Introduction: Illuminating Architectural Visionaries

The Drafting Table India is Rezovate’s homage to architects who transcend the ordinary, crafting spaces that resonate with human experience and cultural depth. This series celebrates those who see architecture as a dialogue between people, place, and time. Today, we honor Ar Annkur Khosla, a Mumbai-based architect whose work weaves natural materials into soulful narratives, redefining luxury and sustainability.

Annkur Khosla’s designs, from a poetic Mumbai apartment to a wellness ashram in Nashik, embody architecture’s power to evoke emotion and foster connection. Her work merits celebration for its fearless embrace of natural materials like Burma teak and its commitment to spaces that breathe with life. In a world of sterile designs, Annkur’s philosophy offers a profound reminder that architecture can be both art and heart.

An Overview: A Legacy of Expressive Design

Ar Annkur Khosla founded Annkur Khosla Design Studio in 2010, after honing her craft at Mumbai’s Academy of Architecture, delving into Indian aesthetics at Jnanapravaha, and studying at the New York School of Interior Design. From a small Mumbai studio, she has built a practice that spans architecture and interiors, with projects across India—Mumbai, Bengaluru, Nashik—and abroad, including a bungalow in New York. Her studio, now housed in Mumbai’s World Trade Centre, is a hub of creativity, blending global sophistication with Indian roots.

Her influence is striking: over 13 years, Annkur has delivered a robust portfolio, earning Architectural Digest India’s AD100 recognition twice (2019, 2023), a Vogue Space Explorer Dynamos title (2013), and a place among Casa Vogue’s Upper Crust Designers (2015). Nominated as one of India’s 50 Next Generation Architects (2012) and listed among the Top 100 Architects by Architect & Interiors India (2015, 2016), her work has touched dozens of projects, from luxury residences to hospitality and wellness spaces, cementing her as a trailblazer.

Details of Her Work: A Philosophy of Material and Soul

Annkur Khosla’s architectural philosophy is a tapestry of experience, where spaces are not mere structures but vessels of emotion and memory. She sees design as a sensory journey, with natural materials—Burma teak, stone, marble, and handcrafted textiles—as her unique signature. These materials, rich with texture and history, ground her work in authenticity, creating spaces that feel alive and timeless.

Her sea-facing Mumbai apartment, featured in Architectural Digest’s AD100 2019, is a luminous example. Here, Burma teak columns, etched with calligraphic inscriptions, stand as sculptural anchors amidst white interiors and vibrant art. The teak’s warm grain and the calligraphy’s cultural resonance evoke Mumbai’s coastal spirit, adding value by transforming a home into a poetic dialogue with the sea. Challenges included sourcing sustainable Burma teak, a material increasingly scarce, and ensuring its integration didn’t overpower the space’s airy aesthetic. Annkur’s deft touch balanced bold materiality with delicate spatial flow, creating a residence that sings of place and purpose.

The Bengaluru villa, lauded in AD100 2023, showcases Annkur’s commitment to sustainability through materials like local stone and recycled wood, paired with systems like rainwater harvesting and solar energy. The villa’s monochromatic rooms, accented with handcrafted furnishings, blend old-world charm with modern eco-consciousness, adding value by offering a sanctuary that treads lightly on the earth. Challenges lay in calibrating sustainable technologies to maintain aesthetic cohesion, particularly in Bengaluru’s variable climate, but Annkur’s rigorous material selection and craftsmanship delivered a home that’s both green and gracious.

The Earth Café in Mumbai, celebrated by India Today, is a hospitality triumph where natural materials like reclaimed wood and stone create a warm, vibrant atmosphere. The café’s bold colors and textured surfaces turn dining into a sensory delight, adding value to Mumbai’s urban fabric by fostering community and joy. Designing a compact space for high footfall posed challenges, requiring durable materials that retained their aesthetic allure under wear, but Annkur’s material expertise ensured a space that feels intimate yet resilient.

The naturopathy centre and ashram in Igatpuri-Nashik, spanning 10 acres, is perhaps her most introspective work. Using mud, stone, and bamboo, it creates a wellness retreat that feels woven into the landscape. This project adds value by promoting healing through architecture, a rare feat that aligns body, mind, and environment. Challenges included sourcing eco-friendly materials for a remote site and designing for extreme weather, but Annkur’s deep understanding of natural materials crafted a space that’s both sustainable and serene.

“Design is about creating experiences that linger in the soul,” Annkur Khosla reflects, a mantra that defines her material-driven approach.

From a critical perspective, Annkur’s reliance on natural materials is her greatest strength and occasional limitation. Her use of Burma teak and stone creates unparalleled warmth but raises questions about scalability and environmental impact in larger projects, given the scarcity of such resources. Her hospitality designs, while evocative, could incorporate more innovative structural solutions to enhance longevity in high-traffic settings. Yet, her philosophy—rooted in materials as storytellers—sets her apart in a discipline often seduced by fleeting trends. Her work challenges the sterility of modern architecture, offering spaces that feel deeply human, a triumph in an era of homogenized design.

Conclusion: A Beacon of Humanistic Design

Ar Annkur Khosla is an architect who designs not just spaces but moments—fleeting, beautiful encounters with light, texture, and memory. Through her masterful use of natural materials, from Burma teak to local stone, she crafts homes, cafés, and retreats that resonate with soul and sustainability. Her work is a call to slow down, to feel the grain of wood, the coolness of stone, and the stories they carry. In a world chasing scale, Annkur reminds us that architecture’s true power lies in its ability to touch the human heart.

We at Rezovate are honored to feature Ar Annkur Khosla in The Drafting Table India. Her legacy is a constellation of spaces that inspire and endure, a testament to the magic of thoughtful design. Here’s to Annkur, whose vision lights the way for a more soulful future.

Join Rezovate to uncover more architectural luminaries. Have a favorite Annkur Khosla project? Share it with us at info@rezovate.com, and let’s weave the story forward!