Forbes India ‘The Bold Club: India’s Top 30 Architects’ Powered by Kohler includes the journeys of prominent and influential architects making an impact in the country and across the globe in their own unique way. This annual initiative is an effort to recognise and promote bold leadership and foster authenticity and passion to inspire innovation.
Uneven, Vadodara
Dexter Fernandes, 41, Founder Partner
Shourya Patel, 41, Founder Partner
Dexter Fernandes (left) and Shourya Patel are inspired by nature, and focus as much on landscape as on the buildings and interiors
Architecture is a form of art wherein the buildings start becoming homes.’ Dexter Fernandes believes that basic love for art and knowledge about technicalities, as to how buildings are made, serves as a good mix for a successful architecture project.
Eighteen years ago, Fernandes and Shourya Patel got together and founded Uneven on the philosophy of yin and yang where both have different approaches, styles and methods, but their beliefs, love for nature and ultimate goal of delivering remarkable designs define the same. Together they make everything even under the Uneven canopy.
While Fernandes heads interior designing, Patel manages the architectural aspects of the projects. Together, they have designed and executed projects across cities and types—individual residences, commercial complexes and communities. They have also ventured into set designing for some films. They consider 33 LE and Back to Heaven as two of their landmark community living projects.
Fernandes is a true animal and nature lover, which is subtly translated in his ventures. “Being nature lovers, everything around us that speaks about nature has inspired us. We design our landscape with the same detailing as the buildings and interiors we design,” he says.
Patel is a master doodler who likes to dress his architectural pieces tactfully so that they not only look stunning but also serve the needs and functions at the same time. “As a rule, for each new project we make sure of not cutting any trees on site. Also, providing rainwater harvesting goes hand-in-hand for our sites.”
His love for exploring details through various materials, textures and compositions in any kind of space has allowed Fernandes to master interior design projects, furniture details, and landscape design under the Uneven umbrella.
Patel believes Indian culture and science go way back in time to teach us about sustainable living, which can be a great tool for working in today’s time for achieving green buildings and sustainable architecture.
Going forward, they wish to take Uneven to different parts of the country and contribute to the supremely diverse architectural landscape of India.
By Mohan Siddharth, Studio Gulmohar