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Ambrish Arora is Founding Principal at Studio Lotus. Grounded on the principles of Conscious Design, the studio's approach celebrates local resources, cultural influences, keen attention to detail, and an inclusive process that seeks to bring out the best in every stakeholder. Ambrish’s role is largely studio-focused, leading design processes that direct the trajectory of projects. He is deeply involved with assessing benchmarks of innovation and sustainability for the studio’s ongoing work—including aspects related to thermal comfort, and localisation of material and process. Ambrish has persistently campaigned for the revival of crafts and the amalgamation of vernacular wisdom with modern building practices; an advocate for frugal and passive means of construction. He is a custodian of the guiding values that have served as a cornerstone for the practice since its inception, and is personally involved in leadership development for the studio’s teams.
As Principal and co-founder of Studio Lotus, Ankur brings over 26+ years of in-depth experience to the practice. His passion for stretching the conceptual possibilities of a project right down to its last detail is reflected in his diverse repertoire of Narrative-based Experiential Design projects that draw from regional context and culture, and are responsive to the evolving paradigms of luxury. Ankur oversees the studio’s Interior Architecture vertical, spearheading large-scale integrated Hospitality commissions, Residential projects, and Adaptive Reuse interventions. Significant projects in this domain include the design of 3 marquee projects for Godrej at The Trees development in Mumbai, hotels for the RAAS group,, and hotels for the Oberoi group in Bandhavgarh and the Taj group–including the Taj Guras Kutir in Sikkim and Himal Kutir in Darjeeling. Ankur has an active interest in design education and impacting change in evolving communities through design. He has been invited to speak at various global and national design forums. Ankur was a panelist at Talking Architecture hosted by the World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2020. He was also on the international jury at the WAF China Awards in December 2020 and the WAF in 2021, has been an advisory board member at FIND (Design Fair Asia), Singapore.
Asha Sairam brings her formal education in Communication Design and skills from past work as a scenographer and graphic designer, to her detail and user-experience driven approach to projects. Presently, Asha leads the Branded Experiences and Hospitality Interior Design verticals for the practice. Her portfolio comprises a diverse range of typologies—including retail and brand identity development, hospitality and F&B experiences, corporate interiors, exhibitions, and installation design. Some of the studio’s most significant projects in this domain include Masti Cocktails & Cuisine in Dubai; the adaptive reuse for the RAAS Devigarh hotel in Udaipur; Royal Enfield stores [which includes crafting their global retail identity]; flagship stores for retail brand Ekaya across several geographies; and hotels for the Oberoi and Taj groups, Listed among Forbes’ Top 30 under 45 most impactful designers in 2023, and a 40 under 40 honouree at Perspective Global Design Awards 2019, Asha is an active voice in the global design fraternity.
Harsh heads the studio’s Business Development and Organisational initiatives. With a Bachelor's degree in Architectural Design from the Malviya National Institute of Technology, he joined Studio Lotus in 2013, working on and heading numerous projects, including the House in a Garden, Mauritius, Stacked Courtyard House, New Delhi and international design competitions. His business acumen and experience as an architect have led Harsh to establish a seamless balance between the vision for the practice and its business opportunities. At the Studio, he focuses on modelling frameworks to develop and execute the practice's tactical priorities. He works with the core leadership to choreograph and oversee strategic planning and operations, and manage pivotal client relations.
Design to me is a powerful medium for storytelling. Building narratives through design can captivate users and make the experience more engaging and immersive. In essence, for me, design is a tool to create memorable experiences. I believe by approaching design with intentionality, empathy, and creativity, it enables the creation of spaces that are transformative and meaningful.
I love the architectural work that emerges from our studio—it’s considered, meaningful, contextual, and beautiful. It makes what I do really exciting because there is so much to talk about; also bridging the discourse on architecture with its wider context of sustainability, climate, globalisation, socio-economic conditions, and other issues that exist today. Having had careers both in the banking and financial services industry and then in design allows me to have a meaningful perspective on these linkages. I unwind by pottering around in my balcony garden, including growing my own produce, and by baking—I have a terribly sweet tooth.
