Step inside our studio
Where ideas are stirred, shaped and brought to life.
The Studio
Sonia Gehlot Ankhad
Sonia Gehlot is an architect and the founder of Architecture & Beyond, a Mumbai-based design practice working across architecture and interior architecture.
Her work is guided by a simple philosophy: Order & Whimsy, the belief that a well-designed space should have a sense of structure and calm, but never feel too perfect. The most memorable spaces, she believes, leave room for surprise, individuality and a little bit of play.
Each project begins with an understanding of its context and the people who will inhabit it. Sonia seeks to create spaces that feel distinctly their own: comfortable, layered, thoughtful and a little unexpected.
Alongside her practice, Sonia has taught at Rachana Sansad and ISDI (now Atlas SkillTech University), bringing her experience of professional practice into design education.
Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor and GoodHomes. In 2022, she was named Young & Upcoming Talent of the Year at the Elle Décor x KBDA Awards.
Well designed spaces are never a coincidence.
Approach
The human experience first
“How will one feel in a space? What vibe do I want to orchestrate? Well designed spaces are never a coincidence.”
Listening to the building
“Approached not as an act of reinvention, but as one of listening: to the building, to its proportions, to the light, and to the life unfolding beyond its walls.”
Knowing where to stop
“The balance was knowing where to stop designing. It was a fine line, and if overdone it would have taken away from the elegance of the space.”
Upcycling and reuse
“We refurbished a lot of old furniture and used it here. I strongly believe in upcycling and reuse.”
Recognition
- 2022Kohler Bold Design AwardsYoung and Upcoming Talent · For The Healing Centre.
In print