How Veeram Shah of Design ni Dukaan champions Indian craftsmanship in the 21st century

Indian architecture retains traditional designs, but you’re putting a modern spin on it. How do you keep this heritage alive while suiting the needs of modern consumers? 

My guru (mentor) Girish Doshi of Navkar Architects worked with Balkrishna Doshi. This iconic Indian architect worked with the French architect Le Corbusier, who was invited by the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to design the city of Chandigarh. I was introduced to architecture through that modernist legacy, and was fascinated by how distinct yet nuanced each project was. This has shaped my design identity, filling my forms and shapes with modernist references. But I always examine each craft or technique with a contemporary lens. We rethink furniture and architecture differently, focusing more on craftsmanship than forms. 

In the age of social media, what makes design authentic and timeless? 

You can’t escape trends because social media is so widespread, but architectur doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It pushes you into understanding so many other things—music, literature, poetry and cinema. There’s music, literature, poetry and cinema, all of which have tangible and intangible aspects that impact each architect’s design philosophy. Integrating these influences will fill your design with grace and clarity. 

Build a process that helps you understand why you like or dislike something. When it comes to music, deconstruct the composition and analyse what makes each component unique. In North Indian classical music, we have a melodic improvisation called the alap, the opening section that immerses you in the song’s mood. Meditating on this portion before letting the song unfold makes you appreciate the piece as a whole. 

Allowing this process to unfold helps you understand your truth. This allows your designs to reflect your personality and values with grace and clarity. No musicians would become great if they didn’t take the time to absorb the madness of their compositions and channel them into unique expressions of their innermost truths.

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What new materials have you been experimenting with, and how do you work with craftsmen to push the boundaries of Indian design? 

Recently, one of our friends in a small village in southern India was researching chatai, which are river grass mats often placed on patios. Women pass down these weaving patterns through generations. 

These mats are basic elements of an Indian household. I wondered if we could push for more contemporary designs beyond what their hands have been creating for generations. Could we turn them into screens for a whole wall? How could we continue to explore the flexibility of this material? 

Beyond the visual aspect, we’re giving artisans a platform to upgrade their crafts. We equip them with the financial skills they need to create goods sustainably. When the artisans see how we transformed simple materials into something new, they’re so happy. They could never have imagined something so ordinary being used beautifully.

 In your practice, you focus on maintaining a high level of craftsmanship while celebrating the different materials on-hand. How do you approach each project while maintaining a cohesive design identity? 

When you walk into a family home, they have beliefs and visions for their homes and ways of life. Before starting the project, we must understand the client’s habits and goals. We’re always finding new ways to push these centuries-old crafting traditions into a new space. I always say, you can work with one material for thirty years and still find new things to do with it. 

The sites for each project give you clues on how to build. Some Indian families still rely on Vastu Shastra, which dictates how the home is designed to radiate the right type of energy. Keeping these principles in mind while noting details like where the wind is coming from, where the sun rises, and other elements impact each project. It’s important to stay open-minded and curious about where the project will lead.  

What is your dream project? 

There’s a large, green field outside the town I’m planning to turn into a communal space with a studio, workshop, and area to grow your food. This place can host anyone from all walks of life, from musicians to journalists. My ultimate goal is to build a sacred space for people to enjoy and create without boundaries.

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