Architecture & Interior Design Conference in India

10:00 – 10:30 AM

Registration & Grand Inaugural Ceremony

CMC Design Manthan Conference

Opening of FOAID Mumbai with dignitaries and partners; delegate check-in and formal launch.

10:45 AM

Keynote Presentation · Soo K. Chan (SCDA)

Ar. Soo K. Chan, Founding Principal and Design Director of SCDA, is known for his crafted minimalism, sensory-driven spaces, and seamless integration of architecture, interiors, and landscape. With projects spanning over 70 locations, his work reflects clarity, calm, and a strong commitment to sustainability. At FOAID, he will present select residential, cultural, and hospitality works, sharing the principles that guide his refined design philosophy.

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM

Book Launch
Building Narratives: The Architecture of Abin Design Studio

Building Narratives” chronicles two decades of Abin Design Studio—from its roots in Kolkata to a practice defined by integrity, experimentation, and socially rooted design. Through essays, conversations, and visuals, the monograph reflects the studio’s ethos and commitment to community-focused architecture. It will be launched at FOAID 2025.

02:00 – 03:00 PM

Duanter · A Duel of Design Perspectives:
One thought, two interpretations-each revealing a different path of design thinking

Annkur Khosla, Annkur Khosla Design Studio

Kiran Shetty, Kiran Shetty Design Studio

Duanter reveals how two creative minds, starting from the same idea, can arrive at completely different outcomes. Their contrasting perspectives highlight how intuition and experience shape the design journey. At FOAID, audiences can expect an engaging exchange where differing viewpoints spark fresh insight, proving that design’s true strength lies in the diversity of ideas it inspires.

03:15 – 04:45 PM

PRESENTATION SERIES
Drawing the Line(Again) : Where Do We Stop Building-and Start Belonging

Santhosh Shanmugam, Shanmugam Associates

In a world racing to build taller and faster, this FOAID series asks: What if restraint is the boldest design move today? Curated for FOAID 2025, it brings six focused presentations where leading architects share projects that tread lightly, respect context, and balance landscape, culture, and ambition.

Because drawing the line isn’t limitation — it’s intention. And at FOAID, it’s time to draw it again.

05:00 – 05:30 PM

Design Your Workflow: How to Work Smarter, Deliver Faster, Grow Stronger

Great design thrives on great systems. Design Your Workflow brings together practitioners who have mastered the processes that help them work smarter, deliver faster, and build stronger studios. Covering communication, coordination, time, and finances, it shares practical tools that cut rework, improve efficiency, and create room for better design. The goal: simple, actionable habits that strengthen every practice.

05:40 PM

Keynote Presentation · Sanjay Puri (Sanjay Puri Architects)

Ar. Sanjay Puri, founder of Sanjay Puri Architects, leads a practice defined by bold spatial experimentation and a strong sense of context. With projects across 55 cities, his work reshapes how architecture engages with climate, culture, and experience. At FOAID, he will share his design philosophy through key projects, highlighting how form, light, sustainability, and intuitive thinking shape his approach.

06:15 PM Onwards

Grand Award Ceremony · Conference Hall

Top Instagram projects showcase + Expressions student installation—celebrating imagination, originality and design intellect.

Get your Conference Pass

02:00 – 03:30 PM

Economic Transformation and Urban Design Infrastructure

Hiten Sethi, Hiten Sethi & Associates (HSA)

Akhil Palherkar, Shapoorji & Pallonji Design and Build

India’s rapid economic transformation is reshaping how cities grow and compete. As new industries and mobility patterns emerge, the role of urban design and infrastructure becomes critical. This session examines how well-planned public spaces, mobility networks, mixed-use districts, and resilient infrastructure can drive opportunity, attract investment, and improve liveability. With perspectives from planning, design, governance, and development, the discussion will focus on how India can build cities that are economically dynamic, efficient, inclusive, and future-ready.

03:30 – 05:00 PM

The Big Shift: How Redevelopment Is Rewriting India’s Urban Fabric

Radeka Patil, Turnkey Whitepaper Constructions

Nishant Gupta, Architect Hafeez Contractor

Alpesh Ajmera, Ajmera Group Of Companies

Arun Mhaisalkar, Turnkey Whitepaper Constructions

Kunal Kuwadekar, Naren Kuwadekar & Associates

Across India’s major cities, redevelopment is reshaping how people live, move, and experience their neighbourhoods. The Big Shift explores how ageing buildings, rising density, financial pressures, and new regulations are transforming urban life. This session looks at the impact on infrastructure, mobility, housing, public spaces, and community identity, highlighting the opportunities, challenges, and what it will take to build cities that are resilient, humane, and future-ready.

