The Firm
Simple minds design is one of Hyderabad's leading design firm with over 30 years of diverse experience in the design and execution of Hotels, Resorts, Private Residences, Corporate offices, Retail spaces and cultural event spaces throughout India. Our handpicked and curated team amounts to a focused group of professional staff who are led by Mr. Vinod Bachala "Simple minds" (Founder and President) followed by Senior Designer Partner Shalini Bachala, who each possess over 30 years of design experience. ...
Simple minds have a successful track record of pertinent projects locally and nationally. And, despite our growing number of staff we manage to work together as one compact family. Our growth is recognition of our ability to inspire and perform.
Over multiple years, the firm has grown out of its expertise for mainly beautiful residential abodes but has also broadened its scope to constantly devote energy and thought or focus to every project no matter what is might be a small one bhk or high rise. We as a firm lay emphasis on "Micro to Macro" development and a constant level of attention. This therefore gives seamless logic to the entirety of the built site.
Our commitment to achieving perfection is underpinned by our pursuit of excellence in the design and delivery of each and every one of our portfolios of projects.
Working with Artists and Craftspeople
Working with artists and craftsmen/people is of integral importance in simple minds. In various projects art plays an important role in development of a project and architecture revolves or is evolved to create a seamless spatial experience. In nearly all projects craft people and artists play a vital role to fabricate requirements supporting the main intent of the client and the edifice.
Often the artist or creator have intricate remarks and evidence of art which is kept throughout and Redefined while creating the architectural site, for example paint left from an artist while recreating a landscape or metal workers grind marks will be left visible on a metal rail or jali creating an explicit and embedded form that reminiscences throughout the project. The emphasis of art and craft and design around it has grown to paramount importance in simple minds... working with artists and crafts people around the world localy and nationally helps the work evoke, depict and exhume an authentic story of its place....
Work with national awardees and multiple well know artist have been showcased at simple minds and forms an amalgamation of thoughts throughout clients from various backgrounds
Building Performance
At simple minds we strive for world class design and building performance. We also understand that there is an intrinsic connection between both design and performance. Our approach to sustainability and ecological design is driven by people place and program. By emphasizing on things such as a courtyard development but also blurring the lines between inside and outside we connect building and people with nature thus leading towards a healthy and positive environment rich in culture and where individuals are engaged with the surrounding. Our form-based architecture is to reminisce environment within the structure wherever they are.
The architectural staff is urged to follow parameters pertaining to building performance to create a passive connection between design and performance. Advanced tools and methods are used in multiple stages and steps to understand a buildings impact, its energy use, material impact, natural ventilation, daylight management and a multitude of various other performance considerations. Vinod bacahala works closely with the design teams to ensure that performance strategies inform the design process from a project inception all the way to the completion of it.
The major area of focus is not just on building performance but an inteplay of how design and building performance go hand in hand and how both of them form a symbiotic relationship where they affect one another. Therefore, we must as designers learn to lead with various strategies on a daily basis.Pragnan Bachala, Designer/B.Arch Pratt Institute NYC
Culture
Our Studio
Simple mind's studio is located in the capital and largest city of Telangana, Hyderabad. A city with a major influence of distinct Indo Islamic style of architecture and a vast amalgam of various other styles traced back to the qutb shahi period and asf jahi period. A lot of palaces, mosques and temples are part of this everlasting city.
The studio is located adjacent to the GVK house and gvk one mall in banjara hills, one of the most influential neighborhoods of Hyderabad. Our office is an experimentation of colours light greenery and design and is in form a small boutique. Since taking residence in 2018, we have morphed and expanded our own footprint inside our space where our small staff of around 25 inhabits the floorplate
Hyderabad has terraformed and transformed into a metropolis in the last few decades. A fortified princely state with an insatiable thirst for history which dealt in the richest of diamonds, is now one of the places in India for pharmaceutical companies and various other major hubs for development. A hub between multiple countries. We are excited to be doing projects all over the world.Vinod Bachala, Principal/Owner
Internship program
Requested design and learning is a key testament of simple mind's culture. In 1995, Vinod Bachala and Shalini Bachala cofounded design square which soon transpired into simple minds. After the firm came into simple minds. After the firm came into lime light, simple minds soon started offering internships to students and graduates from all around the world, offering mentorship and experience on actual projects' This coupled with constant feedback from key designers helped the firm establish a positive feedback loop for architects from various parts of the world.
Community involvement and design mentorship
Our commitment to community and our traditions of design and fabrication methods stem to the youth. We believe that early learning and the process of introducing or enlightening members of the community early are key factors that influence or happen to shape a community. We host Clay and block building workshops on occasions and are trying to regularly serve on design juries and tech studios for architecture programs at local universities.
Our Philosophy
I guess it's blessing our career is also our passion I can't get enough of its so it never feels like work.
1. Inspiration: Working with people who are passionate about what they do, and really strive to excel is inspirational. I’m also fired up with the idea of creating something unique that infuses positive energy around the project. Traveling and experiencing new cultures and cities are also great sources of inspiration.
2. Style: I don't think there should be any strict rules when it comes to styling. One needs to fuse different styles effectively in order to keep the design aesthetics winsome. I believe in being versatile and not fade away in a few years.
3. Most-admired Designers: I admire the works of Woha, Adrefu, Mathieu Lehanneur and Reikomiyamoto. to name a few prominent designers.
4. Passion: Behind every project, there has to be thrill and passion and it has to show in your entire work. The whole design process is very enriching in all stages. To have an idea, to shape it on paper, create images, watch it while being constructed and finally look at the culmination is what I wake up for every day.
5. Trends: We don't follow any particular trends very closely. Every project has to be unique and follow the client’s needs and budget. Renovation projects are especially very challenging as the expectations from owner and end user are high. The challenge of a good design, especially in hospitality projects is to have elements that are pleasurable, unique classic and chic. Longevity and ecological development in a project are also very important.
6. Environment Consciousness: Eco-friendly adaptations should never limit the scope of the design scheme but on the contrary, must enhance it. Good design demands comfort and a touch of luxury to co-exist with green concepts, optimum use of space, natural lighting, water consumption, ventilation, and other forms of generative design.
The end product is important and so is the thought behind its design. You can't just design something because you feel it. It is the logic that keeps it powerful and focussed. A good design comes from teamwork, so we allow people to develop at their own pace.
We like to have a personalized approach for most of the projects. It may be challenging to justify in real terms, but that's how we have been doing it for years.
WE ARE HERE TO CREATE DESIGNS THAT WORK. FOR YOU. FOR US. FOR THE FUTURE.
Join Us
We are always looking for creative, talented individuals to join our team.