With a career spanning more than two decades in the USA and India, Kanan Modi, founder and principal architect of Kanan Modi Associates, is a force to reckon with. Under her able leadership, the firm has won numerous awards and created projects in high-end corporates, retail, health care, hospitality, education, and luxury homes to product designs, exclusive surfaces, and bespoke furniture.

Modi’s passion for architecture was ignited at the tender age of 16, when walking down the Peddar road in Mumbai, she would often stop to admire the design of the Kanchan Junga building by renowned architect Charles Correa. This admiration marked the beginning of a lifelong love for architecture, setting the foundation for a career defined by innovation, sustainability, and the pursuit of seamless designs.

An avid traveler, Modi draws inspiration from villages around the world and aims to create architecture that blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces. Her relentless pursuit of learning and design includes exploring traditional and modern architecture to enhance functionality by prioritising climate-responsive and energy-efficient designs. As she emphasises, “Our goal is to design spaces that foster a dialogue between art and architecture, where daylight playfully interacts with raw textures, evoking a variety of emotions throughout the day.”

An ongoing project which embodies this philosophy is for a Hyderabad real estate firm where they have utilised active construction waste from nearby sites as its primary building material, reflecting their innovative and sustainable approach. Another standout project is a home ‘Forest House’, designed to reflect a deeper integration of nature and architecture. With retractable roofs and a layout that immerses living and working with vegetation and trees, the design provides sanctuary to not only inhabitants but also plants.

Modi anticipates the revolution of various industries, including architecture and design through the use of AI (Artificial Intelligence). By embracing AI, she and her team have not only enhanced their design presentations but also gained more time for creative exploration.

Modi envisions the future of architecture being driven by cutting edge technology along with focus on innovation and sustainability. She foresees a greater emphasis on sustainable and energy efficient building practices.

With an impressive career behind her, she is a model for young architects and designers and advises them to work hard and pursue their dreams and enjoy the process of bringing their designs to life.