Our Team - Architects in Bangalore/Kolkata

- Animesh Nayak
  
  PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT
Animesh graduated with a B.Arch degree from Delhi’s School of Planning and Architecture in 2002, and during this period he also interned at the San Francisco offices of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, LLP and with the masons of award-winning Indian architect Laurie Baker on various projects in South India. Upon graduation, he spent a semester at the office of architect Ranjit Sabikhi in New Delhi, where he worked on a proposal for a new IIM campus. He joined the M.Arch Program at Cornell University’s College of Art, Architecture and Planning in 2003 and graduated in 2005. Animesh then worked for four years at the New York office of FXFowle as part of a team on various urban planning and architecture projects all over eastern United States. He returned to India in 2009 and founded, along with two other partners, the architecture practice – SALT, leading the design and execution of a wide array of institutional, commercial and residential projects all over India and overseas. In 2016, after the dissolution of SALT, Animesh founded Open to Sky – an architecture and design firm with offices in Bengaluru and Kolkata.
- Gaurav Banerjee
  
  SENIOR ASSOCIATE
- Gaurav completed his Bachelor of Architecture degree in 2012 from Jadavpur University, Kolkata. He completed his Master’s in Theory of Design in 2015 from CEPT University, Ahmedabad. Gaurav worked with M/s Prabhakar B Bhagwat in Ahmedabad during his internship and also after graduating, from 2012 to 2013. He was also an instructor at CEPT University’s Winter School, 2015. Gaurav is keenly interested in understanding the impact of contemporary urban transformation on the historic settings of Indian cities. In his graduation thesis, he attempted to formulate a framework to understand the transformative dynamics of the built environment at the juncture of rapid urbanization using the example of Kolkata’s Old Chinatown as a case study. Gaurav enjoys travelling and is particularly interested in travel literature. Music, sketching and reading comics are his other passions.
- Revathi Ramakrishnan
  
  ASSOCIATE
- Revathi completed her Bachelor of Architecture in 2015 from Manipal University, Karnataka. She has led projects across residential, commercial, hospitality and institutional typologies while working with reputed design studios in Bangalore. Revathi’s thesis focused on the importance of Streetscape and Urban Social Space Design in the city of Kochi. She joined 'Open to Sky' in October 2023 and leads the Bangalore branch of the design studio.
  
  Revathi enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, and travelling. She is an ardent board gamer and a big foodie at heart
- Anumoy Paul
  
  SENIOR ARCHITECT
- Anumoy Paul completed his Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) degree in 2015 from Jadavpur University, Kolkata. He also completed his Master’s in Urban Design (MArch) degree in 2017 from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. He joined 'Open to Sky' as an ARCHITECT in April 2018.
  
  Anumoy did his internship with MNC.ONE, Kolkata during which he worked with Ar. Anjan Mitra on an urban revitalization project in Kalighat, Kolkata. He also worked with conservation architect Ar. Aishwarya Tipnis as an Urban Design facilitator on an Indo French heritage project.
  
  Anumoy is keenly interested in understanding modern trends in urban geography. He also enjoys watching movies, writing, sketching and reading.
- Sayantani Kar
  
  SENIOR ARCHITECT
- Sayantani completed her B Arch with honours from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, in 2016. Thereafter, she joined MNC.One as an Architect and worked there for two years. Sayantani then joined Architectonic Services as an Architect. She joined ‘Open to Sky’ in 2019 where she worked on several projects, both in architecture and interior design, including a proposal for an IB school in Mumbai. Sayantani’s short absence from the team, enhanced her growth and passion for design, when she worked with Abin Design Studio for a year before she returned to ‘Open to Sky’ in March 2023 as Senior Architect. With her return, Sayantani brings more richness and smarter practical solutions to the team.
  
