AND DESIGN CO have been shortlisted in The International Design and Architecture Awards 2023. Read more about Interior-Architects, Archana Baid & Rupesh Baid, below:

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Name: Archana Baid & Rupesh Baid

Company: AND DESIGN CO

Position within company: Interior-Architects

Website: www.anddesignco.com

Tell us a little about your background in design:

Having an experience of more than 2 decades in the industry, we have always been very passionate about design. With the passage of 23 years, we have gotten the opportunity to work with some of the greatest clients and labels. Every project and opportunity embedded the love we have for design more profoundly. Design almost feels natural to us, there would be no other field or industry where we think we could have worked.

How would you describe your personal design style?

We don’t limit ourselves to a specific design style. Instead, we strive to create designs that exude artistic experiences, emotional resiliency, and timelessness. We love experimenting with different art forms, inspirations and materials. In a crisp, our design style is very motley and it’s all about creating beautiful designs that feel connected and captivating.

Where does your design inspiration come from?

Every art form inspires us. There is just so much to observe, experience and absorb. Every architectural and interior design style has an artistic stimulus, which makes our inspirations multifarious, resulting in each design of ours having its stylistic character.

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?

We believe that design will continue to evolve towards being more ergonomic, graceful, and skilful. We sense a lot of optimism and affection too. It feels like we are walking into an era where technology and artificial intelligence is proliferating and on their path to becoming a giant boom, it will become more important for designers as a whole to embrace this and yet have a sense of warmth that still gives a feeling of human connectivity and emotionality.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2023 and beyond.

When approaching design in 2023 and beyond, we believe that five key themes should be considered:
1. Expanding our sensitivity towards sustainability.

2. Flexibility and adaptability to newer technology, ideas, materials and compositions.
3. Fluidity and movement in form.
4. Cohesive and thoughtful layering, be it colours, textures, patterns or materials as it definitely adds depth, interest, and a sense of richness to the design.
5. Personalisation and Individuality. Self-expression is very important, accommodating and enhancing the designs through the tastes of every client and project helps to create unique combinations of finishes, colour palettes and decors, which give the interior concepts the touch of authenticity and emotionality.

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to design schemes, what would it be?

In our opinion trends are whimsical and changeable and so it is very important to understand design schemes in terms of every project and client association. Adding to that, we think it’s very salient for each designer to have an eclectic approach when it comes to learning. One must not limit themselves to one particular style but have an in-depth and grand understanding of each style and then experiment and break it in the way that feels most natural to them.

How important are The International Design & Architecture Awards?

Having associations with global design and award organisations is a great thing. It allows one to interact with designers from across the globe and appreciate different ideas and expressions. We look at these platforms as an artist would see exhibits, it’s a ground where one can express themselves and communicate the same to a much wider audience.
Also, we think having recognition adds to the trust that a client would have in a design studio.

What projects are you currently working on?

We are currently working on a number of projects. To name a few, we are in the finishing stage of a beach condo in Chennai, which is spread across an area of 22,000 sq. ft. Another residential project that we are working on in Chennai itself is a luxury classical villa made in an area of 25,000 sq. ft. Besides these are a couple of other residences, one in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad and the other in Trichy, both in an area of around 20,000 sq. ft.
The ongoing commercial projects are the SKUCCII supercliniq in Mumbai and a pro audio store in Chennai, both being finished in an area of about 6000-7000 sq. ft.

What was your favourite project to work on and why?

We love all our clients and projects but if we had to choose one from our recent spectrum of works, it would be ‘the bull of heaven’. While we were working on this project, we were able to truly express our style of incorporating different themes into creating something that feels timelessly luxurious. The residence has the aesthetic antiquity of Greco-Roman environs with marble finishings and an effortless cohesion of modern and classical elements.

What was your most challenging project to work on and why?

Every project comes with its own experiences and the scope to push oneself to do greater things. That’s the adrenaline, creating extraordinary designs and overcoming any challenge that comes the way.
One such experience that we had with one of our recent projects which is a beach condo, in Chennai, was achieving structural integrity while ensuring the design met aesthetic and functional requirements in creating a curved exterior framework. Bending steel into a precise curve was challenging. The fabrication process required specialised machinery and skilled technicians from the local area who could bend the steel to the exact curvature specified in the design.

There were chances that the sections of the framework would not fit together in case the bending was not achieved with 100% perfection. The second step, after this was accomplished was to test the stability and safety of the structure under different environmental circumstances.
All ended well but this project definitely highlighted how creating a curved exterior framework involves a combination of creative design, engineering expertise, precision manufacturing, and rigorous testing to achieve both the aesthetic and functional goals.

Which products/services could you not live without when designing?

Contemporary art pieces are something we love and one will always find unique and accent decor elements in all our projects. We are always looking for idiosyncratic elements where ever we travel, so for sure this is one thing that we absolutely love to indulge in while we are designing for any project.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?

We want to work with brands and clients Internationally. Expanding our team and base across continents is perhaps our most realistically ambitious goal for 2024.

Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself and your daily inspirations:

Your most treasured possession?

The partnership that we both share personally and professionally and the energy that we share as a family.

Your favourite holiday destination?

Milan.

Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar?

Four seasons, Budapest.

The restaurant would be Joia in Milan.

Bar, for sure Beaufort Bar in London, UK.

Your favourite book, film & song?

Book would be The Architecture of Happiness, a book by Alain de Botton. Movie, Russian Ark and the song would be, Everything I Do by Bryan Adams.

Your favourite food and drink?

We love Pan Asian cuisine and drink would be the James Bond’s Vesper martini.

Your favourite way to spend an afternoon?

Indulging in some sci-fi documentary or we love reading books be it from interior-architecture background or otherwise anything design.

If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?

We don’t think there was ever a dilemma about this. There would be no other field or industry where we think we could have worked other than design.

AND DESIGN CO