Introduction 

A one-stop guide for students hunting for the best architecture firms in Ahmedabad to pursue an internship or clients looking for the best architects to realize their dreams. This article highlights 10 renowned architecture firms in Ahmedabad, listed in no particular order, to provide a diverse range of options for both students and clients. 

INI Design Studio – Architecture Firms in Ahmedabad

Founders: Mr. Jayesh Hariyani and Mrs.Bindu Hariyani from Burthill

Founding year (Burthill in India): 2007

Rebranding (Restructuring Burthill to INI Design studio) year: 2016

Scope of Works: Urban planning, Architecture, Engineering, Design & Build Services 

The history of the founding of this firm is as interesting as their projects. In 2007 Mr. Jayesh Hariyani, a partner and member of the Board of Directors in Burthill, USA, and his wife Mrs.Bindu Hariyani as the Director of operations established a Burt Hill in India, which in 2010-2011 merged with another international brand Stantec and upon further growth the organization ownership and operation was restructured and a new brand INI Design Studio was developed in 2016. 

Whats INI? Understanding INI will introduce one to the core philosophy that INI Design Studio was founded on and operates today. The first I in INI denotes ‘Ideas’, while N indicates ‘number of’, and the last I stands for Inquiry, Imagination, Innovation, Inspiration, Integration, Inclusiveness, and many more I’s. To sum up, INI indicates multidisciplinary practice founded on collaboration and integration and supported by research, sustainability guidelines, and integrated design delivery process. 

Some of the remarkable projects of INI Design Studio include Shiv Nadar University at Greater Noida, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Campus at Hyderabad, Gujarat Technological University,  High-rise Private Hospital Campus in South Mumbai, Aquatics Gallery at Science City in Ahmedabad, Belvedere Country Club at Shantigram, Nasik Airport, Signature City at Bangalore, Rajkot Smart Green City Master Plan, Kedarnath Redevelopment Master Plan and Badrinath Redevelopment Master Plan.

The firm has bagged several awards for its projects and practice including the MUSE Design Award for the Regional Science Center at Rajkot, The Geevees Award for Aquatic Gallery at Science City, the World Architecture Award (in the 47th cycle) for Aalloa Hills Residence, 2023 GREEN GOOD design award and many more. 

More information is available at https://www.inidesignstudio.com/about-us/ 

HCP 

Founder: Architect Hasmukh C. Patel

Managing Director: Architect Bimal Patel

Founding year: 1960

Scope of works: Architecture, Urban planning, Urban Design, Engineering, Interior design, Communication, Project management, Construction Management

HCP is one of the top architecture firms in Ahmedabad that has thrived for over half a century and evolved in all aspects throughout its journey. HCP was established as a small office in Ahmedabad in 1960, however today it has developed into an enormous multidisciplinary practice with over 300 employees stationed in HCP offices spread across major Indian cities including Ahmedabad, Pune, and Delhi. HCP operates on a simple yet elegant motto that design is all about problem-solving and hence they come up with context-specific, project-specific practical solutions. 

Currently, HCP is located within the Paritosh building situated on the banks of river Sabarmati. The inception of the Paritosh building was followed by Hasmukh Patel’s longing for his own office for HCP. Hasmukh Patel joined hands with his accountant and engineer to design and build Paritosh Building which accommodates the offices of the trio. The Design of the office building in line with the company’s philosophy makes the maximum out of its scenic location, on the river banks with its terraces and backyard. 

Since its establishment, HCP has taken up significant projects including Newman Hall (Premal Jyothi) and St. Xavier’s Primary School in the 1960s, the Reserve Bank of India building in Ahmedabad and Chinubhai Centre and Patang Hotel in Ahmedabad in the 1970s, and refurbishment of Eden gardens stadium and the Entrepreneurship Development Institute in the 1980s which fetched them the Aga Kan award in 1992.

Further, in the Department of Urban Design, Redevelopment, and Planning, the C G road redevelopment project undertaken by HCP was remarkable and grabbed the United Nations Center for Human Settlement Award for excellence. The extension for IIM, Ahmedabad was awarded to HCP for their excellent proposal. Though HCP, the founder, and the director have bagged many awards previously, they still continue to impress the architectural knowledge society with meaningful pragmatic designs. 