  Her graduation thesis explored the concept of ‘Temple of no Religion’, taking inspiration from ‘Auroville’. An avid traveller, Sayantani is also a prolific painter and has featured in several professional exhibitions.
- Sharmistha Manna
  
  ARCHITECT
- Sharmistha completed her Diploma in Architecture (D.Arch) in 2016, from the Chandannagar Womens Polytechnic and worked with Regal Cad Services for one year. She then joined Architectonic Services where she worked for four years, during which period she worked on several residential and commercial projects. Sharmistha joined ‘Open to Sky’ as an Architect in 2022. She is currently pursuing her B. Arch from the Indian Institute of Architects, while working full-time with 'Open to Sky'.
  
  Sharmistha is keenly interested in conservation of heritage buildings and also enjoys travelling, painting and music.
- Rohan Samanta
  
  ARCHITECT
- Rohan completed his B.Arch in 2022 from OmDayal College of Architecture in Kolkata. While pursuing his B.Arch, he interned with Kamat and Rozario for six months in 2021. The subject of his dissertation was 'Rethinking Promotional Spaces for Unknown Artists in Kolkata using Adaptive Reuse'. His project involved intensive research of old and dilapidated buildings and the holistic development of the artist community and their surroundings.
  
  Rohan joined ‘Open to Sky Architects’ in June, 2023. He is keenly interested in documenting the heritage parts of the city and to understand how the morphology has changed over time. Rohan is also keenly interested in adaptation of technology to architecture.
  
  His interests include drawing caricatures, graphic design, cooking, travel and soccer.
- Smruti Elizabeth Saju
  
  ARCHITECT
- Smruti completed her Bachelor of Architecture degree in 2021 from SRM University, Chennai. With experience in renowned firms - Mindscape Architects and Stirvi Architects in Kerala, her expertise lies in residential and hospitality architecture. Smruti joined ‘Open to Sky’ Architects, Bengaluru in June 2024.
  
  Transitioning to freelance, her initial project involved renovating her parents' two-decade-old home, a deeply personal task that required a balance between preserving sentimental elements while integrating modern design solutions. This endeavor transformed her perspective, instilling in her a deep understanding of the intricate interplay between design, heritage, budget constraints and emotional resonance - a lesson that continues to shape her approach as an architect.
  Beyond architectural pursuits, Smruti loves to explore new places, people, and experiences. She also finds fulfilment in cooking, baking, and challenges like crosswords and puzzles.
- Drishti Roy
  
  ARCHITECT
- Drishti graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Om Dayal College of Architecture in 2023. She completed her internship with ‘Open to Sky’ in 2022, gaining hands-on experience working with one of the teams. She further honed her architectural skills at Eastside Office, where she contributed to a diverse range of projects, including the conservation of heritage buildings, residential design, and commercial interior projects. Her dissertation, titled 'Hustle Hub – Collaborative Living and Working,' explored innovative concepts in the future of co-working and co-living spaces. This thesis reimagined shared spaces on a larger scale, designed to cater to a broad spectrum of professions and lifestyles. The project aimed to address the evolving needs of modern working professionals.
  
  Drishti is driven by the belief that architecture should tell stories and create lasting impressions. She aims to design buildings that not only serve their functional purpose, but also resonate with the people who interact with them.
  
  Drishti's hobbies include singing, music and travelling.
- Ayush Singh
  
  ARCHITECT
- Ayush earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree from OmDayal College of Architecture. He interned with ‘Open to Sky’ Architects while pursuing his BArch. After graduating, he gained valuable experience working with Archon Design and East Side Office before joining ‘Open to Sky’ in August 2024.
  
  Ayush has a deep passion for art and sketching, which he explored in his final year thesis on the ‘Kolkata Museum of Modern Art’. He believes that successful design should achieve a harmonious balance between functionality, contextual awareness, and aesthetics.
  
  In his free time, Ayush enjoys watching movies, playing cricket, and dabbling in photography.
- Ovileena Das
  
  ARCHITECT
- Ovileena completed her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Amity University, Kolkata in 2024. She completed her six-month internship with Salient Design Studio in 2023. For her dissertation, she explored the impact of the built environment on peoples’ mental health and wellbeing. It involved designing communal living spaces, focusing on urban youth, that would safeguard them from social isolation, general anxiety and stress.
  