I believe design is a function of human creativity, is inspired by our culture, and is derived from our collective knowledge. All these values inspire me and lead us towards good design. Studio Lotus believes in professional and personal empowerment in order to realise the fullest potential of the opportunities that collectively come our way. This, to me, is the most significant value that guides our journey as design professionals. The opportunity to work with a diverse talent pool and to put innovative ideas into practice is the most exciting part of my job.
While approaching the design of a project, I try to articulate the brief first, find a balance between the various factors at play, and identify that unique opportunity hiding in the madness. I love that every day is a different day at work—there's no space for monotony. It encourages me to be uncomfortable and push myself into uncharted territories. My secret superpower is staying calm in the storm!
The idea of Worldbuilding, where every element is carefully considered and curated, allowing for the creation of immersive environments that evoke emotions together with a process-driven method, inspires my design approach. I spend time honing various skills and interests beyond work and design. I believe they contribute to discipline and have taught me the value of rigour—meditation, exploring and documenting wildlife, and an interest in film and the visual arts, among others.
My experience over 12 years spans residential, hospitality, institutional, cultural, and mixed-use projects—each rooted in a deep understanding of place and people. I’m guided by the design thinking approach—“What is? What if? What wows? What works?”—which helps distill intricate challenges into simple, effective solutions that put people at the heart of design. Outside the studio, I stay grounded through sport and fitness, with football being a key passion. I also love exploring new cities on foot, as it sharpens my understanding of scale, rhythm, and the lived experience.
Studio Lotus' culture resonates deeply with my own value system. Its commitment to learning, empowerment, and respect has fostered a sense of belonging and shaped my work. I owe much of my personal and professional growth to the invaluable mentorship, support, and wealth of knowledge here. Outside of work, my passions include baking (trust me, my cheesecake rivals Big Chill's), attending concerts, and exploring regional dance forms. Studio Lotus isn't just where I work—it's where I've found inspiration, growth, and a true sense of community.
An attitude of gratitude is a practice I resonate with and follow in my daily living, and bring into work everyday. The learning that gets created for me and the relationships that are formed through my interactions with the people here is something I love about my work. Beyond the studio, it is adventure sports and travelling to discover new places that excite me.
I love having the freedom to manage all the responsibilities and decisions in my department. I enjoy the work environment here, there is no hierarchy, which makes it relaxed and interactive. I work closely with the design team to handle the billing and payments for all projects. On a busy day, listening to Odia music helps me stay calm. My colleagues often say that my superpower is great problem-solving.
The visual arts serve as a huge source of inspiration for my work. I love visiting art and architecture exhibitions, and I am a movie buff too—sci-fi being my favourite genre. My dream project would be to design a museum on the changing art forms in cinematic experiences. I have a belief that cinema needs to be experienced through changing landscapes, which helps us understand the major evolutions in global cultural contexts as well.
I really enjoy the calm working atmosphere of my workspace. Finance and mathematics have always been my core interests. My work mainly involves following up on payments for various studio expenses, including salaries. I love listening to music and traveling, especially to the mountains. It helps me relieve stress and spend quality time with my family. My secret superpower is staying calm even in the most stressful times.
The collective act of creation has always helped me bring out the best for a project, be it collaborating with our consultants, contractors, local artists, or artisans. While it does, of course, enhance the quality of the project, to me it’s a source of profound fulfilment. I love being able to interact with amazing individuals who are unique in their own ways, and who appreciate the importance of what we do and its impact on people. I don’t think I have a secret superpower—I feel that my strength is a commitment to hard work rather than any innate ability.
A user-centric perspective guides my decisions and ensures that the final design not only meets aesthetic standards but also enhances the functionality and well-being of those who interact with the space. It is, in a sense, reflective of our studio values of ‘Bringing love to all we do’ and ‘Context is decisive’. I love the fact that there are virtually no rules, and the possibility of innovation at each step of the design process is endless.
What I love most about architecture is understanding how every meticulous detail—well coordinated with an army of consultants, designers and users—brings a project to life. The joy, for me, lies in creating something truly holistic. I enjoy sketching/illustrating moments that catch my eye, often adding a touch of humour. Noticing and recording details helps me stay sensitive as a designer. I’d say my superpower is to quietly collect stories from ‘flaws’, be they from movies, people or design!
