Architect of the Month: Kolkata based Abin Chaudhuri shares his success story

After spending his formative years in Bansberia, a suburban township in West Bengal, a young Abin Chaudhari moved to Kolkata to pursue architecture at Jadavpur University. Upon graduating, he worked with a few architects as well as dabbled in marketing and graphics. Eventually, though, it was his love for design that led him to study industrial design at the prestigious Domus Academy in Milan. Chaudhari returned to Kolkata and founded his namesake practice—Abin Design Studio—in 2005 and soon after, in 2006, bagged his first project: International Management Institute (IMI) Kolkata. Chaudhuri believes that ‘making is believing’, and that the process—right from concept to its realisation and performance is important. He says, “Each project enriches the life of the makers, the clients and eventually, human life beyond the immediate realm.” It is this vision that is reflected in all his projects; significantly in his designs for IMI Bhubaneswar and Bamboo Pavilion at Bansberia.

Currently, Chaudhuri is working on multiple projects—a staff training facility for Bandhan micro-finance in Shantiniketan, conceived as masses and voids carved out of the mounds; an iconic tower for Bandhan Bank’s headquarters in the upcoming financial hub of New Town, Kolkata; the Kolkata Partition Museum; and a few villas in Bansberia. Additionally, his studio is also designing the interiors for a number of corporate offices. Despite the extensive repertoire, Chaudhuri made time to author Hand & Mind, a publication that documents the journey of his studio—its philosophy, process and growth—as reflected in the varied projects and art installations he has done over the years. It also hints at the days to come. It sheds light on how Chaudhuri approaches every project as a learning experience. For him, his practice gives him unadulterated joy—“the joy of creating newer things, being unafraid of unfamiliar explorations and strengthening of faith in the ability that design changes lives”. The creative believes that a well thought, judicious reaction can enhance human life manifold and that architecture is about being a good human, making buildings which are humane and strive to enhance the quality of life.We tip our hat to Abin Chaudhuri and his inimitable design style, as seen across the many projects in his oeuvre.