DHRUVA KALRA
Design is one of the most powerful forces that can inspire and empower people. It helps people engage and navigate their way through physical and digital spaces.”
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Name
- DHRUVA KALRA
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Designation
- SENIOR PARTNER
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Company Name
- RMDK, DELHI
Being exposed to RMDK, his father’s vibrant practice, sensitivity to spaces, products, colours and textures became second nature to Dhruva Kalra, making architecture a natural direction to take. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from TVB School of Habitat Studies, Delhi, and then, liking to “spend enough time with nature and connecting with its various forms at a spiritual level”, the technology enthusiast enrolled for a Master of Sustainable Environment degree at UNSW, Sydney.
Like his multi-faceted personality, Kalra’s design icons, too, are varied. He is inspired by Rem Koolhaas’ designs that marry technology with the psychology of space, Tadao Ando’s highly minimal work, Gaudi’s eccentricity, and the contemporariness and playfulness of Tom Dixon, Herzog & De Meuron and Bjarke Ingles. “I have found inspiration everywhere and try to incorporate the essence of it into my own design approach,” says the 36-year-old, whose dream project is one where the government, designers and change-makers work together on creating “innovative and futuristic hospitality and socio-cultural economic layers.”
Kalra joined his father’s practice after training briefly with Sanjay Mohe at Mindspace — where he got the opportunity to explore “the close link between the five elements of nature and built spaces.” At RMDK, he benefitted from the senior architect’s experience by developing a better eye for detail and innovation. The recently completed Dadu’s Kondapur (Hyderabad), a retail-cum-hospitality project, exemplifies RMDK’s endeavour towards spatial experiences that harmonise function, human psyche and aspirations. “The interiors of the restaurant are influenced by the city’s numerous monuments with the domed ceiling installations and the modern-day reliefs,” says the architect, who is ever vigilant about balancing functionality and aesthetics. “I ensure that any space I design is comfortable to navigate through and be in; and yet provides a unique experience that people would like to come back to.”
ONGOING PROJECTS
1) Resort, Mandu
2) Casual dining with a theatre, Hyderabad
3) A dining space with integrated retail for Indian sweets, Punjab
MOST SIGNIFICANT PROJECT TO DATE: Dadu’s Kondapur, Hyderabad