The excitement of having cracked a brief, and the thrill of seeing things come together at site are what I love about my work. My other passions are finance, business and cars. I dabble in the stock market in my free time. My secret superpower is making work feel like play so that everything feels enjoyable and fulfilling.
My approach to design usually originates from who I see as the two most important stakeholders—the clients and the ecology—and I aim to bridge the needs of both through good design. Art, photography and writing are my usual means of self-expression through which I am able to create an emotive dialogue with the outside world. I can draw a portrait of you in under 5 mins.
The aspect of functionality is integral to my design approach. This quote by American architect Buckminster Fuller sums it up–”When I am working on a problem, I never think about beauty but when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong”. I love origami and drawing caricatures, which has helped me to gain a good sense of scale. My secret superpower is having a photographic memory–I store random stuff in my mind for years.
The thing I love the most about our field of work is the unique challenges that we face while designing, and how expansive our approaches are, and need to be. There is so much to integrate and think of simultaneously. It is very important to me to be able to develop honest connections with people–I live by it and ensure that there is a sense of trust in the relationship. I love working in Residential architecture in particular, because it is as close as one gets to designing a deeply personal and unique space where people can totally be themselves.
My design approach is driven by curiosity. While designing, I try to break down the process into pieces and solve it like a puzzle. Movies and Literature are my hobbies outside of work. My secret superpower will remain a secret!
Creative expression and the ability to transform spaces to be both usable and aesthetically meaningful draws me to the world of architecture. The client’s vision and other practicalities like requirements, timelines, and budget, make interesting challenges to solve for. My strengths are versatility in design and time-management.
My approach to design is more scientific than intuitional. I tend to look at and solve things as complex interconnected systems. It allows me to design specifically for the site, its milieu and the brief keeping any designer's ego at bay. I tend to surround myself with acts of consumption and creation. I spend my time reading books, watching movies, playing video games, eating good food, drinking great coffee but at the same time writing, making artworks (digital or mixed media), cooking meals, playing football. Both consumption and creation feed back into my design thinking, learning from one, applying in the other.
I love that the work we practise at Studio Lotus is thought-provoking and sensitive. Architecture for me is tying existing stories with those that I can weave with my creative aspirations. I specifically enjoy experimenting with local materials in collaboration with their manufacturers. I believe that empathy is a critical skill that every architect must possess.
The fundamental exchange between society and design; how they influence and have continuously shaped each other is quite fascinating to me. I see architecture and design as domains that draw inspiration from every corner of life. This has led me to explore design through a multitude of perspectives, where even the smallest change can unfold infinite possibilities. Architecture has taught me to view buildings as communicators, whether with people, culture, environment or even posterity. At work, I love having the opportunity to extend this understanding through various mediums that reach a broader audience. My superpower? I can catch the elusive members of Lotus–Ambrish, Sid, Ankur, Asha, and Harsh .
My design process involves brainstorming through sketchy mind-maps, and I view collaboration as a continuous learning opportunity. I unwind by being close to nature and reading about psychology. If I could design a building, it would be a Museum of Emotions, to explore how spaces can reflect the complexity and spectrum of human emotions.
My approach to design begins with the fundamental inquiry "How can I add value?". This question serves as a vital link between design and people, guiding my work towards enriching the lives of those who engage with the spaces I create. The studio’s values of gratitude, love, and curiosity have not only influenced my personal growth but also nurtured my commitment to continuous learning. Creativity, to me, is a spiritual expression, manifested in culinary experiments and my project "The Earth in Me", both of which serve to connect me to the environment and fulfil my creative aspirations.
I am intrigued by the ability of architecture to evoke different emotions in our day to day life. Every design is a story based on its context and a stakeholder’s day-to-day relationship to the space. We all love a good story, and I Iove being able to be a storyteller and curate that story as an experience for people. I am an outdoor person, my design approach is influenced by the experiences I have had through my travel or through my books, designing in a way to bring people closer to nature and their surroundings. I stay calm and optimistic in the most stressful situations.
