Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to another S.A.G. Meetup. Now we are here at the Maldives and we're going to have with us a very special guest. His name is Sanjay Puri with Sanjay Puri Architects.
It's a really famous architect firm based in Mumbai, India. They've won over 261 National and International Awards, which is unique design. So very excited to have him here today to talk about architecture and what makes all these incredible homes and buildings so special. Sanjay, what's going on my friend?
Hey, Arro. So you're all sorted and equity? All good. Yeah, today was a little bit special because we are at a floating villa in the World of Astoria.
It's a very unique place. I mean, you are an architect, I'm sure you appreciate the uniqueness. And the connection was a bit off at the beginning. But I'm glad that it's working and I'm glad that you joined us today.
So welcome. Thank you. What a cool place to sit in the middle of the water. Amazing.
Yeah, yeah. If I give you a little tour, you know, it's like very, very fantastic. We're in the middle of the water here. Yeah.
Very special. But I'll place you in here so we can have a nice conversation and talk about yourself because you are, you know, a very famous architect which over 261 National and International Awards are very unique design and the way of doing business. So tell us a little bit about you and your business. Something about me.
Okay. Where do you want to start? I mean, come on. They're like for an architect.
How is it that you build such a successful career? You're currently Mumbai, right? Yeah, I'm in Mumbai and I started my practice here for any seven years ago. And it started with this.
So yeah, there's this whole passion to create, you know, spaces that are permanent and interesting because architecture is the only art that you can physically inhabit. Every other thing, you can put on a wall, you can put it in a corner and you can choose to look at it or not to get it. But architecture, you have to be in there and then you can't ignore it because you have to live with whatever an architect has made for maybe 30, 50, 100 years. So it's the permanence is much more.
And then it's not just that architecture affects human behavior in so many different ways. You know, so even the way that you're sitting in the view that you had. It depends on how the architect landed, right? The layout and does your window get that beautiful view or not?
Does the debt get it or not? So it's all dependent on what the architect design is. I totally agree. And currently, what are some of the projects that you're working on?
So we are currently doing a mix of hospitality spaces, education, a lot of housing, a lot of private houses, some office buildings and some urban townships as well, where you get to actually create a global environment. So for those that are obviously watching and listening, I want you guys to go to his site and check some of the projects that he's after because, Sandy, I gotta say that I really admire the concept on how you are transforming the commercial real estate, you know, in a very unique and sexy way. Because the traditional way was very dry, the way that you are currently working on these projects, it's very different. So it's attracting people to actually go to these places and has like a meaningful thing, you know, behind it.
So very nice. Thank you. Now, let me ask you this, Angel, because obviously as an architect, you know, I come from a family of architects. My father is an architect, my sister is an architect, my brother is an engineer.
So my mother is a real estate, obviously myself, I'm in the real estate world as well. So it's always very important depreciation towards how an architect designs and builds such incredible, you know, structures. And in this case, we're talking about India, which is growing tremendously when it comes to real estate. So tell us a little bit how technology has been, in your case, important to develop your business.
So you know, technology is in the sense, but there are various aspects of technology. Number one is that when you are designing, there was a time that there was a lot of visualizing you had to do on your own. Okay, but now you have tools to help you visualize. So there is not that much left for the end of the search.
In the sense, you are able to control exactly what is going to happen at the end. We as technology in terms of construction materials. So today, it's about trying to create everything in a very sustainable way. So you don't use too many resources, you use the carbon footprint.
And for that, you know, technology helps in a big way. And today, we did a township of 100 acres with 3000 families living there. The entire energy comes from the cement plants, residual energy, which would have been listed. So we did a hotel recently where in Mumbai, the 5% in a place for an asset is the wine country of India.
So in this place, 55% of the hotel is powered by solar energy. And the balanced portion is all naturally matched by the material. So there are lots of aspects of technology. Very fascinating.
And not only just in terms of architecture, but also as a business, right? Because I feel like in your case, social media has played an important role. I mean, I've seen that you have a good following base, really incredible content. So how has that helped you to attract new customers and to expand your brand?
Okay. So that's the other word. What happens in this field is that you put something out there and there are going to be a large number of copies being made of that particular design. That's it.
But yes, it has expanded. People do get to know a lot of inquiries come to Instagram. And so it works. Yeah, that's good.
And that is also what awareness know. So that people understand that this is the way of life. You know, one should be listening resources. Especially as an architect, I'm sure that you want to get your concept out.
You know, the way that you are building homes is very unique. And I feel like that's putting your brand and your designs out there. So also collaborations, you know, we can always do collaborations. You know, we're based in Miami, although I'm here in Mali.
By the way, I have a good friend coming in here to the Malish next week. So you got about it, but he's also from Mumbai. Said, you can't, Bobby, build a strong guy, not like me. But he has like eight followers.
