India is building more than ever—but are we actually building better?

In this episode of Design and Dialogues, we sit down with Navneet Kaur from HAACE Contract, a premium civil construction company with over 26 years of experience, to unpack the real state of the Indian construction industry—beyond glossy renders and marketing brochures.

This is an unfiltered conversation on construction quality, accountability, German engineering systems, monolithic construction, exposed concrete, GRAP in Delhi NCR, and why India continues to struggle with long-term durability despite rapid growth.

We discuss:

🏗️ Why speed has overtaken quality in Indian construction

🏗️ How cost-first thinking hurts long-term asset value

🏗️ The real reason buildings fail within 20–30 years

🏗️ How GRAP regulations disrupt construction in Delhi NCR

🏗️ What monolithic construction actually is—and where it wins🏗️ Why German engineering systems outperform mindset-driven execution

🏗️ The truth about exposed concrete—history, execution & common mistakes

🏗️ Why India struggles with skilled labour, accountability & systems

🏗️ What the future of construction in India should actually look like

This episode is for:

Architects & interior designers

Contractors & project managers

Builders & developers

Architecture & construction students

Anyone interested in how India is being built—and how it should be builtIf you care about quality, longevity, sustainability, and system-driven construction, this conversation will challenge how you think about buildings in India.

🎙️ About Design and Dialogues

Design and Dialogues is a podcast exploring architecture, design, construction, sustainability, and the systems that shape the built environment—through honest conversations with industry leaders.

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🚆India is building stations for the future — but how do you design a space that millions pass through every single day?

In this episode of Design and Dialogues, Atharva sits down with Ar. Amin Nayar, Founder of ANA Design Studio, the team behind some of the most complex public infrastructure and transportation projects in the country.

From the science of crowd flow to designing chaos-proof layouts, from bullet train readiness to the future of high-speed mobility, this is a masterclass in how architecture shapes the way India moves.

🎙️ In This Episode You’ll Learn:

🚇 How modern railway stations are actually designed

🚂 What architects consider when planning for huge crowds

🚆 How public behavior affects design decisions

🚄 The truth about bullet trains & high-speed rail in India

🚇 How services (MEP, safety, circulation) evolve in public buildings

🚂 The roles of consultants, engineers & specialists in mega-projects

🚆 How firms land government & infrastructure projects

🚄 What the railway stations of 2040 will look like

👤 About the Guest — Ar. Amin Nayar

Ar. Amin Nayar is the founder of ANA Design Studio, a multi-disciplinary firm known for its work in public infrastructure, industrial projects, and complex transport systems.

His team has worked on railway stations, airports, mobility hubs, campuses, and high-tech facilities across India.

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🎙️ Hosted by Atharva Lath

📌 Podcast: Design and Dialogues — Exploring design, architecture, ideas and everything in between!

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In this episode of Design and Dialogues, Landscape Architect Ar. Mukul takes us on a wild journey through the real power of landscape design — from recharging groundwater in Rajasthan, to creating microclimates with trees, to how a factory’s profits doubled simply because of better outdoor spaces.

We dive deep into:

🌳 Why cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore desperately need landscape architecture

🔥 How a single tree acts like a 4-ton AC — literally

💧 Rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, stormwater management

🏭 Real stories of factories, schools, and resorts transformed through landscape

📜 The ancient Indian science of Stapathya Veda, Ramayana’s Ashok Vatika & even Mahabharata’s “infinity pool” moment

🏙️ Why Gurgaon lacks a natural draft and how residents can fix AQI at a micro-level

🌱 Plant selection, long-term visioning, and the science behind low-maintenance greenery

🧱 The biggest challenges in landscape projects — contractors, budgets, maintenance & misplaced Vastu fears

🏞️ How to build ecosystems that attract birds, butterflies, and biodiversity

👨‍🎓 What future landscape architects must learn (it’s NOT plant names)

This episode is a masterclass in understanding how landscape isn’t decoration — it’s essential infrastructure.

If you care about design, cities, sustainability, or simply want to understand how outdoor spaces shape our minds and lives, this conversation is unmissable.

🎧 Watch, learn, and rethink the way you see the land around you.

📍 Guest: Architect Mukul Goyal

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In this episode of Design and Dialogues, I sit down with Aarti Kapoor Jaiswal, founder of Apostrophe Home, to talk about what really goes into building a home that works — not just one that looks good.

From the rise of Pinterest-inspired DIY projects and Urban Company makeovers to the hidden chaos of renovations and the value of hiring a designer early — Aarti pulls back the curtain on the real interior design process.

We discuss:

💡 Why designers are essential — beyond décor and cushions

⚒️ How DIY and “budget hacks” often backfire

🎨 The science behind materials, colours, and space planning

🏠 When you need a designer most — new homes vs. renovations

🛋️ The truth about bespoke furniture and what “custom” really meansIf you’ve ever thought, “I can just do this myself,” this episode might make you think again.

👁️ Watch till the end for Aarti’s take on design myths, client trust, and her rapid-fire design opinions (including the one trend she’s officially done with).

📍 Guest: Aarti Kapoor Jaiswal, Apostrophe Home

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Gurgaon — India’s booming city that grew faster than it was planned. In this episode of Design and Dialogues, architect Amit Sharma, founder of Axiom India, opens up about his design philosophy, the meaning of the unbuilt, and why imagination in architecture is dying.