I love that design has the ability to influence the user behaviours and that it’s something that can be used for the greater good. I derive energy from the interactions that take place during the design process and I find that I am always learning something new from my peers and mentors. I enjoy photography and sketching–this often helps me think of design from the point of framing views.
Motivated by curiosity and ambition, my approach to design starts with challenging prevailing ideologies. As an Architect/ 3D Visualizer, I draw inspiration from games, travel and art. I try designing spaces that are original and thought-provoking. My passions for photography and adventure fuel my creativity and allow me to observe the world from unusual angles. My best thinking is done in solitude while listening to Pink Floyd.
Architecture for me is the interaction between art and technology. To have an opportunity to shape spaces that impact people's lives, transform environments, and evoke emotions is, to me, very exciting. At work, I enjoy the brainstorming sessions and collective exploration of new ideas and innovations. Outside of work, photography captivates me. For me, it's a journey of discovery and endless creativity. My secret superpower is turning stress into my personal comedy show, where only my stress and I share the punchlines.
I believe design is a very human practice. The sense of connection and community evident in Studio Lotus's work resonates with my core beliefs. My interests lie in the history of places and human psychology–both speak deeply to my traveller heart.
I think of architecture as an art expression that is not just to look at but to feel, live and breathe in. My approach centers on the 3 Cs—client, context, and culture. I love the constant learning from even the most casual, random conversations. If not at my PC, you’ll likely find me on Pinterest, drawing from travel, fashion, and people. My secret superpower is remaining calm on the outside, even when my mind feels like a whirlwind of chaos.
I’m drawn to architecture and design because I take joy in drawing and sketching. My approach to design is inspired by noticing small details and applying them to create practical solutions. Outside of work, traveling influences my design thinking by exposing me to diverse environments and cultures. My secret superpower is my ability to listen to people, which helps me understand needs and design better.
To me, the beauty of execution is where the real magic happens. I approach design like composing music—layering function, aesthetics, and precision until everything is in harmony. Not surprisingly, outside of work, music is my constant companion. It influences my rhythm of thought and often helps me find creativity. My secret superpower is being a jack of all trades—there's no "no" in my vocabulary.
I believe architecture is mostly common sense. I often wonder why our buildings don’t reflect local culture and beauty. Architecture is for the people, after all. I enjoy traveling and exploring materials and techniques. I can survive anything—a pandemic, a drought—but take away my coffee and it’s game over. Bring on the deadlines… and the caffeine!
I’ve always been drawn to architecture because it allows me to blend creativity with practicality, and to shape spaces that truly improve how people live and experience the world around them. My passion for travel and photography fuels my design thinking, encouraging me to create spaces that are rich in story and experience.
The idea of influencing people’s lives by creating better spaces and experiences is what draws me to the world of design. As a logistician who believes that design, in all its curves and technicalities, has the solution to the most complicated problems in the world, I always assert that modern design constraints require an unconventional approach. What I love most is collaborating with passionate individuals who share a love for design’s potential to improve the world. Outside work, I enjoy creating multimedia art and binge-watching scientific documentaries. My superpower? Being a morning person in a field of night owls.
The process and attention to detail, and how it further transpires to spaces that reflect experiences, emotions, and stories, draws me to the world of architecture. I believe that staying connected to nature is the greatest luxury. What I love most about my work is the endless learning and curiosity it offers, both professionally and personally. Outside of work, I enjoy sketching to calm myself that sparks and empowers my imagination. My secret superpower is being highly observant and mimicking others!
The potential for influence that the built environment has on people is incredibly fascinating and exciting to me. My design approach is inspired by functionality and my upbringing, with a strong focus on context and people. What I love most about my work is collaborating with passionate, like-minded people and seeing designs come to life. Reading influences how I communicate ideas and explore places. My secret superpower is unwavering determination.
The beauty of architecture for me lies in its ability to transform fleeting emotions into tangible art, creating experiences that resonate deeply. My design approach is influenced by how spaces evoke emotions and foster meaningful conversations. Nature, culture, and the stories behind each project shape my creative process, motivating me to blend context and creativity—values that align with Studio Lotus. Fuelled by food, driven by discovery, beyond the studio one can spot me clicking random frames, wrapped in a saree most probably!
