Amita Raj is a practising Architect & Interior Designer. She graduated from the School of Planning & Architecture, JNA&FAU, Hyderabad in 1994 and completed her Master’s in Interior Design from CSIIT. She was the recipient of a Gold medal in her Project Dissertation in her Master’s program. She got her initial training
while working in Architectural Associates under Late Ar. Subash Narayan & Ar Anand Sagar.

She is the co-founder and Principal Architect of her firm “ARDES” which started in the year 2004 along with her partner Ar. G. Ram Mohan Reddy. The firm provides design services in Architecture & Interior Design for a wide
variety of public & private buildings and has a substantial amount of experience in Residential, Commercial, Hospitality & Group housing projects. Her firm recently won an award at India Architectural Summit in Hyderabad for outstanding work in Interiors for Residential spaces.

“Creativity comes from the heart” This is what she believes in and practices it in every aspect of her life. She was the Co-Curator of “Best out of Waste workshop” conducted by the IIID chapter in 2019 & 2022 for Students of Architecture from various colleges, who worked along with Mentors, Practicing architects, Artists, Sculptors and Academicians.

She has participated in many Seminars & Workshops and was presented a certificate of achievement for completing the Green Village Bamboo Construction course in Bali in 2017.

She is presently visiting faculty for Master’s Students in SPA, JNA&FAU and has been invited as a jury to various Architectural and Interior Design Colleges. She was also the Guest Speaker at the event “Meet the Teachers”
at JNA&FAU.

She was part of the advisory committee and the Co-judge for Stall Design for the Inside Outside Mega show in 2013 and was the Eminent Jury member for The GRANDSTAND Awards from 2017-20, Hyderabad edition. She has been the Managing Committee member of the Institute of Indian Interior Designers- Hyderabad Regional Chapter and served in various posts from 2014-2021. She was also the Editor of their quarterly magazine “Insider” during the term 2019-21.

She has been the Vice President of Junior Chamber International, Hyderabad chapter from 2013-2014 and participated in several Entrepreneurial Training & Community Service programs as a member.

The reception area is conceptualized using zigzag lines to create excitement and movement. The reception’s entrance door is adorned with beaten metal in a stunning rose gold colour. The lettering on the door is skillfully crafted using Corian white, complementing beautifully with the colour theme of white, rose gold, and grey. Zig-zag-designed reception table, meticulously fashioned from plywood is adorned with a Duco paint finish. CNC-cut MDF alphabets on the wall finished with textured bubble paint gave a good contrast to the smooth walls.

Profile lights elegantly line the ceiling, guiding your gaze from the entryway and throughout the entire area. The semi-circular shaped nail art stations made from ply can be easily moved offering flexibility and functionality. When positioned side by side, they seamlessly form a complete circle, creating a sense of unity and harmony within the space.

Nestled discreetly behind the nail display counter, lies the private waiting lounge, embodying the essence of the “negative space" in harmony with the yin and yang philosophy. This lounge area serves as a haven for clients seeking relaxation or a platform for owners to engage meaningfully with their valued guests. The wall in the backdrop is adorned in luxurious rose gold textured paint. Above, the ceiling is a canvas of white, seamlessly complementing the overall theme of the office.

The exclusive VIP waiting room boasts an enchanting blend of gold and white, a combination that epitomizes luxury. The wall is adorned in a rich emerald green, a colour symbolizing luxury and refinement. When paired with gold accents, the result is an ambience that exudes grandeur and elegance. This room features an exquisite pink Onyx marble table with a backlit backdrop casting a soft, enchanting glow that envelops the entire space in a mesmerizing aura. Texture paint on the walls adds depth and richness to the design, while the choice of wooden tiles exudes warmth
and elegance.

Located at the far end of the nail display wall lies the drying area boasting a fluid design which entails the seamless integration of an overhead beam and a column. The wall here is adorned with a blend of white and blue colours to captivate and engage the clients, waiting in the drying area, thus keeping monotony at bay.

 

Enlivening the ambience is a specially curated vibrant wall, adorned in a captivating blend of serene blue and pristine white. Deliberately designed to captivate and engage, this artful backdrop ensures that every moment spent within the drying area is an experience of sheer delight. Bid farewell to dull moments as you revel in a mesmerizing vista that keeps monotony at bay.

A small place welcomes you with a mirror adorning one wall, flanked by washrooms on either side. The floor boasts a single, seamless slab of tile elegantly complemented by delicate pebbles on either side. Likewise, a striking large slab adorns the wall behind the mirror.

The logo bracing the wall behind the table catches the attention of the visitors. The letters are cut in Corian stone which is placed atop the lustrous rose gold canvas resulting in a captivating visual symphony that captures the essence of the brand with unparalleled elegance. High-end vitrified tiles, with gold and marble veins, weave together the space’s colour theme in harmonious synergy.

The design of this space was thoughtfully inspired by the principles of Chinese yin and yang philosophy, emphasizing the harmony that arises from the balance of opposing forces. Embracing curvilinear-shaped walls, the area exudes a free-flowing dynamism that plays a pivotal role in defining the positive (semi-private) and negative (private) spaces within.

The MD’s room has a blend of grey and white tones. Pastel blue shade for the seating and black chairs add a touch of elegance and professional ambience. The carefully selected black art on the walls, along with the black lights and the addition of wooden texture tiles add a touch of sophistication and a professional environment to the overall design.

Café area for clients who indulge in nail art, knowing that the process often requires a minimum of a couple of hours. A Corean table top adorned with LED strip lights positioned at the table’s bottom, complemented by tear-shaped lights suspended from the ceiling, bathing the area in a pleasant glow. The counter wall proudly displays the company logo and is skillfully crafted from matching wood, harmonizing with the brown and golden tiles used throughout. The walls of the cafe area are done in a zig-zag pattern design, similar to the reception area’s design. The pattern features delicate perforations that allow a gentle flow of air and provide a glimpse of the surroundings meanwhile the frosted door conceals the view of the inside.

Your eyes are drawn to the captivating wall of the pedicure and the manicure area which adorns the graceful inscription “CO CCO LARE". The chairs here are very sleek and the Corean top manicure table, with its tall and graceful silhouette, boasts a lustrous rose gold finish on its taps, adding a hint of opulence to every pampering session. The table’s flowy design seamlessly blends with the overall aesthetic. Every detail has been meticulously planned, even down to the sinks, which gracefully conceal the pipes below the surface.

The ceiling lights seamlessly blend with the walls to create a harmonious visual journey. The panels, intentionally positioned with a slight tilt at the back of the chairs, create a captivating interplay of light that begins at the walls and gracefully ascends to the ceiling. Throughout the space, the play of lines and shapes, be they straight, curvilinear, jagged, or smooth, was artfully explored.