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PROFILE

Pioneering Modernism and Sustainability:

Ar. Sohrab Dalal’s Vision for Transformative Spaces

Prasenjit Chakraborty | Mumbai CEPT in the 80s was the architectural mecca of India. Being
there under the guidance of stalwarts such as BV Doshi,
A r. Sohrab Dalal, co-founder and Design Partner Anant Raje, Leo Peirera and KB Jain shaped his architectural
perception and philosophy. He learnt the principles of
at DPA, has played a pivotal role in the firm’s
architecture through the ages and finally the evolution of
growth since its inception in 1985. With over 35
years of experience, he leads business modernism through various schools of thoughts.
development and design strategy alongside A simultaneous learning of the arts and
his partner, Sonali Bhagwati, with a Sohrab Dalal, a visionary its relation to the various architectural
focus on innovative, research-driven architect and co-founder of movements made him understand the
design solutions. Sohrab holds a DPA (Design Plus Architecture), has close relationship between the two.
Bachelor’s in Architecture from This reaffirmed the fact that
CEPT, Ahmedabad, and has worked been instrumental in shaping the firm’s Architecture is the mother of all Arts
with prominent firms like Spazzio legacy over three decades. Renowned for and its sound knowledge forms the
Design, Meldrum Burrows & his innovative, research-driven approach, he basis for several allied fields such
Partners, and Satish Gujral. His continues to pioneer designs that seamlessly as Interior architecture, graphic
design philosophy, influenced by design, architectural photography
his education and icons like BV blend modernism with environmental and lighting design.
Doshi and Louis Kahn, integrates responsibility, crafting spaces that
sustainability, functionality, and artistic are both inspiring and Design Process
expression. Under his leadership, DPA enduring. Ar. Sohrab strongly believes that design
has delivered iconic projects such as the starts with understanding the client, the
Taj Vivanta in Bangalore and Thapar University’s geography, the climatic conditions and the socio-
Learning Laboratory, both internationally recognized for economic situation.
their excellence. Today, DPA stands as a leading design firm Developing a space plan (2 dimensional) that works in
with a diverse portfolio spanning residential, hospitality, retail, conjunction with these factors is the first step which is quickly
and mixed-use developments. followed by exploration of forms (the third dimension). The
Inspiration and Vision process often requires a back and forth before a satisfactory

18 Architecture Update l November-December 2024