Two Is Company

Swapnil And Rahul Dalvi Recount Their Two-Decade long Design Journey At Dalvi Associates.

- Anamika Butalia & Maria Louis

She was just a girl when her mother and sisters introduced her to art. Drawing, painting, writing, stitching and learning Bharatanatyam was part of young Swapnil’s daily schedule. But eventually, she was drawn to a different art – of space and form – and she left no stone unturned to adapt her interest in architecture into a career. The various festivals she attended as a classical Indian dancer led to interactions with people from different parts of the world – which, in turn, led to the understanding of different cultures, values and how architecture lives through it. “The journey through other cultures made me realise, value and respect our motherland all the more,” declares Swapnil Dalvi today.

Surprisingly, her batchmate (at MS University, Vadodara) turned-husband’s foray into architecture has been quite different from hers and that of other architects in the country. Rahul says that being in the field of architecture was “a sheer stroke of luck” and not something he dreamt of in school. “As most established achievers in my known circle were doctors or engineers, I aspired to become a mechanical engineer,” he recalls. “It was only after getting into college that I got interested in architecture. Today, I strongly believe there is no other field better than architecture... at least for me.”

It’s no wonder that he feels this way, for his and Swapnil’s combined architectural journey as the principals/partners at Dalvi Associates, has been as inspirational as it is influential. The contrast in their journeys – Rahul’s involved a change, while Swapnil’s was straightforward thanks to her art inclinations – add an interesting dynamic to their working relationship and their approach to design.