If you think this website is unlike others, don't fret. This website is intentionally built using GitHub to do a bit to preserve a web that does not compromise on your time, privacy, and bandwidth.
Here you can see what I’ve shipped recently, what I’m building next, and how I’m doing as an architect. By sharing this information I aim to demystify the weird and wonderful process of working on mostly bootstrapped projects.
I’m working hard to build a mindful, respectful, and accountable space for my patrons. I’ve lots of ideas for how to do a better job, as well as lots of challenges.
This is meant to be as transparent as reasonably possible. Since I’m accountable to my patrons instead of advertisers, my incentive is to create meaningful projects.
This website is an intellectual property of Architect Kushal Dhananjay Samant, vide Architect's Act, 1972 of the Constitution of The Republic of India. Any violation of the Architect's Act is a punishable offence.
Photos and videos are edited using modern editors for videos, GIFs, and images:
VSDC Video Editor, VSCO Cam, Vaporgram Pro, Snapseed, Kapwing, Instagram, Inshot, and Huji Cam.
Kushal Dhananjay Samant is an Architect, based in India.
In 2006, he started this journey as a side-hustle by selling stationery. In 2009, he started designing competition entries with other architects based in Seattle, CDMX, Buenos Aires, Maastricht, Torino, Kaapstad, Tampere, Mumbai, Panjim, Bangalore, Manila, and Sydney.
In 2012, he created his first brochure, magazine (Avalanche Annual Fest Magazine), and prospectus for his Alma Mater, KLS GIT, Belgaum. In 2013, he graduated with a distinction in Bachelors of Architecture from Visvesvaraya Technological University.
Since 2014, he has worked with brands like Thomas Albert Music, The Hive, The Black Canvas, SoundCloud, Scootsy, PhiFilms, OpenDesk, Maker's Asylum, Ketto, funKtion design, EDStudio Architects, de.Sign Architecture Urban Design, Cinemamu, Airbnb, Adidas, &c. In 2015, he started the WikiHouse / BOM chapter of The WikiHouse Project in Bombay.
In 2016, Muzej Za Arhitekturo In Oblikovanje and Future Architecture Platform published his work: GRÜHAM. He takes pride in stopping a country from deporting a friend, back in 2017. Later that year, he became an Airbnb Superhost, a top Medium writer, and The Economic Times of India cited his views on Stand-Up Comedy culture.
In 2018, he made SHLVNG, furniture by OpenDesk, and sold these products on Bumble, Hinge, and Tinder. In 2019, he proofread research papers at SVKM's NMIMS, Mumbai (NMIMS School of Branding & Advertising). Later that year, he taught Architectural Design, Graphics & Drawing Representation, and AutoDesk products as a visiting faculty at Dr. D.Y. Patil College of Architecture, Navi Mumbai.
In 2020, one of his repositories was selected for the Arctic Code Vault of the GitHub Archive Program. Later that year, he started Your Mail Project.
In 2022, he taught as a core faculty at Dr. D.Y. Patil College of Architecture, Navi Mumbai. Currently, he is building Geometry.
So far, he has worked in the fields of academic research, app development, architecture, art, banking, blogging, bookmaking, book-writing, clothing, construction, content creation, content writing, curation, design, e-commerce, engineering, film making, food delivery, furniture design, garments, graphic design, hospitality, logistics, lyrics writing, mapping, market research, music, merchandising, manufacturing, open-source architecture, operations, photography, podcasts, product design, sound & production, teaching, telemarketing, venture capital, vlogging, and web design.
**[Projects](#projects)**. **[Contact](#contact)**. **[About](#about)**.These people taught me things that I could not have learnt otherwise.
A V, Suchendra.
Adams, Vesely.
Agarwal, Bharat.
Aknoji, Anand.
Albert, Thomas.
Allagui, Anis.
Alva, Praveen.
Ansari, Yusuf.
Anvekar, Rohit.
Banejee, Spandan.
Bansal, Amrita.
Barve, Aditya.
Barve, Shalmali Patkar.
Bhangare, Kaustubh.
Cervinkova, Katrina.
Chahal, Dapinder.
Chhabra, Vaibhav.
Chougule, Umesh.
Das, Prasoon G.
Dave, Poulomi.
Desai, Ashutosh.
Desai, Gauri.
Desai, Shirish.
Divos, Erika Jimena Montalvo.
Dodhia, Khyati.
