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Neha Sharma
21 min read
September 26, 2023
Table of Contents
It can be a real task to find an architecture firm for an internship in India for several reasons. The country has an abundance of architectural practices to choose from, some generations old, and some fairly young - each one bringing a unique flavour to their projects, driven by personal motivations and philosophies. Here, we take you through a curated list of 15 architecture firms in India to help you decide which ones to target for your internship.
What you need to know before applying for an architecture Internship
Applying for an architecture internship is often confusing. Each architecture firm is unique in its design philosophy, values, design expertise, and work culture. So how does one even begin to shortlist the firms they want to work with?
Well, the answer lies within you (yes, we pride ourselves on that Master Oogway reference).
What we mean is that the type of architecture firms you should apply to for your internship depends on your interests, career goals, creative inclinations, and how you wish to refine your architectural style. Design is a very personal process, as each person brings their own nuance to a project.
An architecture internship will typically be your first workplace experience. However, do not enter an internship expecting to make money. Instead, expect to learn, explore, and realise your strengths as a designer. Well, this isn’t to say that you should do an unpaid internship. Lack of compensation is a huge red flag in an architecture firm, so run away from such firms as fast as you can! You could go for one that at the very least pays you the industry standard but definitely aim for something higher.
How have we shortlisted these architecture firms in India?
India is home to architectural practices that are generations old, considering that we’re a land that respects tradition immensely and perpetuates vernacular construction practices. However, India also hasn’t eluded itself from the tech race. Deep-rooted values, environment-friendly practices, and innovative, tech-first solutions are the factors taken into account while shortlisting the best architecture firms for an internship in India. This is because the future of architecture lies in utilising technology to facilitate better living conditions.
The firms listed in this blog are highly accomplished in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) industry in India, foster an environment of learning and growth for architecture students, and encourage fresh perspectives that can align with their overall design philosophies.
Read more: Passive Design Strategies for Building in a Hot and Dry Climate
Top Architecture Firms in India for an Internship
1. Morphogenesis
Founders: Sonali and Manit Rastogi
Location: New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru
Morphogenesis is a multiple award-winning architecture and urban design firm in India. Their copyrighted design process SOUL - of making spaces sustainable, optimised, unique and livable is what sets them apart.
The estimated total pay range for an Intern at Morphogenesis is ₹1L–₹2L per year, which includes base salary and additional pay.
The firm has also bagged a lot of firsts for India – the first Indian firm to receive the Singapore Institute of Architects Getz Award, the first Indian firm to get featured in Images’ Master Architect Series, and the only architecture firm in the WA100 list to have successfully closed the gender pay gap (50% women employees across all levels, all the way up to the founding team!). The firm is also going fully digital now with the implementation of BIM (Building Information Modelling) for all its projects.
One of the firm's best projects is the Surat Diamond Bourse, which is also the world’s largest office building.
2. Karan Grover and Associates
Founders: Karan Grover
Location: Vadodara
The estimated total pay range for an Intern at Karan Grover and Associates is ₹1L–₹1.5L per year, which includes base salary and additional pay.
Karan Grover and Associates is a fairly young practice in India that specialises in architecture, planning, and interior and environmental designs. The firm’s major efforts go into reinterpreting traditional Indian architecture, extracting its fundamentals and essence, and giving it a contemporary (sometimes even futuristic) appearance. This design philosophy reflects in all their projects, passed down from the founder who is keen on social entrepreneurship and constantly pushes students and young architects towards conservation architecture.
Among the green buildings worldwide, the ones shaped by KGA are widely recognised and honoured. The firm has won the 2004 US GBC Platinum award for the greenest building in the world (CII - Shorabji Godrej Green Business Centre) and the 2008 US GBC Gold award for the greenest factory in the world (Keendian Diamond Factory). The firm’s partners and associates include reputed organisations, including one of the best sustainable development organisations in India - TERI, which works for energy and water conservation.
One of the firm's best projects is Raffles Park, Bangalore, which is known for its luxury villas.
3. Biome Environmental Solutions
Founders: Chitra Vishwanath & Rainwater Club
Location: Bengaluru
The estimated total pay range for an Intern at Biome Environmental Solutions is ₹60K–₹70K per year, which includes base salary and additional pay.