02:00 – 04:00 PM

Expressions - Art Installation Competition:

Karan Desai, Karan Desai | Architecture + Design

Shabna Nikhil, Thought Parallels Architecture

An annual art installation competition celebrating innovative ideas from architecture and interior design students across India as part of FOAID. This year’s theme, “Stories from the Unseen”, invites students to imagine hidden worlds—oceans, galaxies, microscopic realms—and craft installations where narratives reveal themselves through movement, abstraction, or subtle cues. The goal is to bring the “unseen” to life as an immersive, discovery-led experience.

04:00 – 05:00 PM

Uncensored - Straight from the Heart

Asking questions is essential to architectural education, encouraging curiosity, critical thinking, and independent learning. With this spirit, Uncensored: Straight from the Heart was created exclusively for students. A panel of senior and young entrepreneurs will answer their questions openly and honestly, helping bridge the communication gap between emerging designers and established practitioners.

05:00 – 06:00 PM

Inside Top Architecture Studios: What It Really Takes to Get In

Sonam Gala, Kiran Gala & Associates(KGA)

This session offers young designers a clear view of what top architecture practices look for when hiring interns and junior designers. It breaks down studio culture, expectations, key skills beyond academics, and what makes a strong portfolio. Students gain a practical, behind-the-scenes understanding of professional practice to better prepare for internships and interviews.

12:00 – 02:00 PMHall A

Architecture & Interior Design — Hospitality

Milind Pai, Milind Pai - Architects & Interior Designers

G.S. Mahaboob Basha, Taliesyn - Design & Architecture

Ketan Sheth, Goldmine Project Consultant

Built Architecture & Interior Design projects in the hospitality industry including hotels, motels, lodging facilities, wellness retreats, resorts, amusement parks, the architecture of restaurants, spas, clubhouses, banquets, lounges as part of hotels.

02:15 – 04:15 PMHall A

Architecture & Interior Design — Healthcare

Dhara Mayuresh Katira, Spatial Designs Consultants

Built Architecture & Interior Design projects in the healthcare industry including clinics, hospitals, wellness centers, or specialized care centers.

04:30 – 06:30 PMHall A

Architecture & Interior Design — Public & Institutional Building

Chiraag Kapoor, Chiraag Kapoor Architects

Samarendra M. Ramachandra, SAMAR RAMACHANDRA ASSOCIATES

Built Architecture & Interior Design projects including research labs, libraries, schools, college training centres, recreational spaces, theatres, cultural & community centres, religious institutions, galleries, museums, malls.

12:00 – 02:00 PMHall B

Interior Design — Retail

Prasanna Parvatikar, Cubism Architects and Interiors

Built Interior Design projects including shops, showrooms, stores, retail spaces like boutiques, departmental stores, salon.

02:15 – 04:15 PMHall B

Architecture — Residential Villa & Bungalow

Darius Billimoria, Billimoria Architecture

Built Architecture projects including workplaces, offices, studios, banks, co-working spaces, the architecture of retail spaces.

04:30 – 06:30 PMHall B

Interior Design — Residential Apartment (more than 1000 sq.ft)

Pavan Suryadevara, Clark Lloyd Architects

Arun Balan, Balan and Nambisan Architects

Soyuz Talib, Soyuz Talib Architects Pvt Ltd. (STAPL)

Built Interior Design projects including workplaces, offices, studios, banks, co-working spaces, gyms.

10:30 AM

Keynote Presentation · Elizabeth Diller (Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R))

Elizabeth Diller, Co-Founding Partner of Diller Scofidio + Renfro, is a leading voice in contemporary architecture, known for blending architecture, art, performance, and urban thinking. Her work reshapes how cities engage with culture and community. At FOAID, she will share the ideas behind her creative process, exploring how narrative, experimentation, and cultural insight inform the spaces she envisions.

02:00 - 02:15 PM

Presentation Series
Manish Gulati, MOFA Studio

Manish Gulati of MOFA Studio designs environments shaped by climate, landscape, and human behavior rather than object-driven form. His work weaves water, ecology, and intuitive movement to create adaptive, connected places. At FOAID, he will share his Listening–Layering–Learning approach, showing how natural systems and everyday patterns inform resilient, low-energy campuses and districts.

02:15 - 02:30 PM

Presentation Series
Naresh V Narasimhan, Venkataramanan Associates

Naresh V. Narasimhan of Venkataramanan Associates is an architect and urbanist whose work spans architecture, urban strategy, and cultural institution-building. He has played a key role in shaping Bengaluru’s civic landscape through collaborative, community-driven initiatives. At FOAID, he will share his perspective on how architects can shape India’s cities through thoughtful, culture-led, and socially responsive design.

