Timeless Yet Modern – Interview with Aastha Architects

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How Aastha.Architects bridges historic wisdom with contemporary living

From conserving centuries-old palaces to designing contemporary homes that speak to modern lifestyles, Aastha Desai has mastered the art of balancing history with innovation. With over 8 years of diverse experience and a Master’s in Conservation and Regeneration of Historic Structures, she founded Aastha.Architects with a vision to create spaces that respond not only to functional needs but also evoke a deeper sense of belonging. Her design philosophy harmonizes timeless principles with modern sensibilities—crafting spaces that are sustainable, contextually relevant, and deeply human.

In this conversation with Tile Bath Kitchen, Aastha opens up about her journey, inspirations, and the evolving dialogue between tradition and modernity in architecture and design.

1- How do you balance preservation of history with the demands of modern living?

The first question that comes to my mind is what is modern? And with whose perspective we are considering something is modern or the other is historical.. The modern style of architecture or interior is driven by our history only.. History is a legacy that we carry throughout our life and what we are calling modern in today’s time, after 50 years this will be history for our future generations..

Now let’s come to the question of how to preserve history with the demands of modern living??? Historical or modern – living holistically based on the same principles – comfort of the end user and usability of the space. The most simple way to preserve history is to carry on our historical design principles to the modern architectural design..

Also preserving heritage structures gives the opportunity to the modern world to grow economy with tourism, spread awareness amongst the people about our own culture which our ancestors have passed on 

Basically with fulfilling today’s needs, it is our responsibility to preserve our history, culture and heritage..

2- What’s the most surprising lesson you’ve learned from restoring a historic structure that you now apply to everyday residential design?

 Studying historic structures is actually full of surprises with how the structure is built, what structural elements they have used, which kind of materials were used which made these structures stand for more than 500 years. Restoration of historic structures is tricky as in today’s time the kind of craftsmanship and skills are rare to find.  Most of the historic structures are way bigger than our modern day houses.. they give a larger than life experience of space. Yet each and every corner of a historic structure has its own purpose and usability. Not a small  piece of land is wasted or unused.. this is what I truly admire and as our houses or commercial spaces are way smaller in scale in compare to the historic structures, we need to use each and every corner very wisely and design in a way that these spaces become useful entities as well gives the best aesthetics possible.

3- If you were to design the perfect first home for a young couple, what three design elements would you never compromise on?

• Energy efficient building : After understanding the sunpath and weather of the region, the first and the foremost thing I will never compromise is natural light and wind direction. Will design a house in such a way that can minimise the use of air conditioner in the house and maximise the natural wind flow.  Which also one of the powerful tools our historical structures taught me.. especially “pol” houses of ahmedabad 
• Water storage: will always try to give provision for rain water harvesting systems.. Each of these features will lead to less spending on sourcing of basic resources like water throughout the year, and less electricity consumption. 
• Multifunctional spaces.. will try to avoid fixed furniture as well as fixed wall panelings as the couple is just starting their life, their requirements – aspirations and their choices will differ from time to time . And the kind of lifestyle the modern time demands multi purpose spaces like bedrooms can be turned into the home theatre and a living area can be turned into party space whenever needed..

4- What role do materials and colors play in expressing the personality of your projects?

Material: every architectural and interior project is unique. The use of materials define the characteristics of the design. Like exposed brick and concrete give very raw and rustic elevation as well it feels grounded when you enter such spaces.. where else a finished coated surfaces enhances the polished experience of the space.. both in exterior and interior what type of materials and how these materials are being used – are the key factors to express the design response to clients needs, likings, way of living, belief systems and architect’s design language. 

In sustainable buildings materials play a major role. And this is what our historical structures teach us. Local materials are always sustainable, low maintenance and cost effective. Like in Gujarat most of the historic structures are made of sand stone, lime and bigger size bricks. These materials are locally available and Suitable for the hot and dry weather. Same near Konkan coast of Maharashtra laterite stone and lime concrete are commonly used material, which is suitable for humid weather. The current scenario of architecture is such that from east to west and north to south we are using the same material concrete.. concrete has a life span of merely 100 years, and which is not suitable for every weather.. likewise glass facades. The hot and dry climate of the west does not need glass facades. It increases the heat of the whole region and directly affects climate change..I feel the fast life , economical barriers and time constraints lead to use of  materials like RCC and glass, to provide fast paced construction and ease of availability.

Colors: 

 Colors play the most important role in the experience of space. In the house interiors with the use of the right colors one can make small spaces look bigger. The choice of colors of walls, laminates, veneers changes the whole experience of the space. It’s not about choosing light or dark colors: it’s always about what is the use of the space and who are the end users. Like in a children’s bedroom one can use bright flashy colors for decor or furniture as they are exploring something or the other everyday, which is meant to be a play area for them. But in a living room where the family wants to sit, relaxed, have a chitchat- light pastel colors with some eye-catching decorative elements gives the perfect ambience and soothing experience. Also using the right kind of lights from warm to cool makes a lot of difference in the day to day life of the users. 

Choosing material and colors should always be a conscious choice.

5- Do you have a signature design detail or element that silently says “this is an Aastha design”?

I love to include historical carvings, wooden elements into the design as well as try to merge different transitional themes to bedback panelings and ceilings. The one element which I have used in almost every project till date is Use of designer printed sarees or wallpaper on the wardrobe shutters as well as in the ceiling with glass and wooden frame And one can immediately say this is an Aastha design.

6- If given a dream project with no constraints—location, budget, or scale—what would you create?

A city which has every facility for specially abled people where they can roam freely and easily without any judgements, without any hurdles, without any restrictions. With carefully designed elements starting from basics like slopes, handrails, no vehicular movement, wheelchair roads, libraries having all books with braille script, sound billboards and arrows, etc…

7- Where do you see Aastha.Architects five years from now in shaping conversations around design?

In the next five years, Aastha.Architects envisions becoming a thought leader in Indian contemporary design—shaping conversations that go beyond aesthetics to embrace culture, comfort, and legacy. Our practice will stand as a bridge between tradition and modern living, inspiring people to see their homes not just as structures, but as meaningful reflections of their lives. Our motto is to make timeless designs, continuing the legacy of the end user’s own culture and their comfort.

8- Quick & Fun Round
Minimalism or Maximalism?
Minimalism for elements used , maximalism in design details

A design trend you wish would disappear?
Trends are always meant to disappear after sometime
That’s it’s called trend..because it doesn’t last forever
Good design stays , trends disappear

Favorite city for architecture inspiration?
ahmedabad
from vernacular to modern. You will find structures designed by the best architects of the world in Ahmedabad

Tea or coffee while sketching ideas?
tea

If not an architect, what would you be?
Doctor

For Aastha, architecture is not just about buildings—it’s about stories, people, and the environments they inhabit. Her work reflects a rare balance of responsibility to history, sensitivity to context, and a bold embrace of experimentation. As she continues to explore new ideas and materials, Aastha.Architects stands as a testament to design that is both rooted and forward-looking.

At Tile Bath Kitchen, we celebrate voices like hers—designers who remind us that a truly great space doesn’t just look beautiful, it feels like it belongs.

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