  Ovileena joined ‘Open to Sky’ in June, 2024. She is keen on providing creative solutions to real-world problems and her aim is to create a positive impact socially and environmentally, through her designs. She enjoys learning modern ways of integrating technology into architecture and belongs to that generation of architects who design with creative consciousness.
  
  Ovileena enjoys digital art and graphics, watching art films, animations and reading mangas in her free time.
- Gautham NP
  
  ARCHITECT
- Gautham completed his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Brindavan College of Architecture, Bengaluru. He joined the Bengaluru studio of ‘Open to Sky’ in May 2024. His interest in architecture springs from the transformative power of thoughtfully crafted spaces.
  
  Gautham’s thesis revolved around community and social wellbeing to bring together people from culturally rich societies as seen across most of the rapidly urbanising regions in India, with primary focus on Bangalore - the key challenge being to create dynamic public spaces that foster change. To enhance his exposure, he worked with a studio involved in urban design to understand the nuances for creating design for the public realm.
  
  Apart from architecture, Gautham enjoys reading, movies and video games.
- Sudeshna Sarkar
  
  SENIOR ARCHITECT (Collaborator)
- Sudeshna is an Architect and Urban Designer with more than 13 years of professional experience. She graduated with a B.Arch from the Indian Institute of Engineering and Science University (IIEST), Shibpur in 2009, and completed her MA in Urban Design from Sheffield School of Architecture, UK in 2016.
  
  Sudeshna was involved with the preparation of the Nomination Dossier with the Archaeological Survey of India for Santiniketan, as a world heritage site for UNESCO. She has extensive experience in conservation and restoration, construction, urban design and landscaping projects. She has been involved in housing, institutional and commercial development projects in Delhi, Muscat, and Kolkata.
  
  Sudeshna has also worked on urban design projects in Howrah, Sheffield, Berlin and Johannesburg. She started working with smart city projects in December 2018 as an Urban Designer in Trivandrum Smart City, on three slum re-development projects, one market re-development and several street and road development projects. She was appointed as Urban Designer for New Town Kolkata Green Smart City and worked on identifying development projects all over the city, participating in feasibility studies, design proposals, stakeholder participation, tender documents and vendor selection processes. In addition, she worked in Al-Tasnim LLC, Muscat on high-end villa and showroom projects as a Project Architect.
  
  Sudeshna believes in a collaborative approach to designing spaces and is passionate about finding innovative and sustainable solutions to urban issues. Her keen interest in design and research work has motivated her to actively involve herself in advocacy of architecture and design, through writing as an architectural journalist.
  
  Sudeshna is the founder and the Principal Architect of ‘Spatial Design Practices’, a Kolkata-based architecture firm, where she wants to utilize her knowledge and experience to create innovative, functional and aesthetic design solutions. She has been associated with ‘Open to Sky’ since February 2022, as a collaborative partner.
- Shiveera Seth
  
  INTERIOR DESIGNER (Collaborator)
- Shiveera completed her Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Interior Design from Lasalle College of the Arts, Singapore in 2019. In 2017 she interned at URBNarc, an award-winning firm in Singapore, led by Architect & Designer Gaurang Khemka. Shiveera also interned at Design Cell in Kolkata after graduating, under the guidance of Architect Veenu Chaddha.
  
  Shiveera has a keen interest in vernacular architecture and the many ways in which it can inform our designs moving forward, to create more meaningful spaces and to prevent the obsolescence of structures.
  
  Shiveera enjoys reading, swimming and baking in her spare time.
- Utsav Ray Choudhury
  
  ARCHITECT (Collaborator)
- Utsav completed his B.Arch degree in 2018 from IIEST(BESU) Shibpur. He interned with ‘Open to Sky’ in 2017 and upon completing his graduation, he started his professional career as an Architect with ‘Beyond Architecture’ in Kolkata. During the three and a half years that he was with ‘Beyond Architecture’, he worked on several recreational, residential, commercial and interior projects.
  
