Suraj Parmar – Founder, 9 Square Designs, Ahmedabad
Since inception in 2010, 9 Square Designs, based out of Ahmedabad has been exploring various forms of designing in general, so as to keep up with the trend and amaze its clients. It has been undertaking and doing various architectural, interior designing, furniture designing projects and it’s been great decision to work at varied scales from massing to detailing and it has surely refined the outcome in totality. So, the firm believes in designing anything that is beautiful and unique rather than specializing on certain kind of projects. Their portfolio is loaded with projects like English medium school, hostel blocks, farm houses, villas, bungalows, corporate houses, institutions, residences and interior designing of varied scales.
Suraj Parmar, the founder of 9 Square Designs, is born to a fashion designer father. Hence, designing and entrepreneurial instincts were there in his DNA. But at the age of 12 being exposed to Architecture practice in Bhavnagar, he got fascinated towards Architecture and later on decided to pursue a career in the same field. After completion of 12th Science from convent high school, he opted for entrance exam on Architecture and stood 8th in open category of SATA Entrance Exam of Architecture and got admission at CEPT University in Ahmedabad; one of India’s prestigious colleges in Architecture. Studying at CEPT was turning point as it gave him a vision of core Architectural values and design principles. Moreover, learning from master Architects and professors was quite fruitful. On the basis of his merit, he further got selected through students exchange program to study for a year at ETH University in Zurich (Switzerland) with total scholarship. This broadened his vision to another level. And then after coming back from Switzerland, he started his own practice of Architecture and Interior designing, based out of Ahmedabad. He established “9 Square Designs” with small and medium scale projects and now the firm has grown with varied scale of projects and diverse portfolio of more than 175 projects in more than 13 cities in span of around 12 years.
According to Suraj,
“We work on our projects with prominent thought – Turning at least one corner of the world Beautiful, and similarly creating a beautiful niche in lives of our clients and public in general whosoever experiences our crafted spaces. Architecture is all about human emotions and their dialogue with the design. And our work strikes a chord of all those who experience it.”
A unique and efficient design is what all clients look for. And their creative approach in giving efficient design solutions enhances the end users living or work experience.
Suraj is working with a vision of expanding their wings in as many cities as possible and soon would be starting up with their own series of bespoke and designer furniture range. The vision is not only to reach highest level of luxury but also creating affordable solutions of Interior Designing and Architecture. Versatility in design and creative output in time bound projects has been their USP. Their varied scale and types of projects and executing them creatively in shortest amount of time is the thing that separates them from others. They have executed many projects in extremely short amount of time and with utmost creative input, thereby delighting the customers.
Suraj has been inspired by the work of BV Doshi, the only Pritzker prize of Architecture winner of India. He also attributes his current success to Mr Doshi’s teachings at CEPT University. His dedication towards the field is unmatchable and still at this age of 95 his zeal to do something new is itself contagious. His whole journey of Architecture has been encouraging.
As an entrepreneur, initial years were difficult as he started his professional practice from Ahmedabad (which has many established and well-known architects) whereas he hails from a small town of Bhavnagar. So, starting up at small scale and that too in a town where he had no references or leads and then not only surviving but creating a niche in very same city was quite challenging. Overcoming challenges at every level and climbing up the professional ladder was all that he did. His passion and persistence have definitely led him this far crossing all hurdles one at a time.
Out of all the projects that he has designed so far, the Heart House is closest to his heart. It is a result of sheer urge of taking out his creative instincts and sculpting it physically. Being an example of organic architecture, it is not only contemporary but houses fluidic spaces with modern material palette and futuristic form. It has definitely come from his heart and that’s why it’s special to him.
Before signing off, Suraj tells that to become successful, one has to have a multifaceted personality and lot of passion, perseverance and interpersonal skills. It is one thing to design a good building with all technicalities but it takes lot of other things to get it executed exactly as envisioned. Leadership skills, team building and constantly motivating and triggering the creative instincts of the team is a must too.
