‘Louis Kahn: My most beloved inspiration’, says Architect Ashiesh Shah
Architect Ashiesh Shah on winning a prestigious design award and his undying flirtation with the arts
Winning prestigious architecture awards is not new for architect Ashiesh Shah. Recently, Bollywood’s go-to interior designer clinched the Choudhary Exports German Design Award for outstanding Design Quality in the Home Textiles and Home Accessories category at the Ambiente 2019. “It’s always overwhelming to be recognised for your work, especially for a collaboration that directed me towards a new sensibility within design, a field, I had never tapped into before this. It’s amazing to know how successful the collection was through international recognition like none other and unexpected, yet highly appreciated accreditation, an absolute honour,” says Ashiesh. We caught up with the man-about-town and he spoke at length about his atelier’s evolution, his penchant for the arts and personal style...
You’ve designed actors’ homes, restaurants and a wide variety of projects. How much has the atelier evolved since its inception? How much has the design house changed and how much has remained the same?
As with everything that stems from forging an identity of your own to making your work stand out and leaving an impact, it initially took me some time to find my personal visual language and even today, the design studio evolves its design aesthetic with the progression of time. Interior design and related practices have often been dismissed as something inconsequential here in India, a perspective I started out to change and continue to even today by pushing boundaries through design.
The atelier, a pivot, facilitating the protraction of my design studio is a limitless assemblage of design and design thinkers. An extension to my design practice, the atelier amalgamates experimentation, craftsmanship and technique into a creative ecosystem for collaboration and development. A newer wing in my design career, I always knew I wanted to foray into product design, a passion, marking the evolution of my practice, a vision since inception.
You’ve been collecting art since you were 14, what’s your latest purchase?
The Sotheby’s first auction in India brought forth two works of Louis Kahn that I had to add to my personal collection. Louis Kahn continues to be one of my most beloved inspirations of all times and IIM Ahmedabad, his most iconic work. I distinctly remember visiting the university as a student and walking through the corridors, overwhelmed with how beautifully the light filters through the calculated openings. The amalgamation of material, light and shadow, translates into this unparalleled structure, an image of form, space and structure and these pencil sketches, the thought and calculation behind it, I didn’t even think twice.
How does your aesthetic reflect in your sartorial picks?
Aesthetically, I tend to lean towards symmetry, geometry and minimalism. Bursts of colour and a layer of texture, fused with comfort translate into my sartorial picks.
Do you experience architect’s block? How do you overcome it?
I think we all do. At times like these, hunting for inspiration becomes a pre-requisite to spark an interest or encourage an idea to move forward. I tend to lean towards travel, nothing can be more stimulating!
What are the changes you’d like to see in Indian design?
I think Indian design is moving at a rapid pace, in a very interesting direction. Possibly the only addition would be contextual inspiration, whether through art, finishes or furniture. As we move into an era of modernisation, vanishing thresholds bring forth an aesthetic like none other. Amalgamating our traditional Indian handicrafts and modern aesthetic would not only draw inspiration from our roots, but also encourage these craftsmen to take their art forms forward, gearing towards more takers for a soon-to-be dwindling Indian craft.