Chanchal Poddar

Design Forum International (DFI) is a New Delhi based architectural practice that is firmly rooted in the “People-first” approach to design. Founded in 1995 by three graduates from the Indian Institute of Technology (Kharagpur), Anand Sharma, Anoj Tevatia and Goonmeet Singh Chauhan envisioned the practice to foster an egalitarian organization ethos, where distinct architectural talent could find self-expression and contribute towards the development of human-centric architecture in a collaborative work environment. Since its inception, the practice has been a witness to the unfolding journey of India; from being a third-world country to the fastest growing economy. Through the diverse portfolio including projects across residential, retail, workplaces, recreational, hospitality, institutional, master planning and civic infrastructure, DFI endeavours to contribute to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of being a part of “Nation Building''. Spread across the nation, their notable projects have set benchmarks in the Indian built environment. Over the years, the practice has grown from strength to strength and is currently marching ahead with a team of over 100 professionals, each pursuing a distinctive value-based architectural spirit and executing projects with a deep sense of optimism, excellence, and integrity. Being an agent of change, their efforts are rooted in principles of sustainable architecture and response to the local context while simultaneously ensuring that humans remain central to design. DFI has won many national and international accolades for their diverse oeuvre of work, including the Index Excellence Award in 2019, and the IIA Award in 2017. Their works have time and again found a place in esteemed newspapers and various Architecture, Design and Real Estate magazines. The firm has also been featured in the international magazines: South East Asia Building Magazine and the Perspective Global Magazine, and various online platforms.