From public buildings to city planning, from education to sustainability, Amit shares three decades of experience shaping India’s spaces — and his candid thoughts on what’s gone wrong with our cities.

🎙️ Key Topics:

- What “The Unbuilt” means in architecture

- How Gurgaon became India’s urban paradox

- Why imagination is disappearing among young architects

- The truth about sustainability in design

- Ar Amit’s design principles and legacy through education

📍 Guest: Amit Sharma, Founder & Principal Architect, Axiom India

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📌 Podcast: Design and Dialogues — Exploring design, architecture, ideas and everything in between!

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🎨 “From the colour of our coffee to the colour of our potty — everything is colour.”In this episode of Design & Dialogues, host Atharva Lath sits down with Mamta Khubani, colour consultant and founder of Hue Culture, to explore the science, emotion, and culture behind colour in design.Discover why grey may be the most misunderstood colour, how colour psychology shapes behaviour, and why India’s identity can never be neutral.We dive into:-How colour influences your mood and productivity-The real process behind the Colour of the Year-Why India’s vibrant heritage clashes with Western minimalism-Colour in Vaastu, homes, and everyday life-What your favourite colour says about you💬 Quote of the Episode:“Design without colour is a body without soul.” — Mamta Khubani🔗 Follow Hue Culture:Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/hue_culture🔗 Follow Design & Dialogues:Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/designanddialogues/

YouTube – Subscribe for more episodes with India’s top architects, designers & creative minds.#DesignAndDialogues #MamtaKhubani #ColourPsychology #InteriorDesign #HueCulture #IndianDesign #Vaastu #ColourTrends2025 #PodcastIndia

When you walk into a café or a restaurant, your mood is already shaped — long before you even see the menu. From the chair you sit on to the table you gather around, furniture defines the dining experience.

In this episode of Design & Dialogues, I sit down with Chaitali Ahuja, the creative force behind Sunny Overseas, to explore:

🪑🍴How restaurant furniture has shifted from durability to ambience and experience

🪑🍴Why Instagrammable corners are redefining F&B spaces

🪑🍴The rise of multifunctional, sustainable, and tech-driven furniture

🪑🍴Common mistakes new restaurant owners make when choosing furniture

🪑🍴The one piece of furniture every restaurant should invest in

Whether you’re a restaurateur, designer, or simply curious about how interiors shape our lives, this conversation is packed with insights into the future of hospitality design.

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In this conversation, we sit down with Raghav Manocha, co-founder of Light Emotion, to uncover the often-overlooked world of lighting.

From premium vs standard lighting, to the impact of color temperature on circadian rhythms, to common mistakes in Indian homes—this episode is packed with valuable insights for architects, interior designers, and homeowners alike.What you’ll learn in this episode:

🔹 How Raghav’s journey led him to build Light Emotions in a traditional, vendor-driven industry

🔹 The difference between standard and premium lights (and why “premium” doesn’t always mean expensive)

🔹 The role of CRI (Color Rendering Index) and why it matters for true-to-life colors

🔹 How voltage, wattage, and dimmers actually affect lighting performance

🔹 Why lighting consultants should be involved early in design projects

🔹 The future of lighting in India—smart homes, automation, and innovationIf you’re building a home, renovating, or simply curious about how lighting shapes your space—this episode will give you a whole new perspective.

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🔥 Designing the Future: Ajay Gulati on Homes, VR & the New Age of Architecture

What makes a house more than just a structure? In this powerful episode of Design and Dialogues, renowned architect Ajay Gulati shares insights from his 25+ year journey in residential architecture—where technology meets tradition, and every family brings a new design story.

We unpack:

✅ How residential design has transformed post-COVID

✅ The rise of VR walkthroughs and how they’re changing client expectations

✅ Smart homes, sustainability & why personalization is the future

✅ Fusing Indian vernacular + global minimalism for meaningful spaces

✅ Must-hear advice for homeowners and young architects🎧 A must-watch for anyone building, designing, or dreaming of their perfect space.

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📌 Podcast: Design and Dialogues — Exploring design, architecture, ideas and everything in between!

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Is our architecture education system preparing students for real-world practice—or are we just churning out designers in a vacuum?

In this unfiltered, thought-provoking conversation, Professor Amrita Madan—an architect, experiential designer, and PhD scholar—talks about the systemic disconnect between architectural education and its practical implementation. From curriculum stagnation to outdated teaching methods, from the value of PhDs to the future of sustainable, responsible design—this episode is a must-watch for students, educators, and professionals alike.

🔍 Key Highlights:

-Why creativity alone isn’t enough—it needs responsibility

-The myth of the “creative genius” and the reality of teamwork

-How architecture has lost its leadership in society

-Why students face a harsh shock when entering the real world

-What systemic reform in education should really look like

-Her powerful advice to the next generation of architects

👩‍🎓 Whether you’re currently studying architecture, teaching it, or practicing it—this dialogue will challenge the way you see design education today.

🎙️ Hosted by Atharva Lath

📌 Podcast: Design and Dialogues — Exploring design, architecture, ideas and everything in between!

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📢 Like, share, and comment to help us bring more visibility to important voices in design education.

#DesignAndDialogues #ArchitectureEducation #AmritaMadan #FutureOfArchitecture #ArchitecturePodcast #DesignResponsibly #CreativeEducation #PhDInArchitecture #ArchitectureStudents #CurriculumReform