Women in architecture have been making significant contributions to the field by creating spaces that not only look visually appealing but also improve the quality of people's lives. They have been creating functional, sustainable, and inclusive spaces that cater to the needs of the people who use them. In this context, Anuja Nawathe, an Indian architect, stands out as someone who creates homes that provide unique experiences for its inhabitants. Ar. Anuja finds her happiness in the joy of creation that architecture brings and believes that creating homes is more about creating experiences than just designing spaces. Her designs reflect her philosophy and focus on creating personalized and functional spaces that evoke emotions and provide unique experiences for its inhabitants.

Ar. Anuja’s thoughts on the importance of design are derived from her father Ar. Avinash Nawathe, who is an established architect with a respectable body of work to his name. He founded ANA 38 years ago, and today Anuja is following in her father’s footsteps to carry on his illustrious legacy. She is currently the director of ANA and takes care of the design vertical for the firm.

Anuja has amassed vast experience in the field of architecture and has worked on numerous projects over a span of 10 years. She has worked on some of the most iconic buildings in Pune, one of which was even featured in the list of the 50 most beautiful houses in India. She believes that creating homes is more about creating experiences. In addition, she has received a lot of accolades for her entrepreneurship skills as well. When it comes to managing a family and striking a balance between business and life, she draws inspiration from Indra Nooyi, the founder of PepsiCo.

Introduce us to ANA and its legacy as a firm.

The seed for "Avinash Nawathe Architects" was planted in 1985, and when it burst open in Pune's real estate market, it did so with dynamism and creativity, deepening its roots in a market known for being picky and unyielding in its commitment to quality. The expansion that ANA can boast of is evidence of the organization's steadfast values.

Under the skillful direction of Ar. Avinash Nawathe, ANA has not only expanded but also flourished in a competitive industry over the years. With more than 2000 finished projects and more than 300 continuing projects, it stands tall and proud today. ANA presently has a strong team of 75 highly qualified employees that collaborate effectively in a forward-thinking, demanding, and challenging environment.

Basically, ANA is a family-run architectural firm with more than 38 years of experience. My father had always aspired to be an architect. As a result, he founded his own firm and has created a legacy in Pune. Eventually my brother and I joined the firm. As the director of design at ANA, I am responsible for the design verticals; my brother, Anish Nawathe, is in charge of the government Liasoning of the firm; and our father is the chairman who provides leadership guidance to the directors for designing and ensuring all the responsibilities are met.

We have already begun working towards our goal of being a global consulting organization offering all design solutions under one roof. From land acquisition to facility management post completion, government liaison, PMC, interior, structural, MEP, landscaping, we are adept at all services. Therefore, we strive to be the only company offering the entire gamut of services under one roof. Above all at ANA, we believe in extraordinary power of design which helps people to influence the quality of life.

Tell us about the steps you take to execute the new project. What role does technology play in this process?

At ANA, we work on the project over the course of three sessions, when we generate reports, sketch proposals, and technical proposals, respectively. As part of the first workshop, we study the documents, analyse them, and visit the sites in order to prepare the report. We produce the sketch brochure for the second course, which is about concept development. The technical broucher, which includes the design solution, sketches, and views, is prepared in the third workshop. The client then approves and signs off on it.

Many times, technology plays a critical role and we are dependent on the same to have our creations built the way we envisage them to be and we have been able to successfully implement the same.We have incorporated BIM technology by working on Revit and clash detection software. ANA is a process driven company and we are currently an ISO-certified business with a focus on quality management systems. We also use a very reliable ERP system that was created specifically for ANA, which aids with better project and timely deliverables.

Take us through your early educational journey and the prior industry experience that you bring to the table.

I received my undergraduate degree in architecture from the Marathwada Mitramandals College of Architecture in Pune. I began working immediately after third year of college. My father had already established this firm, and I was asked to join into the ranks as a junior architect. It sort of added to ascend through the ranks of the junior architect, senior architect, and now firm director. Additionally, I completed a six-month internship with Ahmedabad-based architect Apoorva Amin. Also, I strive to participate in numerous programmes and learn from those that focus on the context of architecture. One such programme was a brief architecture crash course on architecture design from a Singapore university. Just continuous learning is all I'm after.

Recently I also qualified for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Entrepreneurship Program, at IIM Bangalore which was crash course for MBA.

Throw some light on the different responsibilities you shoulder as the Director of ANA.

As the director of design, my top priority is providing our clients with a good design in a timely manner. We do our work alongside real estate developers. As a result, we work with mass housing, commercial spaces, IT Buildings, institutions, hotels, etc. Moreover, by offering strong design, we help the developers to increase their salability by 20 percent roughly. I am also responsible for the business development aspect of the firm. Therefore, gaining new clients, expanding, and scaling the firm are my goals.

"As the director of architectural design, my top priority is providing our clients with a good and efficient design in a timely manner"

Tell us about the various challenges you encounter as an architect and business leader. How do you overcome the roadblocks that you face?

The biggest challenge is carrying on our father's legacy; donning his shoes is not an easy task. But with our processes and checklists in place, we are trying to address this difficulty in a variety of ways.

The largest issue for any architectural business, but notably those in India, is their inability to scale. And we intend to grow throughout India this year, with a focus on metropolitan areas. In order to do so and set the firm on autopilot, we primarily depend on the most recent technology available in the market. For that we have multiple technologies implemented in place and have put our headquarters in auto pilot mode. We are making an effort to address them one step at a time and overcoming them.

Tell us about some of the key milestones you have achieved throughout your professional journey. What has been your success mantra?

We added a few honors for being Pune's leading architects. I received a leadership award through one of the leading newspaper in Pune. Several periodicals have featured our buildings. Our buildings have been featured in multiple magazines and one of the bungalows we created was featured in an article on the 50 most beautiful houses in India and that changed the course of our trajectory and notably our work was rated amongst the top few architects in our city. I have been published as “leader in pune” at one of the Navadurga celebration in pune.

The success mantra I live by is that you must confront every difficulty head-on, accept it, and take it one step at a time to complete your tasks.

What advice would you give to young women and girls who also aspire to become business leaders and entrepreneurs in the future?

Don't be afraid to experiment. Most people are highly doubtful and constantly second-guess themselves, but if you strive to step outside of your comfort zone, good things will happen. And in whatever circumstance, never say no to any opportunities. In order to succeed and advance in your business, you just need to step outside of your comfort zone.

Anuja Nawathe, Director, Ana

Anuja Nawathe is an architect who is leading her father's legacy in the architectural industry. Anuja has extensive experience in the field of architecture and has worked on several notable projects in Pune, including one featured in the list of the 50 most beautiful houses in India. She believes in creating experiences rather than just designing spaces and takes inspiration from Indra Nooyi when balancing her family and work life.