‘People want multipurpose, minimalistic designs in their houses,’ says architect

Saurabh Singh, an alumnus of Apeejay Institute of Technology-School of Architecture and Planning (AIT-SAP), has been running his company PCS Archventure Pvt Ltd for more than a decade. He is also a visiting professor at School of Architecture and Planning, Delhi, and Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology (DCRUST), Murthal. In an interview, he tells us more about his venture, trends in interior design, career opportunities, and more.

Edited excerpts:

Tell us about the time you spent at AIT-SAP.  

I had a wonderful time at AIT-SAP ever since I joined the institute in 2006. The overall environment, including the classrooms and studios, was enriching. Our professors mentored and guided each of us throughout the course. We learnt and enjoyed ourselves a lot.

When did you start your own firm?

I started my practice in 2012 after graduating from AIT-SAP in 2011. Prior to my venture, I worked at a firm in Delhi. PCS Archventure deals majorly in interiors and residential projects in Delhi-NCR. Apart from that, we have also built a nursing home and were involved in some industrial projects.

What inspired you to become an architect?

Nobody in the family was into architecture other than me. My parents were government officials, and my siblings are engineers. Right after school, I was determined to not study engineering. In fact, I took admission into Hansraj College, Delhi, to pursue BSc in Chemistry Honours. During the course, I came to know about Architecture and finally took the entrance exam. That’s how the journey began.

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What kind of challenges did you face initially when you started your practice?

It was very difficult in the initial stage since I had no clientele or network. Some of my relatives helped me with projects during that time. Simultaneously, I joined DCRUST to pursue a master’s degree in Construction and Real Estate Management, which was very helpful and gave me a fair idea about the latest developments in the field and taught me how to execute projects in a systematic manner. Meanwhile, I set up my office gradually and began getting new projects. Since then, I have not looked back.

What are clients looking for now in interior design or residential construction in general?

Nowadays, clients’ taste in architecture and interior design has evolved. Thanks to the Internet, they get a lot of exposure to the latest trends and want to incorporate the same in their houses. Earlier, not many of them were much interested in getting interiors done; now they want customised designs for every member of the family.

Also Read: Classic designs to subtle colours: Here are the latest furniture design trends

At the same time, people are now looking for minimalistic designs. With smaller spaces at their disposal, people want a multipurpose use of a particular space. That’s where modular fittings come into the picture.

Can you tell us about some of the career opportunities in Architecture?

It is the dream of every architect to have their firm. Prior to that, they must work at an architecture firm to gain necessary experience and build contacts. There are numerous career opportunities in the field of architecture — construction management, project management, urban design, urban planning, landscaping, regional planning, and so on.

Any advice for budding architects?

Architecture is a very creative and rewarding field. I think more and more students should get into this field and make the fraternity more powerful. However, this field requires you to work very hard but if you keep at it, you will definitely get a good result in the future.