When designing, I tend to focus most on the user's experience, and aim to make the most of available resources. I value collaboration over working solo. It’s extremely enriching seeing something I have designed actually come to life. Beyond the studio, I play the tabla, enjoy exploring places, galleries or food, and play a lot of football! I try to make sure that there’s never a dull moment in both my work and personal life.
My design process is inspired by the interplay of nature, culture, and innovation, rooted in values of sustainability. I love that I learn something new every day. I express my emotions through art and find inspiration in traveling. My secret superpower is getting things done—no one can say no to a polite request.
I’m drawn to the power of an idea—to think something into existence and have it shape someone’s lived experience. I respond to the spirit of a place—its silences, tensions, and energy. My work seeks to converse with the site, not control it. I also read about finance, because design is visionary, but must be grounded in value. My secret superpower is being able to alter my voice, so well that I sometimes lose track of my original one.
The potential of the craft to change lives is what draws me most to Architecture. Beyond that, I choose to practice the craft because of its subjectivity across cultures and individuals. Context is the dominating feature in all my design approaches, considering not only the physical site but also the client, environment, history, and aspirations, aligning with Studio Lotus' philosophy. Being able to witness aspirations take shape is what I love most about my work. Interacting with Mother Nature leaves lasting impressions on me and my design thinking. While I don't have a superpower, I think photosynthesis would be cool.
In architecture, I like work which is exploratory in nature, be it material finishes, contextual approaches, new construction techniques, or even alternative structural systems. Outside work you can find me hanging with new people, going on trips, petting random dogs, or exploring new hip-hop artists. My secret superpower is that I’m able to make every photo of mine, however well clicked, look like a mugshot.
With 7 years of experience in residential, commercial, and hospitality design, I am a passionate and detail-oriented interior designer with a strong background in creating functional, timeless, and aesthetically pleasing spaces.
The collaborative spirit and openness at Studio Lotus make every day engaging and inspiring. I bring a sharp eye for detail and a calm, solution-oriented mindset that helps keep our financial operations smooth and reliable. I enjoy playing cricket—it helps me stay active, focused, and energized, both on and off the field.
I’m inspired by nature, local crafts, and new tech all at once. I like my work to feel rooted but also push boundaries—with purpose. Parametric design fascinates me for its ability to create innovative forms while traditional craftsmanship grounds my work in cultural authenticity. I’m a sports person through and through, basketball especially. Sports teach me rhythm, instinct, and how to read the room—just what good design needs. My superpower? Making people feel seen. I can talk to literally anyone—strangers become friends in minutes.
I love that I get to turn “mere ideas” into real spaces that people live in — it feels a bit like magic, just with more stardust and site visits. My design is influenced by minimalism, clean lines, and natural materials — basically the architectural version of “effortlessly stylish.” Travelling, café hopping, people-watching, and clicking way too many photos is what I enjoy outside of work. Café hopping gives me furniture ideas, travel gives me material inspiration, and people-watching helps me design spaces people can actually use well.
I’m an architect and designer who treats every project like a playground for ideas, materials, and styles, with my inspiration flowing from culture, art, and the pulse of everyday life. My superpower? Reading a space like a story, anticipating how it will feel before it even exists. When I’m not designing, you’ll find me wandering city streets, tasting new flavours, or dancing like nobody’s watching. These experiences sharpen my sense of scale, flow, and the human experience, and are what fuel my creativity.
Playing with intangibles through physical creations and the chance to learn from a wide range of perspectives is what I love about my work. I believe that design should bring happiness and an element of surprise to the users. My superpower? Pulling off a jam-packed weekend trip from Friday night to Monday morning, and returning to work fully energized. If I’m not traveling, I’m probably exploring a new food spot or befriending a random cat.
What I love most about our work environment is the People and the Culture. I am hard working; I like challenges and resolving them as I go. My strength is being the problem solver for the studio in all their tech endeavours. In my free time I enjoy playing cricket.
To me work is my passion, and I love the creative freedom that it allows me. I run with my intuition and imagination. I am most influenced by the physicality of the space I am designing — what message it delivers and how impactful that can be! Outside the office, I love painting, cafe hopping, travelling and meditation.
