At Nikhil Kamath And Abhijeet Pai’s Bangalore Office Cultural Craft Meets Contemporary Design

India’s rich, generational craftsmanship is vast and diverse, making it challenging to capture in one guide. Yet, designers are embracing this complexity, using their platforms to celebrate and integrate these crafts into luxury interiors, creating spaces that are deeply rooted in regional heritage while radiating quiet luxury. A 4000 sq-ft office, titled ‘Tranquility,’ in Bangalore designed by House of Three Studio is a sophisticated blend of warm earthy tones, delicate patterns on the walls and floors, and a stunning selection of Indian craft pieces. 

Each piece of furniture is sculptural, minimalist, and a perfect example of blending contemporary Indian design with modern aesthetics. Incorporating art into their projects is a natural part of their process.“When we do interiors we do it till the last dot of detail. Especially with patrons with whom we share an ongoing equation of understanding and alignment, art comes automatically on our radar along with all other aspects, end to end,” shares co-founder Anu Shyamsundar. House of Three is a multi-disciplinary design firm based in Bangalore, helmed by Sounak Sen Barat and Anu Shyamsundar. Their projects span fashion design, creative styling, and interior design. “We are a design firm that marries contrasts—creating products and spaces that are global in appeal yet Indian at heart,” says Shyamsundar.

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For Nikhil Kamath and Abhijeet Pai, the brief for their Nksquared and GRUHAS office on Church Street in Bangalore was simple: “Need a combined office for 40. Make it kinda organic. And add greens.” As with many great collaborations, this one had been years in the making. In a video on the House of Three Studio Instagram account, Kamath candidly admits that he chose House of Three because, as he puts it, “you’re my friend.”

For the duo, design is about more than just aesthetics or materials; it is about blending clean, sophisticated forms with ornate heritage influences, balancing aesthetics, functionality, and emotional resonance. Their philosophy stems from years of anthropological, cultural, and craft research.

Given how frequently office spaces are used by most people, this design aims to establish a new standard for how such spaces are approached. Whether consciously or subconsciously, these spaces, or ‘karamsthal’, are where legacies are built, ideas are born, and relationships are forged.“It blends timeless Indian craftsmanship with contemporary functionality, moving away from cookie-cutter corporate aesthetics,” the designers share. “The design fuses heritage Dravidian influences with industrial and colonial elements, creating a workspace that is grounding, mindful, and reflective of the company’s identity.”

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Located in an old restored building on Church Street—a business district that houses some of the oldest buildings in the city—the firm chose to work with, rather than alter, the existing features of the space. Instead of making structural changes to the building, the firm incorporated some of the features that came with the space like wrought iron balcony grills in the classical French style. As a tribute to the restoration efforts by the building owner, they incorporated this detailing into the conference table and CEO’s desk. 

The raw cement floors with alpana designs, a ritual art akin to rangoli design in the Bengal region, have been incorporated into the design while the Kathakali bust in office is a nod to the classical theatre from Kerala. Wooden totems and upcycled brackets add another layer to the firm’s commitment to collaborating with skilled artisans across India.  They customize and curate antiques, curios, and artefacts from a diverse network, collaborating with MSME vendors, weavers, artists, sculptors, and masons.

The beauty of using Indian craftsmanship in interior design lies in its ability to create customized, personalized spaces. While each of these crafts is well known to people, the pieces in the office are all one-of-a-kind. Handwoven cane blinds, chandeliers, bamboo and hemp carpets add texture and warmth, blending modern elegance with a reverence for local art. It is a striking example of ware minimalism, balancing warmth, contemporary design, and craftsmanship.

“For us, design is not just about aesthetics or materialism,” say the designers, Sounak Sen Barat and Anu Shyamsundar. Drawing on their multi-faceted experience in design, they explain: “We approach every project with a spirit of Seva (service) and the philosophy of Soham—recognizing our interconnectedness with the Universe.” For example, they used diffusers with Oudh and wet mud Itars, sourced from a generational perfumery in Lucknow, to create an authentic sensory experience within the space.

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However, completing such an immersive project for a close friend comes with its own challenges. With a tight timeline of delivering a turnkey concept in just 2.5 months, while working with artisans across the country and coordinating a large team, the designers faced significant hurdles. “Unlike mass-produced designs, working with multiple artisans across diverse disciplines adds layers of complexity. Managing timelines, costs, and quality across three simultaneous projects was a challenge, but we executed it seamlessly,” admits the duo.

Typically, their process involves multiple interactions, a detailed questionnaire, and a creative workshop, but working with the Kamath and Pai was straightforward. “Designing for Nikhil is easy. The fact that we are friends and I’ve known him for so long helps me translate his values and thinking into the tangible design with ease,” Sounak says in the House of Three videos. This strong relationship creates trust and facilitates a seamless process. For the clients, conceptual thinking and thought leadership were key priorities, empowering the team to push the boundaries of design. This is reflected in the office, where elements like a hand-painted forest mural and an Italian-influenced curved sofa next to black sculptural chairs demonstrate how a strong vision can elevate a space.

When a space aligns with its purpose, it doesn’t just house people—it elevates them. This office in Church Street is a stunning example of designing with purpose and meaning. A true blend of warmth with a reverence for India’s rich cultural heritage, the space holds a timeless elegance while creating a newfound appreciation for good craftsmanship.