Founder Editor Team
Ar. Sanjana Srihari – Founder of Handbook Architects and Interior Designers
Ar. Sanjana Srihari, the founder of Handbook Architects and Interior Designers, has an impressive portfolio of projects under her belt. Among them, one residence stands out: the home of Dr. Manjunath, a couple deeply entrenched in the medical field. This fact alone played a pivotal role in shaping the design, as their profession prompted a multitude of specific requests for their ideal home.
Situated on a 2478 sqft corner site in Vijayanagar, Mysore, the residence faced north and east. The clients desired a design that struck a balance between privacy and socializing, considering their busy lifestyle. Their brief also emphasized the importance of ample natural light, ventilation, and a hassle-free, green environment.
Another intriguing aspect revealed about the clients was their passion for movies. With all these factors in mind, a Vastu-compliant plan was developed, incorporating an abundance of skylights, secluded green spaces, spacious balconies, and areas for entertainment.
The site’s fortunate orientation facing north and east enabled the inclusion of balconies and larger openings on the north elevation, allowing an influx of diffused north light into the house. However, similar fenestrations were limited on the east elevation.
As with any project, be it in architecture or life, a plan is paramount. Yet, it often deviates from its original course. However, at Handbook, plans always materialize, which is ironically tied to a change of plans. Initially, Ar. Sanjana Srihari had intentions of moving abroad.
However, her path took an unexpected turn when she received a café design project. It was a defining moment when she realized her true calling as an architect, serving a need that seemed elusive until then. There is often a misconception about the architecture field and its practitioners being elitist. This misunderstanding stems from issues with accessibility and portrayal. These were the two obstacles that Ar. Sanjana wanted to overcome.
Many professionals choose to work from their homes, but this approach can invade their privacy due to frequent client visits. Thus, Handbook was conceived as a firm that offered affordable yet contemporary designs without any preconceptions.
The core concept was to focus on client-centric design and delivery, a principle that Handbook has remained true to since its establishment on December 4, 2019. Over the years, Handbook Architecture and Interior Designs have successfully completed more than 50 projects, with 24 ongoing projects spanning various categories such as residential, commercial, hospitality and retreat, renovations, landscaping, interiors, and retail.
One particular aspect that sets Handbook apart is their finesse in creating creative and functional residential designs that truly prioritize the clients’ needs. Sanjana’s entrepreneurial journey is truly commendable, and there are valuable lessons to be learned from it.
