Dhruti
graduated from Sir J.J. College of Architecture
and subsequently worked with Sen Kapadia, Hema
Sankalia, Atul Desai and Ratan Batliboi from 1986
to 1993.
The collective experience of these years along
with the exposure received from working with Narud
Stokke Wiig, Norway in the summer of '87 helped
her in formulating a design philosophy which explores
design as a tool to create uncluttered, calm yet
dramatic spaces.
Current
works range from schools to factories and offices
to fashion boutiques.
The
house is built in a natural clearing on a
terraced-forested site in the mountainous
terrain of Mahableshwar. The fabulous view of the
Krishna Valley and the torrential
rainfall of the area were two predominant
design concerns.
Load bearing brick and laterite
walls hold the M.S. trussed roof
in place.
One
wall of the staircase is directed to the axis
of the Krishna Valley. Through the
constantly changing light, which
is experienced due to the skylights,
the house retains a calming
and quiet ambience.
Set amongst acres of open space in Mumbai's largest school
campus, the architecture and planning of the building
was visualised to purposefully depart from the standard
multi-storeyed structure. In contrast, thus the school
takes inspiration from the curriculum of these toddlers
and centers education around fun and
play. The building design is spread out at
ground level and pivots eccentrically around a 'clock
tower' dominated entrance with the classrooms
clustered around two courtyards. The classrooms are designed
to be a typical each having its own face and identity.
This was visualised to impart a bond
between each group of children and their classroom.
