Architecture Competition Architect's Sugar Architectural Visualization Award Honorable mention winner - Raveena Batham

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to one of our Honorable mention winner for our  "Architect's Sugar Architectural Visualization Award" competition – Raveena Batham from British Indian Ocean Territory!

Honorable mention winner from British Indian Ocean Territory

After graduating as an Architect from IES College of Architecture in 2020, I have been focused on creating a self-profile that revolves around work exploring fantasy derived from reality. I have been working on creating visuals where architecture and design are represented through story-telling. From June 2021-2022, I was working as a Junior Architect at Sameep Padora & Associates in Mumbai, and I am currently employed at Studio Magga, operating from Mumbai and Pune. The highlight of my work experience thus far is that despite the client-driven nature of design work, I have been lucky to have had the freedom to creatively express myself in terms of design and visualisation.

Brief information about the projects that you/your company have been involved with. For instance, what scale have you focused on/preferred, any significant projects where the company/ individuals have been involved?

A very prestigious multi-disciplinary practice in India, my time at Sameep Padora and Associates (sP+a) was precious and I consider it to be the most relevant in terms of my growth as an Architect. I worked on a lot of various housing and interior projects ranging from apartments to luxury villas where I took the lead in some. I was commended for my ability to bring conceptual design ideas to life with the help of 3D modelling and representation. I found myself growing and learning a lot more in the technical aspects of projects since I was also handed responsibilities of structural coordination with consultants and vendors.

I am currently employed at Studio Magga, a design case-study magazine, with around 250K followers on Instagram. The design studio is focused on transforming homes into artsy paradises where I have undertaken the role of a product designer and illustrator.

What does architecture mean to you and what is the role of an architect in your society?

Architecture, to me, has always been about putting your best foot forward for the greater good.

“Beauty perishes in life, but is immortal in art”- Leonardo da Vinci

Da Vinci’s philosophy, though simple in text, has proven to be quite complex in nature. It is believed by some, that beauty often lacks purpose; a building with a stunning aesthetic may not be the most practical or a chair that livens a room may not serve its basic motive. However, I believe that art, when fuelled by an impetus, has the power to achieve wonderful things. Design is an ancient tree with beauty, brain and brawn at its roots and it is this ideology that drives me as a designer.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

With the multitude of architects and designers on the rise in this day and age, architecture competitions provide an excellent platform for students and professionals in the field to showcase their best work. Furthermore, competition briefs often tend to challenge and push participants beyond their comfort zones, resulting in a plethora of fresh ideas and skills to develop. I, for one, am grateful to have been introduced to architecture competitions as a student, as they have significantly improved my skill set.

What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture competitions?

The one piece of advice I would really like to give to individuals is to continue participating in competitions because of the numerous opportunities they provide, not only in terms of personal development, but also in terms of networking and collaborating with other architects and designers. I can personally attest to the anxieties and struggles that come with being a budding designer, and I've found that competing has greatly helped me in knowing where I stand and the skills I should work on upgrading.