Dolas, Akshay.
Dongare, Praveen.
Drake, Gemma.
D'Souza, Adolf.
D'Souza, Lloyd.
D'Souza, Mark.
D'Souza, Richard.
D'Souza, Winston.
Fernandes, Annie.
Fernando, Thomas.
Fuchs, Carl Justus.
Gabajiwala, Tasneem.
Gupta, HN Srikanth.
Gupta, Nikita.
Hegde, Pawan.
Hernandez, Penelope.
Ingalagi, Nagesh.
Jagger, Prashin.
Jain, Ankit.
Jayarajan, Ashwin.
Jayarajan, Geeta.
Jha, Shashank.
Joshua, Sneha.
Kadabi, Aditya.
Kalra, Sukhda.
Kamath, Deepa.
Kedia, Akshat.
Kenkre, Siddhi.
Khanolkar, Suyash.
Kharsati, Elgiva.
Khemalapure, Shreyank.
Khundrakpam, Sushilkumar.
Knight, Harry.
Konarikova, Michala.
Koutumbeerkar, Prashant.
Kubski, Kathrina.
Maheo, Asoni.
Maheshwari, Sachin.
Mahidharia, Anool.
Martin, Sara.
Masurkar, Jayesh.
Mathew, Abish.
MD, Mushab.
Modak, Balwant.
Moghe, Yash.
Mohandas, Manjusha.
Mohe, Sanjay.
Mohite, Rohit.
Mutkekar, Prasad.
Naik, Surabhi.
Nair, Sudeip.
Nambiar, EPG.
Natverlal, Piyush Prince.
Ortiz, Elian Miroslav Lopez.
Pai, Shivangi.
Patade, Yugandhar.
Patel, Anushree Hiren.
Patkar, Mandar.
Patkar, Pallavi.
Patkar, Sarthak.
Pesswani, Monica.
Pesswani, Nikita.
Philip, Sebastian.
Pinishetti, Srushti.
Poojary, Shivani.
Pradeep, Ankita.
Quimson, Ezra Leih.
Rai, Nitya.
Rana, Pradeep.
Rastogi, Krishna.
Rathod, Shraddha.
Renteria, Eric Gregory Lovell.
Rohida, Sakshi.
Saboji, Sharan.
Sadalage, Vishal.
Sahai, Arjit.
Salvi, Ashwini.
Samant, Dhananjay.
Samant, Kunal.
Samant, Mitalee.
Samant, Neha.
Samant, Nilima.
Samant, Raghunandan.
Samant, Shirish.
Sangolli, Padma.
Sawalkar, Prajakta.
Sethi, Kaushal.
Shah, Prachi.
Sharma, Akash.
Shetty, Chetan.
Shiroshi, Akshay.
Sridhar, Madhusudhan.
Sridharan, Shruti.
Swat, Justyna.
Talreja, Pooja.
Tavargeri, Avani.
Thelekkat, Jayarajan.
Thelekkat, Mohandas.
Timmermans, Thies.
Upasani, Sonali.
Van Gelder, Elke.
Varadkar, Neha.
Varadkar, Ramchandra.
Varadkar, Santosh.
Vora, Shyam.
Wadhwani, Sakshi.
Yalgi, Mohit.
These are the names of the people who signed up to be a part of Your Mail Project. They gave me an opportunity to contribute to your lives.
Agarwal, Parul.
Anbazhagan, Eyamuna.
Baddpujari, Samruddhi.
Bafna, Raina.
Bhat, Mahima.
Bhatnagar, Sonia.
Birje, Prabhuti.
Buragohain, Denim.
Chavan, Neha.
Chevuturi, Lahari.
Das, Ishita.
Das, Meghana.
Dass, Madhuri.
Deshpande, Amrut.
Doctor, Hiral.
Gabajiwala, Tasneem.
Gatpa, Vaishnavi.
Gedam, Vivek.
Inaya, Fouzul.
Jain, Deeksha.
Jallu, Sawab.
Jhalani, Stuti.
K, Sushmita.
Kalra, Sukhda.
Kanji, Devpria.
Kashalkar, Bhairavi.
Kaur, Divnoor.
Krishnan, Gauthamy.
Mahajan, Ishika.
Mahajan, Devika.
Malik, Gazala.
Misra, Seema.
Mohanraj, Keerthika.
Mustaufi, Dibyashree.
Nagaraj, Dyuthi.
