About us | Abaxial

Profile

An award-winning architecture practice based in New Delhi, Abaxial is in fact a multi-disciplinary design firm that practises contemporary architecture, urbanism and cultural analysis. Its work addresses spatial dimension and design, but seeks to push the boundaries of design beyond the conventional. It views its work as an emotional response to the cultural, social and economic contexts within which a project is placed – a response that finds expression in design and architecture.

At its core, Abaxial is a process-driven firm relying heavily on research, observation, prototyping, building and storytelling to arrive at a design solution. Research into materials, construction techniques and cultural contexts of each project ensures that the spirit of innovation thrives within.

Since much of Abaxial’s work is located in the urban context, the firm is aware of its responsibility to the community apart from that to its clients. Concern for the ecology, encouraging and conservation is definitely a driving force at Abaxial, prompting it to evolve strategies that mimic natural processes – to maximise efficiency and optimise resource deployment.

Over the last decade, Abaxial’s output has been as diverse as it has been profuse, including the entire gamut of institutional, residential, commercial projects to competitions, consultancy, curation, exhibitions and furniture design to landscaping. It has even partnered with several academic organisations across Asia and Europe to produce work and research that will impact thought in the field of design.

Abaxial has delivered excellence consistently. This has equipped it with the experience and tools to execute complex projects requiring a reconciliation of conflict that arises between artistic intent and conditions on the ground.

Philosophy

Abaxial, too, thinks of itself as the invisible that holds the tangible together. In essence, the firm is a collective that establishes connections, both visible and invisible, through the abstract into tangible, from nothing into a whole. And it is design that is at the centre of it all. For Abaxial, design straddles the spheres of architecture, interiors, product and business strategy. Transformative ideas are elevated and find expression through design.

Inclusion and collaboration are also ideas that form a critical part of the firm’s DNA. Abaxial believes in a collective approach, bringing people together from other disciplines to explore new concepts from a human perspective. As a result, design at Abaxial is the outcome of conversations – between poetry and geometry, and much else. These conversations are led mostly by its people, within the studio and outside, all converging into the act of design of space, of an object, or of an idea.

People

Abaxial’s studio and office are a multidisciplinary environment, encouraging art, craft, culture, science and history to permeate and thrive. Besides a multifaceted group of teams, Abaxial's non-hierarchical encouraging extends itself to a wide pool of leading consultants in the building industry.

SUPARNA

Suparna is a principal architect of Abaxial, and graduated with a Masters degree in architecture from the University of California, Berkeley in 1998.

She is an architect and conservationist who has worked on a number of architecture, conservation and interior projects in India and abroad. She has been involved in the adaptive reuse and renovation of heritage buildings and palaces, as well as urban conservation and renewal strategies. This coupled with her independent practise gives her strong insight into various aspects of project conceptualisation, design development and detail.

She has been a regular columnist with Business Standard and now writes for several design journals. She is also on the Editorial Board of Green Life magazine and the advisory for The Future Institute. She is on the visiting faculty of the School of Architecture in Delhi, and is currently working on projects in co-ordination with civic and regulatory bodies towards the establishment of an integrated framework for development and historic revitalisation. Suparna is an active member of INTACH. She has been a principal of Bhalla Ribeiro Bhalla since 1999.

AJAY

He’s very hardworking and dedicated with the ability to stay quiet and focused for days all together. He has a great desire to keep learning more and this anxiety of his sets him apart from many of us. Any criticism he receives from his peers, he has always looked at the bright side and tried to perform better. Irrespective of the qualifications he has had, he has achieved way more than what was expected of him.

ARYA

Arya might come across as a shy and great person, but you can have a conversation with him about anything under the sun. Well read and informed about literally everything, he can beat anyone in a debate. Always focused and dedicated to his work, he quietly works his way through all deadlines.

AVI

This .(Dot)AVI player has got all formats playing on his fingertips. The man behind the visionary’s vision. The illusionist has crafted an amazing ability to trick everybody into seeing three-dimensional sceneries, buildings and objects. Now that’s magic! This one-man army can handle anything as vast as an IT complex, to as small as a 3D image of a pin. So give a source file into this AVI and you get a high quality enhanced, animation, 3D view, and all the thoughts in our heads become live images very much real to the world.

Danish

This budding architect hails from the beautiful valley of Kashmir and his love for nature and art is reflected in his designs. His major interest lies in landscape design. He likes to detail his drawings with intricate designs as he treats each space as a work of art. He is a very jolly person who is always eager to help everyone out.

MUNESH

With experience being his forte, he has used knowledge and experience to expand. Quiet is the word that defines him. Highly grounded and dedicated towards his work. A man with few words, he saves his energy and words for something which we still ought to discover. Low on humour but greets everyone with nothing but a warm smile. Munesh puts in every effort to bring about small changes which is always appreciated by Abaxial.

PRAVEEN

Praveen is a bundle of joy, of happiness and the most vibrant person you could ever meet. Having gotten married early, now in his mid-20s, father of two, he has only grown younger with passing time. He joined Abaxial as a draftsman to become the most promising and aspiring peer of this firm. We cannot imagine our basement without him and especially with his horrible taste in music!

PRADEEP

He is a very jovial person with a great heart. He goes out of his way to help people. He is a promising draughtsman with a couple of important projects under his belt. He is a key player in developing and coordinating services and most of our commercial projects wouldn’t be possible without him.

R.K. SHUKLA

The senior-most member of the Abaxial family, has been with the firm since its birth and has grown and nurtured it always. A great leader with 17 years of experience, he has endlessly helped his juniors by imparting technical knowledge in every way possible. He’s someone who’ll always liven up a party. Abaxial will never get tired of his unusual sense of humour.

RAJENDRA

Honest to work and office. He has been serving Abaxial since inception of the company and continues to do it with a happy-go-lucky spirit. He is the backbone of Abaxial in its happy and tough times. Abaxial is more to Rajendra and Rajendra more to the company. With high spirits and positive attitude, he is proud to be a part of Abaxial through its journey.

Rashmi

She is one of the most experienced professionals in Abaxial with her diversified portfolio, with varying scales of projects. She is a mentor for a lot of young architects and interns of the office. Her design abilities enable her to deliver good projects with a high level of proficiency. She holds interest in exploring various aspects of architecture and design. Rashmi is one of the pioneer members and the pillar of the office.

Saurabh

Saurabh is a guy who performs multiple roles with ease. He is an idea generator, boundary spanner, mentor and project manager. He works meticulously and has a penchant for details. He is called the green guy due to his love for landscape and because he always wears shirts in different shades of green. The landscape vertical initiated by him has become a core group of the office and does some astonishing work.

SOMDEB

He is a young and steadfast director. In his capacity as the director of the Design Group, Somdeb is responsible for defining short-term goals and objectives of the organisation along with monitoring and controlling essential parameters to ensure the achievement of anticipated objectives. An exceptional team leader with excellent communicative skills, consultative approach and problem solving capabilities, Somdeb has been the prime mover of Abaxial group.

Vivek

The Aston Martin of Abaxial, Vivek is almost everything you can ask for. His love for construction is tough to match. He is a humble, noteworthy and significant part of the firm who never shies away from extracting new ideas and solutions in pivotal circumstances. He loves to travel and proudly owns prodigious experience which is nothing short of an inspiration. The benevolent conduct of his, irrespective of the person and the post he is dealing with, makes him a fine gentleman. Amid many professionals in the field, Vivek certainly has an edge to compete with the Legendary Bob the Builder!

Home