An earth-friendly approach

ISSUE: 137

Vidushi Jain & Arjit Sinha are in the business of making a difference in the lives of people through sustainable design

What led to the birth of Toast Brown Studios?

VJ: It was an instinctive decision for us. We were both extremely fortunate to have worked with some of the best and the kindest architects in the industry, who not only mentored us into the architects we are today but also encouraged us to always follow our passion. However, we reached a point in our careers where we wanted to establish something and be able to call it our own. Six months into our marriage, the entrepreneurial spirit kicked in and we decided to launch our own architecture and interior design practice. It was a chance to pursue our passion for design and challenge ourselves as designers. We like to think of ourselves as Yin and Yang, in our relationship and most certainly in the workplace. Completely opposite in our thought process, we somehow complement each other and within this duality, manage to find balance and harmony in our design practice.

How would you describe your style?

V&A: Our style is constantly evolving as we move from one project to another, even one city to another! The two themes of note that have remained consistent across all our designs are a contemporary aesthetic and a minimalist approach. Our desire to create elegant yet functional spaces rests firmly on the ethos of ‘less is more. As designers, we are always curious, ready to experiment, observe the aesthetic sensibilities of our clients, and seek inspiration from art as well as nature. In one of our recent residential projects, we are exploring a more opulent and luxurious design language.

How do you bridge the gap between what a client asks for and what is actually good for him?

AS: As designers, it is important to build a strong communication channel with the client. It is crucial to understand their expectations for each space. Some clients bring a lot of ideas to the table, which might not be conducive to the vision for the project. We have learned to negotiate this gap through complete honesty and transparency in design. We work on developing trust between the clients and ourselves, which helps us convince them of our ideas.

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