Ketan Kurwalkar studied architecture at Pune University, graduating in 2004. After working with established design practices in Pune, he moved to Dubai, where he gained experience in residential and commercial projects before returning to India to establish his own practice, Groundesigns.

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The monumentality and spatial expression of Louis Kahn’s work have had a profound influence on Ketan’s design thinking. His architectural approach is also influenced by the work of Geoffrey Bawa and Laurie Baker, particularly their sensitivity to climate, material, site context and the relationship between built and natural environments. His travels through Sri Lanka and Kerala, where he experienced their work firsthand, have deepened this influence.

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Ketan’s work explores materials, textures and details while responding closely to the people who inhabit each space. The personalities, backgrounds, interests and ways of living of his clients often become an integral part of the architecture. For him, architecture is both a functional discipline and a form of art, shaped by a belief in simplicity, discipline and thoughtful making.

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His thinking is also influenced by the writings of Osho. Beyond architecture, Ketan is an active cricketer and watercolour artist. He also makes the architectural models for his projects himself, using model-making as an important part of the design process to study space, material and form.