Nara, Sapna.
Nath, Siddhartha.
Pandey, Sunita.
Patade, Yugandhar.
Perhar-Arora, Sonia.
Phodkar, Sairaj.
Rathod, Shraddha.
Reddy, Anisha K.
Roy, Arsha.
Salunke, Aditi.
Salvi, Ashwini.
Samant, Kushal.
Samant, Mitalee.
Satish, Dhanya.
Shah, Avani.
Shah, Karishma.
Sharma, Shivani.
Shivaraj, Hemanth.
Singh, Yashna.
Sukesh, Sonali.
Suryawanshi, Pranali.
Talakad, Aishwarya Lakshmi.
Tandon, Shivani.
Thakkar, Niyati.
Venkataraman, Harini.
Yadav, Chandrakala.
These are the projects/ventures I've worked on.
- Geometry.
- Core Faculty of Architecture at Dr D.Y. Patil College of Architecture, Navi Mumbai.
- Your Mail Project.
- Web Design + Digital Marketing + Automation for Sandeep Shridhar Dhabale.
- Web Design + Digital Marketing + Automation for PhiFilms.
- Web Design + Digital Marketing + Automation for Cinemamu.
- Creative Content Writing at Devman Technology Solutions.
- Visiting Faculty for Architectural Design, Architectural Graphics & Drawing Representation, AutoDesk AutoCAD at Dr D.Y. Patil College of Architecture, Navi Mumbai.
- Proofreading Academic Research Papers (CSR) at SVKM’s NMIMS, Mumbai (NMIMS School of Branding & Advertising).
- Editing Ph.D. Research Papers (Marketing) for Turn-it-in tests at SVKM’s NMIMS, Mumbai (NMIMS School of Branding & Advertising).
- Anechoic Room, Khopoli. Client: SoundCodes.
- Residence, Allahabad. Client: Sadguru.
- Residence, Sankeshwar. Client: Vishal Bhopale.
- Food Concierge at Scootsy, Mumbai.
- Amazon, and Flipkart Sales Manager at Ria Enterprises.
- SHLVNG.
- Furniture Maker at OpenDesk.
- Web Design for Studio Diksuchi.
- Web Design for Studio Detail.
- Business Development, Live Videographer, Co-Lyricist for Thomas Albert Music, Mumbai.
- Web Design for Tashi Films.
- Operations Manager for The Black Canvas, Mumbai.
- Logistics Manager for The Black Canvas, Mumbai.
- Operations Manager for POLKA Clothing Store, Mumbai.
- Redevelopment of Revdanda Fort, Kashid. Client: Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, Government of Maharashtra.
- The Hive Black Box Theatre, Sassoon Dock, Colaba, Mumbai. Client: Alt Culture Entertainment Pvt Ltd.
- The Hive Black Box Theatre, Brewbot, Andheri, Mumbai. Client: Alt Culture Entertainment Pvt Ltd.
- Underwear Exhibition with PracticeNext, Mumbai. Client: Saatchi & Saatchi.
- Office, Sion, Mumbai. Client: The Black Canvas.
- El Tunal Stadium (International).
- Fontanar Del Rio Stadium (International).
- Housing for Kalejdohill, Kvarnbacken, Jakobsberg, Jarfalla (International).
- Coworking Offices, Bandra, Mumbai. Client: Collab Works Pvt Ltd.
- The Cuckoo Club, Cafe, Bandra, Mumbai. Client: Alt Culture Entertainment Pvt Ltd.
- The Cuckoo Club, Theatre, Bandra, Mumbai. Client: Alt Culture Entertainment Pvt Ltd.
- Hotel Royal Residency, Kurla, Mumbai. Client: Pavan Shetty.
- Manufacturing Plant, Lower Parel, Mumbai Client: NRB Bearings.
- A room full of books, Savaroli. Client: Mahua Farms.
- Ambisonic Lab, Savaroli. Client: SoundCodes.
- Airbnb Superhost for Mumbai.
- Airbnb, Andheri, Mumbai. Client: Sachin Maheshwari.
- GRÜHAM.
- WAVE Innovation Space, Nehru Center, Mumbai. Client: BNP Paribas.
- Infinity Mirror Installation, Todi Mill Social, Mumbai. Client: Adidas.
- WikiHouse / BOM chapter of The WikiHouse Foundation, UK.
- Varna Library International Architectural Competition (International).