All the architects and architecture students in India are well aware of Biome Environment Solutions. Founded by Ar. Chitra Vishwanath (one of the best architects in India) in a merger with Rainwater Club, this AEC firm offers holistic ‘building solutions’ to its clients, i.e. solutions built on ecological principles, energy efficient methods and effective land-use planning, which is clearly seen in all their projects. The unique combination of each co-founder’s specialisation (environmental design and water management) has so far managed to work in favour of clients’ wishes and well as the environment. They additionally work with hyper-specialist designers and technologists to achieve the best results.
Biome is also at the forefront of spreading awareness about sustainable building practices throughout the country, and they are making it happen through the Biome Environmental Trust, which offers training, education and workshops on sustainability.
There is a lot to be learnt about sound ecological design from Biome Environmental Solutions.
One of the firm's best projects is the Yellow Train School, Coimbatore.
4. Sanjay Puri Architects
Founders: Sanjay Puri
Location: Mumbai
The estimated total pay range for an Intern at Sanjay Puri Architects is ₹92K–₹1L per year, which includes base salary and additional pay.
Sanjay Puri is one of the most influential architects not only in India but also worldwide. He is listed among the top 100 architects worldwide by Archdaily. During his formative years, the founder worked extensively with Hafeez Contractor before establishing Sanjay Puri Architects. The firm is one of the most commercial architecture firms in India today and sometimes faces a great deal of criticism for it. However, there’s no denying that the firm has always stayed ahead of emerging trends and technologies in design and architecture. Considering the general resistance of Indian architecture practices to technological integration, this quality of SPA is something to look up to.
The firm’s philosophy lies in creating spaces that engage people, encourage social interactions, and respond to the context. Fancy a fast-paced, tech-savvy work environment? You may want to shoot your shot here!
One of the firm's best projects is the Mirai House of Arches in Bhilwara.
5. CP Kukreja Architects
Founders: CP Kukreja
Location: New Delhi
The estimated total pay range for an Intern at CP Kukreja Architects is ₹1.5L–₹2L per year, which includes base salary and additional pay.
CP Kukreja Architects is a 50-year-old architecture practice in India and is among the top 100 architecture firms worldwide, according to the International Union of Architects (UIA). Their projects are dotted across 30+ countries and have a strong focus on innovation and sustainability. One of their recent designs – the India Pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020 – represented India’s past, present and future rendered digitally. The firm also bagged the Central Vista Redevelopment Project in New Delhi, although environmentalists and conservationists have heavily opposed the project itself.
Digital innovation with BIM is at the forefront of this large architecture firm in India. With its diverse project portfolio, employee strength, and shift to digital innovation, CP Kukreja Architects may be the fit for you if you’re keen on building a career in BIM and sustainable building design.
One of the firm's best projects is the Hamidia Hospital, Bhopal.
6. Creative Group
Founders: Chiranjit Singh Shah
Location: New Delhi
The estimated total pay range for an Intern at Creative Group is ₹1L–₹2L per year, which includes base salary and additional pay.
Creative Group is internationally recognised for its projects that respond to ecology and geography, with heavy attention paid to waste reduction. The firm values the use of coming-of-age technology in its mission to espouse 21st-century design and building philosophies. Having undertaken several infrastructure projects since its inception in 1973, it specialises in the design and construction of airports, intermodal hubs, planning of net-zero cities and townships, and sustainable housing. It has also designed the first smart school in Kochi (GEMS School).
If designing for the public by leveraging technology is what you wish to be skilled at, consider joining this group of creatives!
One of the firm's best projects is the Maga Auditorium, Anna University.
Read more: Masters Vs Certificate Courses: Which is Better for Architects and Engineers in 2024?
7. Khosla Associates
Founders: Sandeep Khosla
Location: Bengaluru
The estimated total pay range for an Intern at Khosla Associates is ₹40K–₹45K per year, which includes base salary and additional pay.
Khosla Associates is an architecture and interior design firm that has received numerous awards for its environment-sensitive tropical architecture. They have won international awards, especially in the educational and hospitality categories and have a diverse clientele from individual school owners to companies like The Park Hotels, Nike and MTV. Their design concepts often fuse local building materials with a contemporary design sensibility, and draw inspiration time and again from global/local fashion, lifestyle and design trends.
