Studio Humane: Craftsmanship and Creativity in Architectural Design
Explore how Studio Humane, a leading architectural and interior design firm in Pune, is revolutionizing the industry with its unique blend of traditional aesthetics and contemporary designs.
Real Estate Pune:India’s architecture and design sector is witnessing a transformative evolution, driven by the demands of modern, well-read, and conscious clients. Urbanization and the booming real estate sector have also increased the demand for architectural services. However, the key drivers of this transformation are creative architects who are blending traditional aesthetics with contemporary design principles and functional features to develop unique and one-of-a-kind structures. A rising focus on smart home integrations and sustainable elements is also leading to transformative change in the sector.
With a large number of young firms being established as design brands, delivering international quality work, the competition in this domain is fierce. Nevertheless, Studio Humane, led by Sunil Hu’mane, a boutique design studio based in Pune, is emerging as a leading player in architectural and design services. Focused on architectural, interior design, and landscape design solutions, Studio Humane has grown from humble beginnings to become Pune’s most sought-after firm in a short span.
From Modest Beginnings to Excellence
Studio Humane’s journey began with Sunil, who, after graduating from Sir J.J. College of Architecture, pursued an early career under the guidance of renowned architect Christopher Charles Benninger. Shortly after working with him, Sunil founded an architecture and interior design studio in a tiny garage-like space in Pune in 2005. Four years later, Shruti Humane joined Studio Humane and initiated a landscape division, expanding the firm’s expertise to include landscape design solutions.
Since then, the firm has not looked back and has adopted a forward-thinking attitude to design unique and stunning structures and sprawling landscape designs for upscale villas, farmhouses, group housing projects, institutional buildings, and hospitality projects like resorts and hotels. Starting from small interior jobs in Pune, the firm has expanded its project capabilities across diverse structures throughout India and even in Seattle. This dedication to delivering extraordinary projects has built a distinctive reputation for Studio Humane, earning it exemplary recognition and accolades.
“Ours is a young firm of qualified, committed, and sensitive professionals offering innovative design solutions. Within four years of starting our practice, we were honored with an IIID award for the Box House project at the national level. That was a crucial turning point in our practice. We tried to stay true to our philosophy of creating spaces with context, concept, and content, giving us an edge over other players in the industry. We have also been honored with IIA Awards and A+D Awards,” shares Sunil Hu’mane, Founder and Principal Architect of Studio Humane.
A Key Element of Success Uniqueness in Design
A key element that has enabled Studio Humane to achieve such remarkable feats is its foundational values of uniqueness in design. Built on the principles of truth, trusteeship, openness to new ideas, and embracing knowledge, the firm hones uniqueness by understanding the distinguished requirements of its clients, materiality, respect for the context, and design idioms. These values have shaped the company’s design philosophy, which helps it stand out.
Studio Humane boasts a modern and contemporary approach to design, envisioning a concept before designing any space, focusing on its context and content to ensure every design not only fulfills the client brief but also elevates their living experience. The firm believes that a building should reflect the identity of the location, the story behind its construction, and the people who transform a structure into a vibrant community living together in harmony.
“In search of new forms and principles to develop an architectural language with universally intelligible metaphors, we believe in five principles design should emerge from existing contexts to create new metaphors and contexts for the life within, design should evolve from a strong concept into varied spaces with individualistic characters, design should set into motion physical and emotional events within the built environment, design should incorporate an external mass with a significant and purest form, and design should stimulate human emotions and memories over time,” further shares Sunil.
Collaborative and Academic Approach to Design
To identify a unique concept personalized to reflect the client’s unique vision, the firm collaborates extensively with clients, conducting multiple discussions to evolve a concept that embodies their aspirations, requirements, and their past, giving shape to a uniquely designed space that is aesthetically bespoke, materially rich, and functionally seamless.
In this fiercely competitive domain, where technological tools have overtaken most designing processes, Studio Humane takes an academic approach to design. The process begins with scribbles on paper, development of a paper model, and a study of 3D computer-generated views. As a final step, the team works on drawings that bring life to the design idea. When it’s time to implement the design on the ground, the team of experts at Studio Humane supervises and guides the entire process, ensuring that every single process of development is carried out as planned, leading to meticulous outputs exactly as envisioned.
Dedicated and Passionate Team
Strengthened by a team of dedicated and passionate professionals with exceptional design ideas, Studio Humane is armed with the skills and capabilities that have enabled the firm to thrive over the past fifteen years. Building a culture of agility, Studio Humane has fostered an industry-leading attitude within the teams that translates into success for the firm.
“We think, to succeed in practice today, one needs to be flexible and have good planning and organizational skills. We stand for putting our clients first, treating everybody with respect, collaborating smoothly with our colleagues, thinking creatively to solve problems, and maintaining a fully inclusive workforce. Clients’ needs, aspirations, their past, and their family become an integral part of the design process, highlighted during every stage of the project,” adds Sunil.
With a successful track record of delivering exceptional spaces, Studio Humane has established a strong foothold in the industry and has big aspirations for its future endeavors. The firm is currently working on the architectural design of high-end villas in prominent areas of Pune, resorts in the Western Ghats of India, a marriage destination and hotel in Jaipur, a resort in Seattle, USA, institutional buildings for TBMSG, and various landscape projects, including a five-star hotel, resorts, and villas for leading architects from Pune and Mumbai.
Aspirations for the Future
Along with such a vibrant repertoire of projects, the company’s aspirations for the coming decade are to distinguish itself as a premier design solutions firm within India by continually boosting the quality of its project designs as it grows over the years. Moreover, the company is dedicated to fostering an inclusive, holistic, and rational approach towards its projects and personal endeavors, aiming to align its growth with sustainability initiatives, which is the key to future development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Studio Humane’s approach to design?
Studio Humane takes a modern and contemporary approach to design, focusing on the context and content of each space to ensure that every design not only fulfills the client brief but also elevates their living experience.
How does Studio Humane ensure uniqueness in its projects?
Studio Humane hones uniqueness through understanding the distinguished requirements of its clients, materiality, respect for the context, and design idioms, ensuring that each project is bespoke and tailored to the client's vision.
What are some of the key projects Studio Humane is currently working on?
Studio Humane is currently working on the architectural design of high-end villas in Pune, resorts in the Western Ghats of India, a marriage destination and hotel in Jaipur, a resort in Seattle, USA, institutional buildings for TBMSG, and various landscape projects.
What are the foundational values of Studio Humane?
The foundational values of Studio Humane include truth, trusteeship, openness to new ideas, and embracing knowledge, which help shape the company’s design philosophy and ensure it stands out in the industry.
How does Studio Humane approach sustainability in its projects?
Studio Humane is dedicated to fostering an inclusive, holistic, and rational approach towards its projects and personal endeavors, aiming to align its growth with sustainability initiatives, which is the key to future development.