- Makerspace, Andheri, Mumbai. Client: Maker’s Asylum.
- Makerspace, Lower Parel, Indian School of Design and Innovation, Mumbai. Client: Maker’s Asylum.
- Velugam School, Dadra & Nagar Haveli. Client: Ar. Shreyank Khemalapure.
- Angel Investor for Home for Artists, Jaipur.
- Coworking Offices, Khar, Mumbai. Client: Collab Works Pvt Ltd.
- Office, Khar, Mumbai. Client: Genius U.
- Woollen Watch, Thane. Client: Beyond Your Thoughts.
- Workshop Event Space, Khar. Client: Alt Culture Entertainment Pvt Ltd.
- Product Strategy (India) at SoundCloud.
- Xircus Performance Space, Khar. Client: Alt Culture Entertainment Pvt Ltd.
- The Hive Black Box Theatre, Khar, Mumbai. Client: Alt Culture Entertainment Pvt Ltd.
- The Hungry Traveller Cafe, Khar, Mumbai. Client: Alt Culture Entertainment Pvt Ltd.
- kNOw Smoking - A short film about the experiences of the nicotine addicts.
- The Swedavia Bromma Stockholm Airport Challenge (International).
- Residence, Kudal. Client: Jayaram Londhe.
- Final Architectural Thesis (Bridging Emotions). Explored the utility value of space around the Sea Link Bridge, Mumbai and proposed architectural design to treat citywide clinical depression.
- Shortlisted for University of Westminster Design Trophy at International Rank No. 4.
- Shortlisted for Landscape Design Trophy for 2 consecutive years.
- Shortlisted for Annual NASA Design Competition for 5 consecutive years / Perspicacity.
- Android Application for Archiperspecta with Pawan Hegde.
- Ouch - An animated film about incidents in the lives of Mumbaikars.
- Editorial Team for Annual Architectural Magazine, Oculus 5 of KLS GIT, Belgaum.
- Catalytic Corridor, LAjournal Design Competition (Landscape, India).
- Urban Insert Design. Proposed a way to cure religious tension and ongoing riots in the Old city and the Fort, Belgaum using socio - economic principles of urban design and space making.
- Book Store Interior Design. Proposed redesigning an old watch tower into a bookstore inside the military cantonment/camp area of Belgaum.
- Processism.
- Admission Brochure 2012 of KLS GIT, Belgaum.
- Prospectus 2012 of KLS GIT, Belgaum.
- Avalanche Annual Fest Magazine 2012 of KLS GIT, Belgaum.
- Citation for GSen Redesign Trophy for 4 consecutive years.
- Citation for 3 consecutive years for Louis I Kahn Documentation Trophy.
- Shortlisted for Annual NASA Journalism Trophy, Zo-NASA Journalism Trophy for 3 consecutive years.
- Shortlisted and Published for Cityscape Article Writing Competition at National Level.
- Interview, Ar. Deepak Guggari, VDGA, Pune for Annual Architectural Magazine, Oculus 4 of KLS GIT, Belgaum.
- IVAVELUX Award Competition (International).
- The Red Bag. A film showcasing the quote, “Things go to those who want to keep them, and not use them.”
- Innu Onde Gadi Kathe. A stop motion film based on a Bollywood love story plot, made of toy cars characters that speak slang lingua.
- Chase in Life. A short film about growth and the desire to grow that is common within all things that are within nature and man.
- Special Mention for Housing and Urban Development Corporation Design Trophy for 3 consecutive years.
- Institute of Design. Studied design principles of Alvaro Siza and used them for a proposed campus design project.
- Interview, Ar. Sanjay Mohe, Mindspace Architects, Bangalore for Annual Architectural Magazine, Oculus 3 of KLS GIT, Belgaum.
- Internship for 16 weeks at funktion design, Bangalore.
- Diagnostic Center. Proposed using elements of calm and peace to cure traumas.
- Cultural Center. Evolved the masterplan from the site boundaries, contours and topography.
- Community Center. Proposed a circular form with split sections for adding a stadia.
- Housing. The master-plan focused on ease of access, child safety, and large pedestrian zones coupled with event spaces.
- Motel. Adapted artificial balconies to capture surrounding picturesque views.
- Meditation Center. Designed a path around light and glass water tanks to create an ambience for meditation.
- Residence, Kudal. Client: Prof. Uday Bhatye.
- Residence, Muzaffarpur. Client: Mr. Vibhu Kumar.