I love the human centric approach that design has the power to hold. Functionality, Frugality and Character are the pillars of my design approach. My superpower is my ability to hold conversations with any and everyone! I experiment across multiple fields of design, from event curations to installation to graphics.I believe they add a layered approach to how I look at a space, right from the overall look and feel to the tiniest details a user experiences.
My design influences combine context-responsive architecture and the careful articulation of details that shape spatial experience. My guilty pleasure is enjoying a cheese-chocolate-pineapple sandwich at Ahmedabad’s Manek Chowk. Outside of work, I am passionate about travelling and poetry. I travel to collect places, navigating and discovering them without relying on google maps. Writing poetry is my way of holding onto the feelings they leave behind.
I genuinely love the people I work with. The conversations, shared energy, and learning from each other make even long days enjoyable. I’m inspired by vintage design and objects made by people who truly cared — where time, craft, and intention are clearly felt in the final outcome. My secret superpower is working comfortably across scales — whether it’s something very large or extremely small, I enjoy designing it all. I also enjoy photography and painting, especially when I need to slow down or clear my head.
I think what you experience in your early life is deeply imbibed in your senses. Being from Chandigarh, brutalism naturally became part of my design language. Over time, Zumthor and Ando have also influenced how I perceive “atmosphere”. My secret superpower — solving design problems in dreams faster than in meetings. Give me a pillow and I’ll give you a concept! Outside work, I love creating. Whether it’s portraits, sketches, or photography/ editing, these hobbies make me slow down and observe deeply, thus sharpening my eye for composition and detail.
I love that architecture takes esoteric thoughts and transforms these ideas and emotions into lived spaces. I am drawn to architecture that is timeless, grounded, and deeply experiential. I respond quickly to change, and I love exploring new places and experiences. Observing everyday life, reading, and drawing on experiences through travel and conversation continue to shape my approach to architecture that is humane and emotionally resonant .
Stories have always been a central part of my life. From Alice in Wonderland to the Ramayana, narratives have shaped the way I see the world. I’m inspired by how different eras and cultures approach the built environment, and often draw on these stories to inform my design concepts. Travel has played a major role in shaping my love for design. Observing how people inhabit spaces and move through the world inspired me to study space as a medium for expressing human experience. A fun fact — I am infamous for my immunity to caffeine!
My design approach revolves around human behaviour and its response to the five senses, using a structured approach. I strive to keep work engaging and enjoyable, which helps to create a positive experience for both me and the people I collaborate with. Outside work, I stay active in sports and exercise to balance out my day. It helps me manage my stress, keep my mind clear, and lastly, brings discipline to all aspects of my life.
I love that design lets me be curious every day — observing, learning and creating meaningful spaces. I’m influenced by art, culture, and the small everyday details that tell human stories. My secret superpower is empathy — I naturally sense what people need. It translates into my work as well. Fun fact — I can spend hours lost in nature and old comforting movies. Painting, music and travelling help me stay observant, imaginative and emotionally connected, all of which reflect in the spaces I create.
What I love most is having the opportunity to design spaces that help people align better with their purposes in life, which is a deeply fulfilling feeling. Outside the studio, I love exploring new cultures, observing people, and cooking. Cooking, especially, has become a creative outlet that sharpens my patience and precision. A fun fact about me is that I have an uncanny ability to read people with surprising accuracy. And my secret superpower? Somehow, the things I say tend to come true — often sooner than expected.
I love the collective alchemy of this job — seeing many minds come together to turn a shared vision into reality. I admire architecture that honours history, celebrates materiality, and obsesses over the smallest detail. I find poetry in a perfectly crafted joint. My secret superpower is that I have a "diagnostic eye". I spot misalignments and glitches instantly, whether in design or real-life situations. Outside the studio, I enjoy fitness and the joy of cooking for my loved ones.
I am deeply influenced by designs that evolve around material strengths and sensitivity towards the context, meticulously detailed yet speaking through their simplicity. In my free time I travel. I am an absolute promoter of solo travelling. Also cycling anywhere and everywhere. Cycling gives me time to slow down and observe, to stop and sketch. In the process I am able to view spaces as a crossover of multiple patterns — patterns of daily life, contextual patterns, and the like.
