Mumbai: Each time I interview an architect or an interior designer, his or her background and the career path s/he has taken intrigue me. Dushyant Ghatalia, a Mumbai-based architect and interior designer is no exception. He’s a consultant and an entrepreneur.

After graduation, Ghatalia left for Canada where he apprenticed under reputed architects. During this time, he worked on varied reputed projects like Mount Sinai hospital; departmental stores, like Marks and Spencers at Montreal, Canada; public facilities like North York Civic Stadium and various other residential and office buildings.

Ghatalia returned to India in 1984 to set up an independent practice, Ghatalia Associates, with his wife Darshana Ghatalia, in the western suburbs of Mumbai. The architecture and interior designing industry has seen tremendous growth. In an interview Ghatalia talks about the industry and how it relates with the present Indian economy.

What kind of work does Ghatalia Associates do? What are some of its success stories?
Our company does any kind of work that stimulates, to create something new, something that has not been done before. We are passionate about doing something different, whether they are retail outlets, offices or residences. After understanding what our clients require and the budget assigned for the project, we try to do what suits them best. We avoid taking on anything that is not very clear, and we maintain a lot of transparency in what we do.
Some of the prestigious projects that Ghatalia Associates has worked on include corporate houses like American Express Bank, Dow Jones Telerate, Oppenheimer & Co, Sony Entertainment office, Asian Capital Partners, Kleinworth Benson Strategic Capitals, entire projects that included residences and offices of RNA Builders and Manickchand Group, homes and showrooms.

How do you measure and validate your results?
We try to retain our clients. I guess word of mouth has really moved us on. Near-to-perfect coordination between clients, contractors and architects is maintained. We call this ‘project management,’ and if the link loosens, we fail. This is coupled with cost, concepts and time management.

Is Ghatalia Associates all about customer experience? Or is there something else as well? How do you measure improvements in customer satisfaction?
Yes. Ghatalia Associates is about customer experience. Every experience is different, even if we were to follow it by the management techniques we have outlined at the company, although at times the client and contractor may not want to follow it. Turning towards the project, though results are never 100 per cent, success stories have been anywhere between 85-99 per cent. The reasons for the shortfall are mostly external factors — like holidays, riots, lack of coordination when client is not available, money shortage…

What is the most important factor that contributes to the success of your company?
Getting involved with every project. I prefer to involve myself right from the design stage to space planning and detailing, even in sessions with the contractors and suppliers.

You use a lot of computer graphics in the company. How did you originally become involved with computer graphics? How many people work at it?
Yes. Back in 1982, when in Canada, I still remember doing everything manually. At the time, there was no software available for architects. Ghatalia Associates got the first computer in 1988. We adapted to the changing times. Today the studio uses a lot of 3D Max, Auto CAD, vision, ad lightscape. The studio has five people working — all architects, one of whom is a graphic designer, too.

You have done some rather impressive work. Is there any single project that you are proud of?
Not really. Each project is treated with same enthusiasm, though they may be different. Today, the company is abuzz with a new project in Mauritius, which every department is working on to hit schedules.

I understand that this Mauritian project is a rather impressive one and you have tried to make changes to bring the project around, and even advice the Port Trust authorities. Could you tell us a little more — from start to finish?
We are offering the client a total design solution here. This 70-acre hotel project at Port Lois began six months ago. A Mumbai-based client brought the proposal to us. At the designing stage, when we had meetings with the Mauritian Port Trust Authority (MPA), one thing led to another. We realised that there was a need to develop the property around that and since Mauritius does not have a business hotel, it was ideal that we propose the same. A complete presentation has been made and we now await their consideration and hope for the best.

How big is the architecture industry in India today? What is your contribution?
Huge… with room for every genuine architect. My contribution is to my firm. Our clients have been happy with us so far. I really do not bother how others work.

How would you define an architect, today?
Most of them in India are businessmen. They cut jobs, take kickbacks and balance their own accounts. The main problem usually lies with the clients — they look for bottom fishing (cheaper job alternatives). What they do not realise is that they pave the way for such professionals to agree with them. More than ever, the clients’ returns on investment are compromised — pay less and get the maximum out of their deal.

Clients are in for a rude surprise. It would prove better in the long run if clients would stick to the norms of the Architect’s Association, rather than opt for a cheaper compromise. The architect, on the other hand, should work honestly, regardless of how expensive or cheap the project is. Professional practice does not permit cutting down on the fee structure and taking interest from elsewhere.

What do you think are the problems that the architecture industry faces today?
Firstly, this is a profession and not an industry. Like I said earlier there is enough work for all — especially the ones that do it well. Today there are architects with not much experience, in terms of design capabilities, but they do enjoy excellent PR. These kind of people get their business going through networking. Some, I must say, are really good. The circuit is self-appreciative and the client pays a rather large price if he is not careful about who he is dealing with.

As someone with a ‘real architecture’ background, what do you think of today’s mushrooming architect-interior designer profession? Are you concerned that some of them are perverting the true meaning of the term?
Most of those who have worked in various related areas, for say 10 years, would have gathered enough experience. Nearly every person, after education, apprentices under an experienced architect. While there may be many entering the profession in the urban areas, there are very few in the rural areas.

People from rural areas move to urban areas for apprenticeship and job opportunities. There is an issue here; while there are no yardsticks for professionalism here, they offer cheaper solutions to get jobs and compromise on materials used, time, work etc. They too need to survive. Sad to say, but we allow such things to happen. Look around. Why do some of our government buildings look ugly? Why is our airport nowhere near to international design? Even the Housing Board building is ugly. Why are all these happening? I’ll tell you. Cheap architecture is bought… as a result of which these buildings are non-functional and non-maintainable.

There are some excellent architects in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai. The growth in the industry is fast and big so much so that the architects working on a project, say in Bangalore, would be from Mumbai.

In your opinion, how would you rate institutions like IIID [Indian Institute of Interior Designers] and PEATA [Practising Engineers and Architects Association)? Are you a member in any of these?
No. I am a member of the Council of Architects. This is a controlling body of architects.