More information is available at  https://hcp.co.in/about/ 

Vastu Shilpa Sangath LLP| Studio Sangath

Principal Architect: B.V. Doshi

Founding year:1954-1955

Scope of Projects: Residential, Institutional, Urban Design/Planning, Mass Housing, Competition proposals, Research 

Vastu Shilpa Sangath, one of the best architecture firms in Ahmedabad, was founded by the notorious Architect, renowned as the father of Indian Modern Architecture, Sir B. V. Doshi, inspired by Modern Architecture pioneers, Le Corbusier and Louis Khan but deeply rooted in Indian spirits. The Sangath studio itself is a serene symphony designed by B.V. Doshi completed in 1981, which embodies his design philosophy. The Sangath studio and its unique design has garnered attention from everywhere and is considered one of the finest works of the architect even today. 

The Sangath studio handles various scopes of work and has received numerous national and international accolades including its latest award for the Smritivan Earthquake Memorial And Museum, the prestigious Global Architecture Design Award. In all their projects be it residential or public, small-scale or large scale a sense of intimacy and an extended focus on the space not form is felt throughout the project.

For instance, 079 Stories Centre for Arts, Ahmedabad built in 2018 is a cube from the outside but upon entering there is an interplay of outside and inside due to the porosity, the voids that puncture the cube which are carefully orchestrated. It is certain that even after Sir B.V. Doshi’s demise the Sangath studio takes his legacy forward and establishes a separate place for itself in the industry with its unique design philosophy and approach. 

More information is available at https://www.sangath.org/ 

Footprints E.A.R.T.H. 

Principal Architect: Architect Yatin Pandya

Scope of works: Residential, Commercial, Mass Housing, Institution, Interior Design, Graphic design, Product design, Conservation, Research, Sustainability, Academic training

Footprints E.A.R.T.H. is a firm founded and run by Principal Architect Yatin Pandya, who is also an author, activist, academician, as well as a researcher. Yatin Pandya was the associate director at Vastu Shilpa Foundation for Studies and Research in Environmental Design for almost 25 years, besides serving as a visiting faculty at prestigious institutions in India including the National Institute of Design and CEPT University at Ahmedabad. 

Footprints E.A.R.T.H., takes a holistic approach towards research and design, building solutions that are sustainable, responsive to sensitive Indian socio-cultural aspects, and innovative yet rooted in traditions such that they lift the communities and leave the environment undisturbed. Some of their notable projects pioneering sustainable architecture and environment-friendly design inspired by vernacular architecture include Gandhi Gyan Parab, Gandhinagar School, Global Mission School, and Environmental Sanitation Institute.

With their noble mission, philosophy, and intention, Footprints E.A.R.T.H not only executes their philosophy and findings in their projects but also propagates and preaches them through their publications and short-term design studios and training programs for students, both beyond and within borders, cultivating a rich learning environment facilitating international exchange of knowledge.

More information is available at https://footprintsearth.com/ 

Saransh Architects

Founders: Ar. Manish Doshi, Ar. Malini Doshi, and alumni of CEPT University

Year: 1994  

Scope of works: Residential, Commercial, Public, Institution, Offices, Spiritual

Saransh is one of the Architecture firms in Ahmedabad on the rise, gradually evolving and tackling design challenges with their unique ethos. Currently, Saransh employs only twenty Architects and works in collaboration with other consultants and firms from related fields. However, Saransh in the long run has decided to expand, to accommodate the needs of the growing client base and tackle urban-scale environmental and other issues. 

Saransh Architects works with an ethos that ideal designs stand on solid concepts and solid concepts are born out of circumstantial responses hence though Saransh works on similar project typologies the final outcome of such projects is quite unique due to differences in client needs and contextual scenarios. 

The projects developed by Saransh Architects have been nominated for many awards. For instance, Trends Excellence Awards, 2019 for NP Pavilion. The firm has also bagged several awards including the Iconic Booth Award at AceTech Grand Stand in 2019 for NP Pavilion, the Zonal IIID Excellence Award in 2020 for MD Apartment, the Asia Young Designer Award in 2020 for Dacha in the City, and many more. 

More information is available at https://studiosaransh.com/private/ 

The Grid Architects

Founders: Designers Snehal Suthar and Bhadri Suthar 

Founding Year: 2002

Scope of work: Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape, Green Building and Green Interiors

The Grid Architects is one of the architecture firms in Ahmedabad established in 2002 by Mr. Snehal and Mrs. Bhadri. The Grid Architects operates with an ethos that efficiency, functionality, and sustainability is the key to developing contextually responsive projects with local materials and vernacular craftsmanship.

The founding partners, Mr. Snehal with a Master’s in Sustainable Architecture Design, and Mrs. Bhadri, an Interior Designer from APIED Gujarat India, come from humble backgrounds. The founders are forward-looking professionals propagating their ideas by assuming visiting faculty roles at NID, NIFT, and various other educational institutions and becoming members of jury panels at both National and International Competitions respectively.

