When we think about Gujarat’s architecture, we think about ancient stepwells, grand temples, and centuries-old forts, the structures that carry centuries’ worth of stories. But if we look around today, we see a different story taking shape slowly. Glass towers rise alongside old-fashioned homes, culture centres buzz with fresh ideas, and homes are being constructed alongside nature. Gujarat’s skyline is transforming, and along with it, the way we experience our cities.
What makes a building special? A well-known landmark? An isolated corner familiar only to locals? A common house that speaks in architecture? We at Gujpreneur, decided to pose this question to people who know architecture the best: the architects of Gujarat.
Their choices promise to reveal how architecture not only shapes spaces but also inspires, defies convention, and redefines identity. Through their eyes, we invite you to discover the hidden gems and bold marvels that give Gujarat its modern character.
Studio Parijat- Devanshi Patel
Devanshi has lived in Chennai, Pondicherry, Mumbai, and even travelled through Europe. She has witnessed various styles of architecture, from the colonial streets and coastal courtyards to urban centers and grand European structures.Yet, when she moved to Ahmedabad a year and a half ago, she felt the city had a different charm. In her opinion, the city is a centre of creativity with numerous brilliant minds and a rich architectural history.
Neelkanth Chhaya’s Centre for Environmental Education resonates within her differently. Its sensibility to nature calms her down. It is proof to her that architecture is not a matter of shape but a matter of relationships: to site, to climate, and to users who will occupy it.
Then there is the Amdavad ni Gufa, the imaginative collaboration between B.V. Doshi and M.F. Husain, which she describes as a space of wonder. Its cave-like forms and shifting light feel almost primal to her. “For me, it represents freedom, the idea that architecture can transcend utility and become a space for pure expression.”
And finally, the House of MG holds a personal place in her heart for its heritage charm and cultural resonance. Entering it is like entering another time but still quite modern in spirit. It makes her realize architecture has continuation too: with memories and customs handed down while still relating to modern life.
For Devanshi, these buildings are more than physical structures. They have been companions, offering calm, inspiration, and reflection. “In Ahmedabad, architecture doesn’t simply exist: it breathes, it converses, it shelters, and it heals.”
Meranti Design Studio– Riddhi Shah
Certain structures in Gujarat stand out as truly meaningful pieces of architecture. Among them, the Mill Owners’ Association Building by Le Corbusier holds a special place. “It is one of the oldest yet finest examples of modern architecture in Ahmedabad,” she reflects. Designed in a brutalist and modernist style, the three-storey building cleverly uses its concrete framework, struts, screens, and walls to shield interiors from the harsh sun while allowing breezes to flow through. What makes it remarkable to her is not just its design ingenuity but its resilience – “even after more than 70 years, it stands strong as a climate-responsive building,” she notes.
Another inspiration for her is the iconic IIM Ahmedabad campus designed by Louis Kahn. She admires the way it brings together materials, geometry, and open spaces, creating a powerful dialogue between modern design and Indian vernacular traditions. In her words, it is “a perfect blend of modern yet contemporary architecture with local material and elements.”
Rastogi Associates: Pranav Rastogi
For Rastogi Associates, architecture is as much about movement as it is about form. “Circulation in a project is very critical to how the building is felt,” they share, pointing to the Mill Owners’ Association Building as a structure that embodies this idea. Its location by the riverbank and its open, flowing plan make it feel less like a closed box and more like a space that blends seamlessly with its surroundings.
He also reflects on one of their own projects, in Baroda, a restaurant called Bombay Kitchen, built inside a client’s estate. Its construction, he says, was extremely moving. It was something other than just a project because it was such an intense experience that once again made them aware of how space can engage with emotions and relationships.
P&S Associates– Sachi Shah
For Sachi, Gujarat’s architecture revolves around cultural diversity, craftsmanship, and cultural depth. Among many, however, one structure comes closest to having a special place in her heart: the Laxmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara.
“The palace is remarkable for its royal elegance and architectural fusion,” she says . It was carefully conceptualized in a rare combination of Indo-Saracenic, Gothic, Mughal, and Renaissance traditions. It’s domes, turrets, detailed balconies, and its arches merge in a grand statement of style.
She also finds the details within the palace to be inspiring. Venetian mosaic floors, Belgian stain glass, and richly decorated wooden ceilings show craftsmanship from another era.
To her, the Laxmi Vilas Palace is more than a monument. “It isn’t just architecture—it is a living canvas of luxury, tradition, and artistry,” she reflects.
Gujarat’s Architecture as Living Stories
What we feel through these voices is that Gujarat’s architecture is not buildings; it is sensations. It is Le Corbusier’s concrete strength to some; others find subdued sensibility in Chhaya’s designs. It is Amdavad ni Gufa’s experimental quality or it may be Laxmi Vilas Palace’s grandeur. They have a story to say about these structures—time, people, vision.
With Gujarat’s ongoing development, its architecture bears testimony to and participates in that process.
Stay connected to Gujpreneur for more such inspiration in the world of Architecture.
