SJK Architects is a renowned and award-winning Mumbai-based collective founded in 1990.
The studio is led by founding partner and principal architect Shimul Javeri Kadri along with Vaishali Mangalvedhkar, Sarika Shetty and Roshni Kshirsagar, with a supporting team of about 30+ professionals, collaborating with professionals and clients across the country.
The firm is an architecture, interior design and master planning practice with a portfolio constituting various typologies, ranging from residential, industrial and hospitality to recreational projects such as museums and galleries. The designs have a contemporary approach while honouring the Indian context amidst which it is built. Their steadfast approach and design philosophies in the past and current architectural landscape have won them an impressive list of Indian and International accolades. Notable mentions include the World Architecture Festival Prize 2012, the Futurarc Green Leadership Award 2012, the Prix Versailles Award 2016, awards from the Indian Institute of Architects as well as numerous international publications and features.
Establishing SJK Architects
Founding Partner Shimul Javeri Kadri received her architecture degree from the Academy of Architecture, Mumbai followed by Urban Planning at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. In the 1980s, she began her career undertaking freelance commercial and residential interior projects and then went on to explore other typologies. In one of her early projects, an office in a burnt-down warehouse in Mumbai, she found and developed her affinity for material and detail, playing with volume and light.
In 1990, she founded SJK Architects, around the time the Indian economy broadened and the AECD industry in Mumbai was booming. Her beliefs in architecture being both a symptom as well as an influence on the society it exists within, have led her to stay grounded in the firm’s design approach over the past three decades despite the westernization of architecture globally.
The studio became a partnership firm in April 2022, with partners Vaishali Mangalvedhkar and Sarika Shetty spearheading the architecture division and partner Roshni Kshirsagar heading the Interior division. In an era where numerous young professionals view renowned firms merely as names for their resumes, SJK Architects distinguished themselves by promoting long-standing architects to partners within the firm, promoting a culture of mutual growth and advancement. This business decision is also an exemplification of the firm’s inclination to provide younger talents with an opportunity to have a seat at the table.
The Firm and Their Philosophy
“Art is a form of self-expression. It reflects the concerns of a society and has a highly emotional quotient to it,” – Shimul Javeri Kadri in conversation with ‘Architect and Interiors India.’
For the past 23 years, SJK Architects have built a multi-faceted practice that harnesses nature to create ecologically sound spaces. The design ethos is grounded in the earth, incorporating the sun, wind, and nature to create contemporary spaces rooted in Indian traditions and spiritual metaphors. The nature of the practice has been to incorporate these elements to create spaces that are ecologically sustainable and culturally significant. This approach can be summarised as ‘Contextual, Crafted and Contemporary’.
With a portfolio of numerous successful projects, all contributing to the growth and progress of the firm, Principal Architect Kadri considers the most significant building block in her practice to be the creation of her team. The firm’s philosophies are also reflected in its latest office in the heritage district of Mumbai, which it renovated to reflect the contextual and interactive spaces it designs. Standout projects from SJK Architect’s portfolio include Ayushakti a hotel resort in Mumbai, a hotel in Bodhgaya Bihar, The Leaf House in Alibaug, Nirvana Film Studio in Bangalore and an automobile design studio in Mumbai.
The Integration of the firm’s philosophies can be seen through a study of the Dasavatara Hotel in Tirupati. The design draws inspiration from traditional Indian temple architecture redefined through a contemporary lens. In addition to material, construction details and organization, noteworthy integrations of the firm’s ideologies include storytelling and narrative, drawn from divinity, mythology and symbolism.
SJK Architects in The Current Landscape
SJK Architects is exemplary in the embodiment of their philosophies, promoting architectural discourse around relevant topics in the field. Their commitment to this very philosophy also extends beyond the projects they undertake, as they actively conduct workshops, NGO collaborations and educational initiatives such as with Ethos Empowers. The partners at the firm lead by example in extending their roles beyond being solely architects and designers, by actively participating in the AECD industry serving as jury members, panellists, writers, professors and much more.
Their relevance in today’s architectural climate is more important than ever, in a culturally rich and diverse country like India. The firm draws inspiration from the cultural context, carrying on indigenous building techniques, concepts, and traditions through a contemporary lens. With this approach of embracing the present and future of architecture, while paying homage to the past, the firm continues to leave a lasting impression on India’s architectural landscape.
References:
- Architecture and interior design firm in Mumbai, India sjkarchitect. Available at: https://www.sjkarchitects.com/ (Accessed: 07 April 2024).
- Shimul Javeri Kadri – architect and Interiors India. Available at: https://www.architectandinteriorsindia.com/lists/2618-shimul-javeri-kadri (Accessed: 07 April 2024).
- Maria Louis in conversation with Shimul Javeri Kadri, Architect and Interiors India, February 2017.