Some of the themes that make their projects stand out are nostalgia-mixed drama and romance. If such themes in architecture and design excite you, this is the place to be!
One of the firm's best projects is the Jaipur Rugs Store, Bangalore.
8. Studio Lotus
Founders: Ambrish Aurora, Siddhartha Talwar and Ankur Choksi
Location: New Delhi
The estimated total pay range for an Intern at Studio Lotus is ₹1.5L–₹2L per year, which includes base salary and additional pay.
Studio Lotus follows the principles of conscious design, attention to detail, and inclusivity. Like many leading firms, it has made it a norm to employ global technologies to shape its projects. With an exhaustive list of projects and awards in master planning, architecture, and interior design, it values innovation, learning, design empowerment, and honouring relationships.
The use of local resources, attention to detail and involvement of the user form the core of the firm’s design process. They also look at sustainability through multiple lenses and combine local skills with technology to achieve the best possible results for their clients. Their portfolio consists of projects of varying scale - from master planning to interior designing.
One of the firm's best projects is the Max House Commercial Building.
9. The Purple Ink Studio
Founders: Aditi Pai, Akshay Heranjal
Location: Bengaluru
The estimated total pay range for an Intern at the Purple Ink Studio is ₹0.9L–₹1.1L per year, which includes base salary and additional pay.
“Young, experimental and ambitious” is what the team of The Purple Ink Studio believes itself to be. It has received several awards in just a decade of its existence. Every project is seen through, from start to finish, by a close-knit team of designers. Their projects reflect the blending of a building with the surrounding landscape, dictated by their philosophy that the two cannot be looked at independently. The Studio believes that one cannot design a form in isolation of its context and surroundings. Their aim is also to enhance the existing surroundings via conscious design interventions. This constant attempt to find a balance between natural and manmade forms is what makes them a popular landscape architecture firm in India.
If you are keen on pursuing landscape architecture later in your career, consider interning with these purple-inked folks!
One of the firm's best projects is the Axis Pramiti.
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10. Anupama Kundoo Architects
Founders: Anupama Kundoo
Location: Auroville
The estimated total pay range for an Intern at the Anupama Kundoo Architects is ₹60K–₹1L per year, which includes base salary and additional pay.
Anupama Kundoo is one of the most celebrated female architects in India. Her architecture practice revolves around human stories, the craft of building and dedication to creativity. Her design process involves doing more with less, and considering the current climate crisis and resource scarcity and extinction, more builders should consider following in her footsteps. Her projects showcase a simplicity in material use, and purpose in the space and structure, backed by solid research in building materials, construction techniques and socio-economic architecture. She also conducts workshops and events to propagate this knowledge further.
Her practice is one of the most popular and respected ones in Auroville - a place that is known for unconventional living and experimental building practices. Consider an internship with her if you’re planning to explore this quirky town!
One of the firm's best projects is the Wall House.
11. Auroville Design Consultants
Founders: Suhasini Ayer
Location: Auroville
The estimated total pay range for an Intern at the Auroville Design Consultants is ₹60K–₹85K per year, which includes base salary and additional pay.
Here’s another renowned architecture firm from Auroville, led by yet another celebrated female architect in India. Auroville Design Consultants is one of the first architecture practices in Auroville. Their designs encompass simple, bold and basic shapes, constantly trying to strike a harmony between built and open spaces. This can be seen in one of their most popular (and visited) projects – the Auroville Visitors’ Centre. The practice has also birthed the Auroville Centre for Scientific Research, which is dedicated to investigating and experimenting with appropriate building materials and technologies, water management, renewable energy, sustainability and urban planning. This research is then published and used in projects that are inclined towards social progress and education.
If you like simplicity of form and material and are keen to help the environment and society, this may be the right place for you to intern. Once selected, accommodation options are also provided for the interns.
One of the firm's best projects is the Humanscapes Habitat Urban Living.
