Back in 2004 , Ar. Kulin Kapadia stumbled upon a book – “The New Office” By Francis Duffy. This book analyzed what business brains are saying about new ways of working. From how to accommodate new kinds of technology and the dissolving of boundaries between office and home, to the innovative trends in products and services worldwide.

This was the turning point to define a specialized career path towards workplace design. The book was an eye opener to new ways of working.

At that time, offices in India were still designed on the basis of a requirement list set forth by clients. Architects and designers would put that in a layout overlaid with aesthetic elements. However, Ar. Kulin Kapadia realized that the basis of office design depended on a lot more other than a basic requirement brief and that design was a process. This was a foundation for his approach to workplace design. A design that was based on research that would eventually lead to creating experiences that enabled employees to achieve their potential and which reflect the personality of the organisation. It requires not just an understanding of the science behind the workplace experience, but a true understanding of the organisation and its needs.

With his approach Ar. Kulin Kapadia got his first design research and strategy project for a 6,00,000 sq. ft. campus development for an Energy company in Pune. During this project he met in International design company who offered him a partnership in their India operations. This partnership further enhanced his managerial skills and widened his knowledge base for offices across Asia. This venture was for 6 years.

Armed with this experience he set forth to lay the foundation of his current design practice – Alcove. Alcove Designs was founded with a simple goal – to achieve the clients’ objectives every time. Every project is approached with a research based solutioning. The planning solutions strive to introduce and inculcate new ways of productive working within the built environment. This knowledge based approach, research, analysis and interpretation helps organizations to understand the industry resulting in better built environments. Their solutions are unique and distinct.

Discussing his current and future plans, he cites that he has invested in a Singapore firm, Paperspace Asia. Paperspace is a collective of diverse, like-minded Strategists, Designers and Change Activists. Professionals who believe in harnessing their distinctive strengths to elevate user experience through space, culture and behaviours across India, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Ar. Kulin Kapadia states that they are now offering both international and local design solutions to clients in India.

Source: Chat Session with Ar. Kulin Kapadia

We asked Ar. Kulin Kapadia to describe himself in three words, he put forth 3 tenets that he follows that talk of time, quality and value its integration and combination.

Regardless of social situation, human beings simply have a tendency to form and live by tenets. A tenet is an absolute principle that stipulates how a person or entity should think or behave.

Being an avid marathon runner, Ar. Kulin relates to time and how that is spent in daily life.

Time leads to self-discipline. A discipline that creates an order and structure. This order that allows himself to regulate his day. He talks of how it is one of the few sports where one competes with oneself and allows for constant improvement. Among the elementary needs, we have as humans are the ones for order and structure. Succeeding to satisfy them gives us a sense of control. Structure helps us recognize patterns and localize ourselves in time and space leading to self-discipline. He describes self-discipline as the ability to do what you should do, when you should do it, even if you don’t feel like doing it whether it is in his personal or professional life.

He further discusses the aspect of quality – A trait that talks of beauty and aesthetics, where he appreciates all things that are put together well. This could be within a portion of work, such as a painting, building, furniture or decorative object when considered in isolation and yet fitting together like a jigsaw puzzle working in harmony and performing its function. Aesthetics is a core design principle that defines a design’s pleasing qualities. In visual terms, aesthetics includes factors such as balance, colour, movement, pattern, scale, shape and visual weight. He follows that in his work and otherwise and talks about applying this to projects he delivers, to what he wears, getting into the quality aspects of he goes about his daily life.

This creates value. Values are basic and fundamental beliefs that guide or motivate attitudes or actions. They help to determine what is important to us. Values in a narrow sense is that which is good, desirable, or worthwhile. Values are the motive behind purposeful action. They are the ends to which we act and come in many forms. He applies this to work and in general all other aspects of life capturing its costs, its benefits, worth, usefulness, and importance, whether on a project, staff salaries or any area where monies need to be spend.

Overall, these tenets help restore a sense of balance and purpose. It helps him gain a better understanding of himself in order to take steps towards a fulfilled and meaningful life.

Source: Chat Session with Ar. Kulin Kapadia