Architecture has long been considered a man’s domain. Rewriting the narrative, however, are trailblazing female architects like Sapna Khakaria. Sapna is the founder of The Canvas Design – one of India’s leading design studios. The Canvas is known for creating spaces that are functional, vibrant and fearless. Women Entrepreneur magazine recognizes Sapna for not only creating revolutionary designs and establishing one of India’s most prominent and multi-dimensional design studios, but also for being an inspiration for many woman architects who aspire to create a niche in this domain.

Sapna’s passion has driven her from the age of 15, and after spending 20 years in this industry, she continues to be just as excited about her craft as she was as a bright-eyed design student. Today she is an accomplished business leader with a passion for workspace architecture, hotels, F&B, residential, and interior designs, and a portfolio of designs that reflect her core values of leadership; enthusiasm, innovation, decisiveness, agility, teamwork, and integrity.

As the Principal Architect, Sapna is shaping the growth of The Canvas Design through her ability to creatively articulate her clients’ visions & dreams into tangible realities. Let’s hear it from her.

Tell us about some important features of your expertise as an architect.

My work is an extension of a genuine love and curiosity for designing spaces that enhance the lives and liveli­hoods of its occupants. I believe through my journey, I’ve cultivated an innate mix of creative, mathematical, and mechanical intuitions that help me grasp and plan for designed outcomes that deliver memorable experiences.

The Canvas pursues projects that transcend disciplines, and while we have a strong identity in the design of new-age workspaces, we consciously take on projects of more multi-faceted persuasions. We are excited by challenges that allow us to creatively emote, engage and evoke thought.

From where do you find inspiration for your creativity?

I believe it is extremely important to be curious. Questions lead to answers just as problems lead to solutions. I believe culture is the medium through which generations express and tell their stories, and an appreciation for it is something that constantly inspires me to reinvent things and produce something novel every time. My past experiences are a key player in my creative abilities - I strongly maintain that the more we experience more influenced we get. My experiences and knowledge define my ideas and creativity which are presented through my work. By work I do not just refer to architecture & designs; work can mean art in any form - a simple water colour painting on a Sunday afternoon or cooking an innovative meal. I also enjoy traveling and soaking myself in nature taking inspiration from everything that surrounds me.

"Your legacy is defined by the stories you tell.. Design is a way to tell yours gracefully"

What are some of the most critical challenges you encounter as an entrepreneur? What is your take on empowering women in the workforce?

Being a mother to a wonderful daughter, and the leader of a creative business, is as challenging and tumultuous as it is rewarding and humbling. Women encounter many more roadblocks compared to men largely owing to defined role-constructs and expectations society will tend to have of its women. As a woman, I understand the difficulties faced by women in the workforce and hence, I have taken initiative to foster a culture where women are understood, respected, and given equal opportunities. We have a drop facility for women working late hours. When we started, we were amongst the top five firms in India that incorporated a menstrual leave policy for women employees. We aim to make everybody around us feel empowered, thus, we train our artisans and women labour on machinery and technology so that they feel comfortable while working with us. We were also recognized as the top 50 best places for women to work.

What is the biggest milestone of your professional journey? What has been your success mantra?

Building The Canvas Design is the biggest milestone of my career. I started the venture with nothing in a small room which today is a market leader with a portfolio of highly reputed clients and a passionate team of young designers who constantly put their ideas to deliver excellence. As a designer, the longevity of your career will depend on your ability to stay relevant with the times, and understand both aesthetic trends and technology arcs. In conveying the finer contours of a built design, I often imbibe from vocational wisdom, and try to create opportunities for local artisans whose incredible talents are getting lost in this era of digitalization.

What would be your advice for upcoming industry leaders?

To thrive in this industry, we need leaders who are willing to lead by example, who are able to motivate, inspire and engage with the workforce they represent. The workforce of an organization – its human resources, will always represent its heart and soul. Your legacy will be defined by those who have entrusted you with the privilege to lead them. Hence, lead with integrity. Be passionate. Work hard. And learn from every single person you meet - gain as much experience as possible. Because at the end, it is the experience and the knowledge you glean from different walks of life that inform how you design, what you design, and by extension, the clientele you will design for.

Sapna Khakaria, Principal Architect, The Canvas Design

Having an extensive experience in the architecture domain, Sapna is making a benchmark in the global market by building long-term relationships with clients and creating holistic designs that are both aesthetically and functionally thorough.