12. ZED (Zero Energy Design Lab)
Founders: Sachin Rastogi
Location: New Delhi
The estimated total pay range for an Intern at the Zero Energy Design Lab is ₹60K–₹80K per year, which includes base salary and additional pay.
Zero Energy Design Lab is on our list for the fact that they specialise in something the world urgently needs - energy efficiency and sustainability. They have been specialising in net-zero energy building since 2009 and have won various awards for it. Their design process lies in the innate understanding of age-old bioclimatic wisdom drawn from Indian vernacular architecture and its contextualisation for the times we live in with the aid of the best tools at hand. They extensively use cutting-edge technology, computational tools, climate analyses and simulation tools for form-finding and delivering long-lasting and resilient solutions.
Wish to focus your sustainable building ? Interning with this architecture firm in India could be a great start!
One of the firm's best projects is the St.Andrews Girls Hostel.
Read more: How is Technology Helping Deal With the Global Housing Crisis?
13. Spasm Design Architects
Founders: Sangeeta Merchant & Sanjeev Punjabi
Location: Mumbai
The estimated total pay range for an Intern at Spasm Design Architects is ₹60K–₹1L per year, which includes base salary and additional pay.
Spasm Design Architects is a research and innovation-based studio that focuses on bespoke, user-friendly projects. They believe that all designs have a transformative power that can potentially improve the user's life. Their signature style is the use of locally available materials infused with concrete (their star material) for strength. One of their projects, the Khopoli House, was also featured in the popular Netflix show World’s Most Beautiful Homes!
Their practice is based on the honesty, relevance, and sensibility of design. They believe in integrating simplicity and inclusivity in their projects as well as a sense of belongingness to spaces. If your personal design style is simple, bold and humane, this could be the right place for you!
One of the firm's best projects is the House of Secret Gardens.
14. NUDES Design Studio
Founders: Nuru Karim
Location: Mumbai
The estimated total pay range for an Intern at NUDES Design Studio is ₹80K–₹90K per year, which includes base salary and additional pay.
Nuru Karim, the founder of NUDES, worked for a few years with Zaha Hadid Architects before setting up his own design practice in Mumbai, India. His works reflect his interest in free-flowing, organic forms (which is predominantly seen in the works of Zaha Hadid as well). These free-flowing forms and spaces are made possible with computational design tools, particularly with the parametric modelling process (you gotta check out his Instagram account!).
His design philosophy is all about inspiring people by creating playful, experiential spaces that are shaped by old-fashioned problem-solving with new-age tools. The revolution that ZHA brought to the world of architecture is now being furthered by NUDES in the Indian architecture, art and design world, making him one of the best architects in India.
One of the firm's best projects is the Bookworm Pavilion.
15. Abin Design Studio
Founders: Abin Chaudhari
Location: Kolkata
The estimated total pay range for an Intern at Abin Design Studio is ₹80K–₹1L per year, which includes base salary and additional pay.
Abin Design Studio, founded in 2005, already has a lengthy record of awards and publications. They try to move beyond the utilitarian aspect of architecture and bring in as much art/expression/soul to their projects as possible. For this very reason, projects speak to the user on a personal level. The founder, Abin Chaudhari, who was listed among the 100 Most Influential Architects & Designers in India 2020 by AD, thinks of design as a process of finding cohesion in the world and has been attempting to find this cohesion along with his team one project at a time.
Themes like art, sculpture, materials, et cetera take centre stage in their projects. If you belong to the more artsy side of architecture and wish to decode the intangible, you’ve found a place to go!
One of the firm's best projects is the Courtyard House, Bangalore.
That brings us to the end of this list! Here’s another list of a few more architecture firms in India that we couldn’t cover in detail, but you can definitely consider them for your architecture internship.
Footprints E.A.R.T.H (Ahmedabad)
Prashant Pradhan Architects (Gangtok)
Shirish Beri and Associates (Kolhapur)
Stapati (Kochi, Calicut, Bengaluru)
Need more guidance on architecture internships or even your architecture thesis project? Head to our free Resources.
If you wish to learn parametric modelling, which is one of the new-age design processes that many firms are now employing for their projects, check out Novatr’s Master Computational Design Course for Real-World Application and BIM Professional Course for Architect V2.0. Start upskilling today!
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