This humble practice has been the recipient of several awards, over a hundred national and international awards within a short time frame since its establishment. Dezeen has recognized Grid Architects as the International Dezeen Interior Design Studio of the Year 2021, International Dezeen Architecture Studio of the Year 2021, and International Dezeen Design Studio of the Year 2021. The firm was announced as the Supreme winner of the Surface Design Award London for  Tarang in 2024.

More information is available at https://thegrid-arch.com/about-us/ 

Modo Designs

Founder: Architect Arpan Shah

Founding Year: 2002

Scope of works: Residential, Institutional, and Corporate projects

Modo Designs is one of the Architecture firms in Ahmedabad founded by Architect Arpan Shah in 2002. The firm name is derived from the Latin word ‘Modo’ which means ‘of its time’ indicating the progressiveness in their designs. Ar. Arpan Shah believes that design fundamentally involves participatory approaches and is a means of research, exploration, and innovation, and hence the projects dealt with by Modo Designs reflect the same. 

The firm has received several accolades including the Rashtriya Udyog Ratna Award in 2012, the Indian Achievers Award in Construction and Design in 2012, the NDTV Design and Architecture Award in 2016, the Trends Awards in 2016, and the ICI Ultratech Outstanding Structure Award in 2020. Architectural Digest recognized Modo Designs as the most influential designer in the subcontinent in the year 2018.

More information is available at https://www.mododesigns.co.in/projects/explorations/ 

Aakruti Architects

Founder: Architect Dilip Patel

Founding year: 1980

Scope of works: Architecture, Interior Design, Restoration, Homes, Residential, Commercial, Public, Office, Industrial, Exhibition design, Furniture design, Design and Build, Just Build, Turnkey projects, Institutional Design,  Management, Master planning

Aakruti Architects is a collaborative architecture firm in Ahmedabad, established in 1980 by Dilip Patel, an architect who graduated from the School of Architecture, CEPT, Ahmedabad. Aakruti Architects works with a design philosophy of blending the knowledge acquired from vernacular architecture and local methods of construction with the latest available innovations in the industry, creating detailed intricate solutions. 

Architect Dilip Patel, the founder, has been serving as a visiting faculty at the CEPT University in Ahmedabad, and has also been the campus architect at the same university since 2012. The projects of the firm and the firm itself have been featured on established websites like Buildofy, Design Essentia, Houzz, Archello, and Elle Decor.

More details available at https://www.aakrutiarchitects.com/about 

Designer’s circle 

Founder: Architect Rajesh Seth

Founding Year: 1987

Scope of works: Residential, Retail, Hospitality (Five-star hotels), Corporate projects, Architecture, and Landscape design

Designers Circle is one of the top architecture firms in Ahmedabad known for its high-end luxurious projects. It was set up by Architect Rajesh Seth, again an alumnus of CEPT University, Ahmedabad. The firm believes that it is the client’s needs and the site-specific problems that drive the design towards a unique direction. The founder expresses his understanding of Architecture as more than just a shelter. He finds an opportunity to emotionally touch the habitants via the design of elegant spaces and the firm follows his footsteps. 

The firm, its founder, and their projects have to made to magazines including Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, Office Snapshots, Trends Magazine, Good Homes magazine, The Decor Journal, Love that Design Magazines, etc, many times. Isquare, Parkview, Jasmine Beauty Parlor, Hi-Tech Commerce House Canteen, Contemporary Oasis, Casa Opulence, and Gala Aqua are some of the luxurious pages of the company portfolio. 

More details available on https://www.designerscircle.co.in/studio/ 

Groundwork Architecture

Founder: Architect Brijesh Bhatha 

Founding Year: 2010

Scope of Work: Urban research and design, Public spaces, Residential, Hospitals, Mass Housing, Master plans, Corporate office buildings, Industrial buildings, and Institutions

Groundwork Architecture in Ahmedabad is an architecture and urban design firm founded in 2010 by Brijesh Bhatha, again an alumnus of CEPT University, Ahmedabad. The firm’s design ethos aligns with the famous architectural quote and philosophy ‘form follows function’. The firm in this direction, proposes projects with simple functional plans but pays careful attention to other time, budgetary, coordination, and management concerns.

Architect Brijesh Bhatha graduated with an undergraduate degree in Architecture from CEPT University, Ahmedabad, and later pursued a Master of Urban Design degree at the University of California, Berkeley. The projects of the firm including Dalal House, Prudent Corporate House, K & Y Residence, Mehu Patel Residence, and Shaila Patel House are featured on Archdaily, Archello, and Volume Zero.

More information is available at https://groundwork.in/