  Utsav now practices architecture on his own, and engages as a collaborator with ‘Open to Sky’ on a regular basis. While architecture is his passion, Utsav also loves solo travelling, painting, and enjoys helping his mother with domestic chores.
- Anup Gupta
  
  OFFICE MANAGER
- Anup joined SALT in 2014 and then joined Open to Sky in February 2016. He takes care of the office and manages all matters pertaining to the office very efficiently. His strength is trouble-shooting and he is able to manage complex administrative tasks with great ease. Anup enjoys interacting with people. He also enjoys cricket, travelling, sketching and drawing. Apart from this, he is a foodie and likes to experiment with new dishes.
- Disha M Bhansali
  
  MARKETING & PR CONSULTANT
- Disha M Bhansali is an accomplished professional with expertise in branding and marketing. She holds a strong educational foundation in finance and accountancy, having a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a Major in Finance and Accountancy from St. Joseph's College of Commerce, Bangalore. Her diverse career includes roles in employer branding, recruitment marketing, and digital marketing, showcasing her skills in project management, data analysis, and content creation.
  
  Disha is a passionate traveller, enjoys dancing, fashion and is an avid reader of business and finance literature.
- Debayudh Halder
  
  ARCHITECTURAL INTERN
- Debayudh is currently pursuing his B. Arch at Techno India University, School of Architecture. He is inclined towards modernist designs and places strong emphasis on meticulous attention to detail. He joined ‘Open to Sky’ as an Architectural Intern in July 2024, where he aims to learn various design-driven exercises and gain practical knowledge in the field of architecture. He has a deep interest in architectural visualization.
  
  Apart from architecture, Debayudh enjoys watching and playing football. He also likes to play video games in his free time and listens to podcasts on various topics.
- Ankesh Saha
  
  ARCHITECTURAL INTERN
- Ankesh is currently pursuing his B.Arch. at Institute of Technology and Management (ITM) University Gwalior. According to him, architecture goes beyond merely designing spaces; it involves a deep understanding and meticulous crafting of subtle details that enrich the user experience on social, physical, and visual levels. His dissertation ‘Art Direction through Spaces in the Cinematic World’ involved intensive research on how sets are created from the real to the reel. Ankesh joined ‘Open to Sky’ as an Architectural Intern in July 2024.
  
  Apart from architecture, Ankesh is a sports fanatic, and an avid quizzer – he represented his school and college in many quiz competitions. His other interests are reading, playing chess, and watching movies.
- Susan Ann Sajan
  
  ARCHITECTURAL INTERN
- Susan is presently pursuing her Bachelor of Architecture Degree from TKM College of Engineering, Kollam, Kerala. She joined ‘Open to Sky’, Bengaluru as an Architectural Intern in June 2024. She believes that every detailing of the space we craft, translates to the experience of the people interacting with it. Architecture should make those experiences memorable.
  
  Susan also finds time to paint, dance, listen to music, explore movies and finds comfort in watching old movies. She also loves to travel.
- Siddhartha Chatterjee
  
  ARCHITECTURAL INTERN
- Siddhartha is currently pursuing his B.Arch. degree at Om Dayal College of Architecture. He is a design enthusiast and aims to create spaces that positively impact people’s well-being. Siddhartha joined ‘Open to Sky’ as an Architectural Intern in July 2024. He seeks to gain practical insights, learn key details and understand the workflow of various architectural projects during his internship.
  
  Siddhartha has a keen interest in modern architecture and sustainable design, continually exploring how contemporary buildings can be combined with eco-friendly practices.
  
  Outside of his studies and work, Siddhartha enjoys photography, swimming, and basketball, all of which contribute to his active and creative lifestyle.

KOLKATA

BENGALURU