Architect Rooted in Sensitivity
Leading Indian architect Shefali Balwani’s designs exhibit a profound awareness of location, culture, and climate. She has established a profession that pushes the traditional lines between indoor and outdoor, function and emotion, and building and nature as the chief architect and co-founder of Architecture BRIO. Her method places an emphasis on architecture as a dynamic conversation between people, land, and light rather than just as a structure.
A Journey Shaped by Learning and Exploration
Shefali received his education at one of India’s top architecture schools, CEPT University in Ahmedabad, where he solidified his understanding of context-driven design. Her professional experiences working with visionary architects like Channa Daswatte in Sri Lanka and Rahul Mehrotra in Mumbai further influenced her architectural sensibilities. She developed a strong affinity for local architecture and ecologically conscious design during these early years.
Co-Founding Architecture BRIO
Shefali and Robert Verrijt co-founded Architecture BRIO in 2006. The Mumbai-based studio is well-known throughout the world for creating cutting-edge, environmentally conscious architecture. From stream-side getaways in Alibaug to hillside residences tucked away in the Western Ghats, BRIO’s work is renowned for its understated elegance, use of regional materials, and smooth blend into the surroundings.
Philosophy of Practice
Notable Projects
Shefali’s notable architectural works include:
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House on a Stream (Alibaug) – Celebrated for its poetic response to nature, this home spans over a seasonal stream and merges structure with forest.
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Riparian House (Karjat) – A home that dissolves into its hilltop, using earth, brick, and vegetation as integral design elements.
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Taliesyn School Dormitory – A project redefining student housing through openness and spatial play.
Many of her works have been featured in global publications and design platforms, including BBC’s World’s Most Extraordinary Homes, Architectural Digest, Dezeen, and Domus.
Shaping Thought through Collaboration
Shefali is active in collaborative city projects and urban activism in addition to his built work. She applies the same level of discipline and empathy to private commissions as she does to inclusive public design in Mumbai as a member of the Bandra Collective. She also works with NGOs on design for effect projects, such as those that deal with homeless housing.
A Contemporary Voice in Indian Architecture
Shefali Balwani is an example of a new generation of Indian architects who are firmly grounded in their local reality while maintaining global connections. Instead than forcing architecture onto a location, her work focuses on listening to the needs of the land, climate, and people and creating timeless, peaceful, and long-lasting solutions.