02:30 - 02:45 PM

Presentation Series
Gayathri Shetty, Gayathri & Namith Architects (GNA)

Gayathri Shetty of Gayathri & Namith Architects (GNA) is known for work that blends sustainability, cultural sensitivity, and contemporary design. With over three decades of practice, she creates human-centered, context-driven environments rooted in harmony with nature. At FOAID 2025, she will share insights into GNA’s design philosophy, highlighting how thoughtful planning and sustainable principles shape enduring architecture.

03:00 – 03:30 PM

CONVERSATION
The Creative Mindset: How to Think Better, Not Just Design Better

Ameet Mirpuri, Ameet Mirpuri Design Studio

This session explores the mental habits behind great design—how creative thinkers observe deeply, question assumptions, and turn constraints into opportunities. The panel shares practical ways to strengthen intuition, sharpen problem-solving, and develop a mindset that leads to clearer decisions and more meaningful outcomes. The takeaway is simple: think better, design better.

03:45 - 04:05 PM

Presentation · Kapil Gupta (Serie Architects)

Kapil Gupta, Co-Founder of Serie Architects, grounds his work in typology, urban form, and the evolving conditions of South Asian cities. His research-driven approach blends precedent with new spatial possibilities across diverse projects. At FOAID, he will share his views on typology, urban change, and regenerative futures, and how these ideas shape architecture’s response to today’s challenges.

04:20 – 05:45 PM

DESIGN TRIVIA · Naqshaybaaz

Supraja Rao, Design house by Supraja Rao

Sujit Nair, SDeG ( Sujit Nair Design Group )

An interactive dynamic session curated & hosted by Ar. Manish Gulati of MOFA Studio bringing together leading experts from the architecture and design fields, where they collaborate and compete to showcase their knowledge.

06:30 PM Onwards

Grand Award Ceremony (VOX Architecture Ideas & ICA Creative Minds Next)

Recognising bold, disruptive ideas shaping the future of design—followed by entertainment, dinner & cocktails at 08:30 PM.

Get your Conference Pass

02:00 – 03:30 PM

The High-Rise Design Challenge: Engineering, Mobility & Safety for Dense Indian Cities

Qutub Mandviwala, Mandviwala Qutub & Associates

Siddarth G. Sankar, Sankar and Associates

Sheetal Bhilkar, Urja Building Services Consultants (UBSC)

Ayush Kamalia, Transsolar Energietechnik GmbH

As Indian cities rise vertically, high-rise development brings both opportunity and complexity. The High-Rise Design Challenge gathers experts to examine the essentials of building tall in dense urban contexts—structural systems, mobility and lift planning, fire and life safety, and supporting infrastructure. The discussion highlights what’s needed to design safe, efficient, and future-ready towers, offering clear insights for policymakers, developers, and designers shaping India’s vertical future.

03:30 – 05:00 PM

Build What Matters - Constructing a Better Everyday for Millions

J.P Agrawal, Agrawal & Agrawal Architects

Indrajit Kembhavi, Kembhavi Architecture Foundation

Shripal Munshi, Shripal and Venkat Architects

Gaurav Sanghavi,
Pentaspace Design Studio

The session explores how India’s construction industry can shape a future where buildings and cities genuinely improve everyday life for millions. The session focuses on rethinking what we build and how we build it — prioritizing comfort, performance, and human wellbeing while subtly addressing the need for climate-responsive, low-impact approaches. It highlights how better materials, smarter detailing, and thoughtful construction practices can create resilient, long-lasting environments that truly support the people who live, work, and move through them.

04:00 – 05:00 PM

Interactive Session
Uncensored: Straight from the Heart

Rohit Bhoite, Rohit Bhoite, House of design,

Tushar Mistry, Tushar Mistry Design Studio

Asking questions is essential to architectural learning, encouraging curiosity and critical thinking. With this intent, Uncensored: Straight from the Heart was created exclusively for students. A panel of senior and young entrepreneurs will answer their questions openly, helping bridge the communication gap between emerging designers and established practitioners.

05:00 – 06:00 PM

Conversation
Designing for Life, Not Likes: The True Career Playbook

Thomas Parambil, Thomas Parambil Architects

Zoish Contractor, Architect Hafeez Contractor

This session helps emerging architects understand how to build a meaningful, future-ready career. It covers the skills and mindsets that matter beyond the first job — developing a design voice, mastering new tools, collaborating well, and understanding the business of practice. Students will learn how to make smart early choices, seek mentorship, upskill, and navigate a rapidly changing industry, gaining practical guidance for a clear path forward.

12:00 – 02:00 PMHall A