MELD / ABOUT
CHAPTER 01 / FOUNDER
When I was growing up, my father worked as an HVAC contractor. Every now and then, he would speak about architects with a level of respect that fascinated me. As a child, I couldn’t understand why someone I admired so much held another professional in such high regard, but that memory stayed with me.
Years later, when it was time to choose a career, I knew engineering wasn’t where I belonged. I wanted to create something tangible. Something that would outlive me. Something that would quietly improve people’s lives long after I was gone. Architecture felt like the natural answer, and looking back, it remains one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Architecture school taught me how to think, observe and solve problems, but it also introduced me to Anupama, my wife and now my co-founder at Meld. Together, we spent years designing, learning and building our craft before deciding to build something of our own.
The turning point came when our daughter, Tanvi, was born. Becoming a parent changed how I thought about work, success and time. I wanted the freedom to build a life on my own terms, to create work that reflected our values, and to take complete ownership of what we designed. More than anything, I wanted to one day drive past a building, point towards it, and tell my daughter, “Your mom and I designed that.”
That dream became Meld.
Since then, our work has been recognised with the Young Achievers Award and featured on Home Publications and Elle Decor India Online. It’s surreal to see our projects published on platforms I admired as an architecture student, wondering what it would feel like to one day be among the architects whose work inspired others. While those milestones are deeply meaningful, they aren’t what define success for me.
Success is watching Tanvi experience the spaces we have designed and being reminded that architecture is ultimately about people. Buildings may last for generations, but what truly endures are the memories, traditions and everyday moments they make possible.
I believe the best architecture isn’t measured by how long a building stands, but by how deeply it becomes part of the lives lived within it. That’s what we strive to create at Meld.
CHAPTER 02 / CO-FOUNDER
Unlike many architects, I didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming one.
Science came naturally to me in school, so engineering seemed like the obvious choice. But I was equally drawn to art and music, and it was my mother who encouraged me to pursue architecture. At first, I wasn’t convinced. I was quiet, introverted and unsure if I belonged in a profession that demanded constant presentations and discussions. Looking back, those very challenges helped me grow.
One of our first design exercises in college was to design a bedroom. While others explored bold concepts, I presented a simple, minimal solution, worried it was too understated. The response from my tutors taught me a lesson that has shaped my work ever since: good design doesn’t have to be loud. If it solves the brief honestly and improves the way people live, it has already succeeded.
That belief became the foundation of my design philosophy. Beauty is personal, but functionality is universal. For me, architecture has always been about understanding how people want to live first. Aesthetics naturally follows.
My internship in Delhi and later my years at a small studio in Bengaluru shaped this philosophy further. I learnt the importance of thoughtful detailing, honest materials and, most importantly, the value of collaboration. Architecture isn’t just about designing buildings. It’s about working with clients, consultants, contractors and craftsmen to bring an idea to life.
Those experiences also deepened my appreciation for sustainable design. Every project presents an opportunity to make more responsible choices, whether through local materials, climate-responsive design or simple decisions that allow a building to age gracefully.
Motherhood marked another turning point. Wanting to build a life where family and work could grow together led us to Hyderabad and eventually to the founding of Meld.
Working alongside Gautham has brought together two complementary perspectives. While my instinct is to simplify and refine, his experience adds another dimension to every project. Together, we believe every design should respond to its site, its climate and the people who will inhabit it.
Looking back, I realise every stage of my journey shaped the architect I am today. Meld is simply where those experiences come together, allowing us to create spaces that are thoughtful, enduring and deeply personal to the people who call them home.
CHAPTER 03 / OUR BELIEF
Building a home is one of the biggest emotional and financial decisions a person will make in their lifetime. We don’t think the journey should be confusing.
At Meld, we see our role as much more than designing beautiful spaces. We’re here to bring clarity to a journey that is often filled with uncertainty, conflicting advice and expensive mistakes. We listen carefully, guide honestly and stay involved from the first conversation to the final walkthrough because we believe good architecture isn’t just about great ideas. It’s about helping those ideas become reality.
Every project begins with understanding the life our clients want to create. Before we think about materials, styles or layouts, we think about the experiences that will unfold within those spaces. We believe the best architecture quietly improves everyday life. It shouldn’t create friction. It should become the backdrop for family dinners, quiet mornings, celebrations, weekend getaways and traditions that unfold over decades.
A successful project isn’t measured on the day it’s photographed. It’s measured years later, when the space still feels right. When the materials have aged gracefully. When the spaces feel lived in rather than preserved like a showroom. When the people using them have never felt the need to change the way they work.
The greatest compliment we can receive isn’t an award or a publication. It’s when a client tells us we became part of their journey, and part of their family, while bringing their vision to life.
If we can help people build the life they deserve with honesty, clarity and care, we’ll know we’ve done our job.
