about us
The curiosity that sparked the beginning of Studio Lipi
Can design express a meaning?
Is architecture a language on its own?
Does language have an aesthetic desire?
As a means of communication, design is often metaphorically assumed to be a language. Intention here is to envision intellectual culture with the material world. This analogy is convenient to abide by and difficult to resist. However, literal comparison will be contrary to the cause.
What are the tools? How is the language expressed?
It happens through narration, an interpretation, an understanding, a reading. But to write a story one needs a script.
लिपि / ಲಿಪಿ / li-pi
Li-pi varies with location, people culture and context. The word brings with it a perception of rootedness with an anchorage to the present, signifying an evolution. In other words, li-pi signifies growth, continuation and expression of an idea.
If the hand is bearer of an intuition;
If the mind is bearer of a thought;
Then the resultant creation is a bearer of well rehearsed intent.
The hand is often seen as the physical manifestation of our thoughts and ideas, a tool that we use to create, to explore, and to interact with the world around us. The mind, is the seat of our consciousness, where our thoughts, feelings, and memories are processed.
When we combine the hand and the mind, we create a powerful force for expression and creativity.
In the arts, for example, the hand is the tool that artists use to bring their visions to life. Whether they are painting, sculpting, or dancing, artists use their hands to translate their thoughts and feelings into a tangible form. The mind provides the inspiration, but the hand is the instrument that brings it to life.
In the sciences, the scientists use their hands to collect data, to conduct experiments, and to build models. The mind provides the insights and the hypotheses, but the hand is the tool that allows scientists to test their ideas in the real world.
In everyday life, the hand is also a vital tool for communication and interaction. We use our hands to gesture, to point, and to touch. We use them to express our emotions, to share our ideas, and to build relationships. The mind provides the thoughts and feelings, but the hand is the tool that allows us to communicate them to others.
The hand and the mind are two complex and versatile tools that allow us to express ourselves in a multitude of ways. Together they are a vital part of what makes us human.
The human capacity for creation is a testament to the intertwined relationship between intuition, thought, and well-rehearsed intent. The hand, as the bearer of intuition, channels deep-seated emotions and insights, while the mind, as the bearer of thought, processes information and refines ideas.
When these faculties harmonize, human creations transcend their individual components, becoming profound expressions of human experience and the embodiment of deliberate intent.
When these faculties harmonize, human creations transcend their individual components, becoming profound expressions of human experience and the embodiment of deliberate intent.
Architecture is a junction where the mind and the hand work together with deliberate intent to manifest into something nuanced.
At Studio Lipi we strive to create profound expressions for human life and lifestyle.
People
Founders
Chaitra Sharad
Architect & Co-founder, Studio Lipi
Chaitra Sharad is an architect and researcher whose work explores the intersections of architecture, memory, and cultural landscape. She holds a Master’s in Architecture (Theory and Design) from CEPT University, Ahmedabad. With over a decade of experience across practice and academics, Chaitra brings a critical and reflective lens to design — one that is deeply attentive to context, temporality, and everyday life.
At Studio Lipi, she leads the studio’s research-driven design direction, guiding projects that foreground narrative, spatial experience, and cultural continuity. Her work often bridges architectural practice with allied disciplines such as history, anthropology, and conservation. Whether working on a new-build typology or studying a layered historic fabric, she brings a sensitivity to how people inhabit and remember space.
Chaitra has contributed to national and international publications, book chapters, and collaborative research projects. Her academic background informs not only the studio’s design processes but also its broader commitment to slower, more meaningful forms of practice. She is particularly interested in how architecture can respond to place through gesture, grain, and care — and sees each project as an act of listening.
Outside the studio, she enjoys writing, reading, and walking through unfamiliar streets — often lingering on the unnoticed details that shape our sense of belonging.
Sanket Mhatre
Architect & Co-founder, Studio Lipi
Sanket Mhatre is a practicing architect based in Mumbai with over a decade of experience in design and construction. A graduate of Mumbai University and a Master’s in Architecture (Theory and Design) from CEPT University, he was awarded the prestigious Louis Kahn Gold Medal for his thesis. His work is shaped by a steady investigation into the relationships between nature and the built, structure and memory, detail and gesture.
At Studio Lipi, Sanket leads architectural and construction practices with an emphasis on material honesty, contextual responsiveness, and clarity in detail. His designs emerge from real conditions — site, climate, labour — yet carry a quiet sensitivity to the intangible aspects of place. He often engages with the sensory qualities of space, designing with light, texture, and movement in mind.
A passionate student of history, Sanket has a particular interest in traditional water systems of India — from stepwells and kunds to vernacular irrigation ecologies — and explores how these can inform contemporary design and sustainable thinking. His research extends to historic cities, natural landscapes, and the temporal patterns of architecture.
Outside of the studio, he is an avid birdwatcher and nature photographer, with a deep love for travel and documenting vernacular practices. His creative pursuits often feed into his architectural sensibilities, allowing him to observe, record, and respond with care
Hrishikesh Mhatre
Architect, Associate & Mentor, Studio Lipi
An architect with a legacy of design-led development and a keen eye for detail. His experience spans residential buildings, corporate spaces, hospitality, and urban redevelopment. With a focus on thoughtful design and livable architecture, he ensures every project balances innovation with community needs.
Our team
Kunal Bhalerao
Interior Designer
Somesh Padyal
Office Manager
Amol Sawant
Attendant
Others that have workded with us in the past
Agam Kawdia
Pronit Jadhav