Her grandfather was an aesthete and she who experienced his dialogues with art closely took it further and became an architect. Teja Amonkar completed her education at Goa College of Architecture. Subsequently, she worked for a brief stint with Pitzker Laurette (an international architectural award for recognising contributions to humanity and built spaces), Late Ar B V Doshi, Ar Amit Sukhtancar, Ar Bijoy Jain, and others.
After gaining experience, she developed her own design language. She blurred the boundaries between drawings and the making, and formed Field Atelier studio in Dona Paula with her husband, partner and architect Yatin Fulari in 2015. Recently, her studio was selected by Architecture Live as one of the 12 emerging Indian Architectural Practices and its work was displayed at an exhibition ‘Practices on the Horizon’ which was a part of the Kala Ghoda Festival in Mumbai this year.
Honing the ability to wield form and nature, Amonkar received her maiden project, ‘A house in Assagao’. This project was shortlisted for the NDTV Design & Architecture Awards 2017 and also for the National Awards for excellence by the Indian Institute of Architects. She integrated nature into architecture and elevated the way of living such that the built spaces are in harmony with the surroundings.
Amonkar explained, “Client wanted the warm welcoming Goan feeling in their house. We designed the structure suitable for maximum natural light and ventilation. Since this house was built on a narrow plot, the planning incorporates courtyards to provide extra spillover areas for all usable spaces, providing relief from the constraints of the site. Also, since the house looks upon a busy village street, the courtyards provided an internal view and filled the space with warm diffused natural light. All floor surfaces of the common areas were finished with Indian Patent Stone (IPS) or oxide flooring in a beige hue thereby giving the entire house a warm glow.”
Read the full article in ‘Viva Goa’ magazine copy.
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