studio Gulmohar