- Café, New Delhi. Client: Mr. Varun Ashok.
- Farmhouse, Savaroli. Client: Mrs. Heera Subhan and Mr. Sharad Yadav.
- Restaurant. Proposed a thin concrete slab pierced at various points by structural steel columns and oriented towards the lake while creating natural ventilation.
- Web Design for Archiperspecta on Joomla/ Wordpress/ Vanilla with customization, and improved web traffic strategies.
- Brno City Square Design Competition (International).
- Bungalow. Proposed a lake house with circular form and bridges as corridors.
- Articles for Annual Architectural Magazine, Oculus 2 of KLS GIT, Belgaum.
Other Projects.
edStudio Architects.
Bangalore.
- Residence, Bangalore. Client: Mr. Mujeeb Rehman.
- Apartment and Interiors, Bangalore. Client: Dr. Shabbir.
- Industrial Campus, Bangalore. Client: SR Seatings.
- Corporate Office and Interiors, Bangalore. Client: SR Seatings.
- Rowhouse, Bangalore. Client: Mr. Ansari.
- Residence, Bangalore. Client: Mr. Mohsin.
- Residence, Bangalore. Client: Mr. Jameel.
- Corporate Office + Interiors, Bangalore. Client: Ultra Laboratories.
- Warehouse, Hassan. Client: Ultra Laboratories.
- Apartment, Hoodi. Client: Mr. Mujeeb Rehman.
- Penthouse + Interiors, Bangalore. Client: Mr. Ansari.
- Residence, Bangalore. Client: Mr. Haleem.
de.Sign Studio LLC.
New York . Mumbai.
- 93 Starr Street, Brooklyn. Client: Rahul Marathe.
- Manhattan Loft, Manhattan. Client. Ar. Viren Brahmbhatt.
- SNS Platina, Surat. Client: SNS Developers Pvt. Ltd.
- Mega Food Park, Gujarat. Client: State Government of Gujarat.
funktion design.
Bangalore.
- Arbors By The Lake, Gated Community & Villas Project, Jigani, Bangalore. Client: CK Narotham.
- Residence, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore. Client: Mr. Harish Bhatia.
- funktion design Office Building, Sanjaynagar, Bangalore. Client: Ar. Madhusudhan Sridhar.
- Commercial Complex, Jayanagar, Bangalore. Client: Mrs. Lakshmi and Mr. Jagadish.
- Apartment, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore. Client: Ar. Madhusudhan Sridhar.
- Heritage Conservation, Basavangudi, Bangalore. Client: Adv. Ramadhyani.
- Kevala Retreat, Chikmagalur. Client: Dr. Pradeep Ullal.
- Hotel Peridot, Mysore. Client: Peridot Group.
- Apartment, Sanjaynagar, Bangalore. Client: Mr. Nori Phanindra.
- Residence, Chamarajpet, Bangalore. Client: Mr. Sitaram and Mrs. Shruti.
- Residence + Interiors, Bangalore. Client: Dr. Ravindran.
- Interiors, Sanjaynagar, Bangalore. Client: Ar. Madhusudhan Sridhar.
If you're trying to reach out to say hello or say something nice, have a question or complaint or suggestion about something, or if there's something you don't see here that you'd like to know, then you should @me on Instagram / LinkedIn / Pinterest / Twitter / YouTube.
I try to respond to as many posts as possible. I know that's not as satisfying as sending a direct email but my inbox is a big fat mess and when I made it public there were too many messages to respond so they just went unread - that sucks for everyone.
If you are nearby and want to connect personally or want a couple of minutes of my time on the phone, or in person, have a business or startup idea you want to talk to me about, or want to share something you made with me, or want to get me involved in what you're doing or want me to collaborate on some of your other projects, or anything that involves a commitment of time, any amount of time, I very very gently have to say no. Saying no is hard.
So many extraordinary circumstances that should warrant me saying yes, but I can't. It's a hard, inflexible no.
Family comes first, work second and whatever is left over I like to use for me which is usually travel. There is no time left for yes, even if that means missing opportunities.
Paul Graham really nails why saying yes for a quick coffee can be so destructive to the creative process - give 'this' a read to understand the maker's schedule. Ryan Holiday penned 'this' pointed essay to everyone who asks for just a little of your time.
It's brilliant, I wish I'd written it. I am sorry for no, but it's not without reason.