Tripat Girdhar, founder of Arete Design Studio, has been honoured with the Architect of the Year 2026 award at the CREDAI Punjab Awards 2026. The recognition highlights his contribution to contemporary architecture and design innovation.
The award was presented by CREDAI Punjab in the presence of its President Jagjit Singh Majha and member Deepak Garg during a ceremony held at JW Marriott Chandigarh on March 12โ13, 2026.
CREDAI Punjab Awards Recognise Architectural Excellence
The CREDAI Punjab Awards celebrate innovation, design excellence and leadership within the real estate and architecture sectors. Tripat Girdharโs recognition reflects his commitment to sustainable design, contextual architecture and innovative built environments.
The honour also underscores the increasing importance of thoughtful architectural design in shaping modern urban landscapes, particularly as Indian cities continue to expand and adopt more sustainable and technology-driven development models.
This is not the first time Girdhar has been recognised by the organisation. In 2019, he received the โCREDAI Destination Punjabโ title from Sukhwinder Singh Sarkaria for the Address Boulevard project.
Arete Design Studio: Contemporary Architecture with Indian Roots
Founded in 2009, Arete Design Studio has established itself as a prominent architecture and interior design firm based in Chandigarh. Under Tripat Girdharโs leadership, the studio focuses on blending traditional Indian architectural sensibilities with contemporary global design practices.
The firmโs design philosophy emphasises contextual architecture that respects local culture, climate and material traditions while embracing modern technology and aesthetics. This approach has helped the studio create a diverse portfolio spanning residential, commercial, retail and hospitality projects.
With a team of more than 50 architects and engineers, the studio is currently executing projects across six Indian states, while also managing international assignments in Australia and New Zealand.
CREDAIโs 25-Year Milestone in Real Estate
The awards ceremony also marked 25 years of excellence by CREDAI, a milestone reflecting the organisationโs role in shaping Indiaโs real estate sector.
Over the past two and a half decades, CREDAI has worked closely with policymakers and industry stakeholders to promote transparency, encourage responsible development and strengthen regulatory frameworks. Its initiatives have played a significant role in advancing housing development, urban infrastructure and economic growth across India.
The milestone celebration also highlighted the future direction of the real estate sector, with a strong focus on sustainability, technology integration and customer-centric development models.
Tripat Girdharโs recognition at the CREDAI Punjab Awards 2026 reflects the growing influence of innovative architectural practices in shaping Indiaโs urban landscape, while reinforcing the role of design-led thinking in the evolution of modern real estate development.