So that's the importance of the outreach. Yeah, it's incredible. And so it's about doing this collaboration, so through social media, that you gain massive exposure. So you know, definitely once he's here, I'll let you know, maybe we can do something well over here.
Sanjay, there's one thing I want to obviously ask you. And I'm asked this question to all of our guests. I mean, you as an architect, what is really luxury to you personally? What is luxury?
Yeah, to you. So luxury is when you get openness is number one. A great and you as an entrepreneur. You know, if you have these new things, like if you've got space and you can look out at something that's amazing, it could be just a tree.
It could be whatever way you are there right now. This is luxury. I mean, that's beautiful. It could be the sand dunes in the large sun desert.
I'm just saying that it's important to have something that's nice to look at outside, which is natural. That is luxury. Then whether that house is small or it's large, that's second thing, I think. Luxury is when you get like a space that feels good, has a great view and you know, makes you want to be there.
I love that. I love that. Thanks for sharing that, Sanjay, because it really means a lot. And another thing that I wanted to ask you is I'm getting all these questions from the audience.
That is, how do you start to create the concept? Like there's a lot of people that have ideas in their head. You obviously, it's an architect, you build them. So how do you start putting a concept that you have in your head into action?
Okay. So it's like this, you know, you get obviously a certain set of parameters from the client. Okay. So you got to hold these parameters here.
It's like a, you know, you don't have everything there. So it's there. So this one ball is the requirements of the client. The second is the site.
Where is it? What is it looking out to? What is the wind direction? What is the sun direction?
And how are you going to take both these factors? You know, a way that is contextual to that location. You don't want to make a spaceship in the middle of a traditional city, for example, so then, so you got to have the context in mind also. So that's the third problem.
And with all these three things together, obviously, every site has its own limitations, right? Then there's a set of rules. So the rules are the open space requirements, the height requirements, you can only go to a maximum of such and such, right? How much are you allowed to build in that?
And then are you able to fit those requirements into what you're allowed to build within the kind of height of strengths that you have or you need to, you know, leave more space, go higher or you can make it lower and go more horizontal. All of these factors come together. And then that's the fourth set of parameters. And now, keeping all these in mind, you start drawing with the idea that you are going to incorporate all of this in a sustainable way, which makes sense.
And at the same time is yet something unique because finally, if you're not doing something unique and you're just borrowing from the past, then there is no point. So true. Exactly. It's all about the experience at the end of the day.
You know, like for example, we're in this beautiful hotel and this experience, you know, that the concept of the floating villa is giving you the views, you know, is everything that you were describing as the luxury. We obviously have a really big fan base that are all screaming great things about you. So I read one that was saying to be able to decide like Sanjay, sir is luxury. So I know that you have a lot of times.
I'm very happy to see that. And obviously, guys, everybody turning into the pizza machine is super nice. Please follow him. Check what he's up to because Sanjay, you're definitely revolutionizing the way that architecture is done.
I invite you cordially to convince us in Miami when you get a chance. And whenever I'm around your area, I'll definitely go. I'll just have some of your projects and to admit. Or else me to my name once.
So time to be again. Yeah, I know, I know it's time. Let's see your go by. So Sanjay, I think you also have other things going on for work.
I do appreciate your time. Any last takeaways that you would like to share with us. Last takeaway is that, you know, in life as a designer or as an architect, there will always be a lot of nodes, a lot of nodes. And you, if you are convinced of what you have designed and why you designed it in that particular way, only then can you convince the person on the other side.
Because if you have not bought your process through and you just did something for the sake of doing it, then you cannot convince the other person. Because a lot of people keep asking this, you know, but how it remains. So if you have, you can, you don't have conviction, then you cannot. So that's the important thing.
Take informed decisions. Everything has a lot of reason. Every line, you know, that sets this professor in the first year of college, you know, this line, I can't forget. He said, think before you draw that line.
And literally you have to think before you draw that line. That's what's important. You're going to have to repeat that because that sentence that your professor told you in college, call off. So if you can say it one more time, please.
You can say that one more time. Yeah. So what he's told us is literally on the first or second day, you know, college. So you can say, think before you draw that line.
Don't just draw a line. Think before you draw that line. Because actually every line is shaping the space that you want to hear finally. Thank you.
That's what it is. That was fantastic. Well, Sanjay, thank you so much for your time today. All the knowledge that you share, it's been an absolute pleasure having us, you know, share all these knowledge.
I wish you all the best. Definitely looking forward to see you whether you might be able to remember and see you soon. Right. Thank you very much.
A lot of those. Nice. Thank you, Sanjay. Thank you everybody that was tuning in.
I mean, we had a huge following today watching. So thank you everybody for all the amazing support that you're showing and wish you all a great bye-bye. And thanks again for everybody tuning in today. We hope you enjoyed it.
And remember, embrace it's beautiful success in life. My name is Alvaro and I'll see you next time.