Partners
Co-founder | Architect | Urban Designer | Academician
Sankalpa is an architect and urban designer. He along with his fellow partners established ‘Thumbimpressions Collaboarative’ a practice in 2013 focused on design and build. With the expansion of the firm's portfolio in the last six years; he has been researching and focusing continuously on finding ways for young practice to make inroads into the profession of architecture. He has been teaching construction, structure, and design studio for the last ten years in the Faculty of Architecture, CEPT University undergraduate program. He has been keen on developing pedagogy that is bodily involved; modeling techniques that can be experienced and verified. His studio involves inquiry into structural principles and their articulation as a strategy for architectural design. Research and development on ‘bamboo as a building material’ is his current area of interest and has worked on several experimental and professional works using bamboo as a construction material.
Co-founder | Architect
Milind is an architect by profession and an earth & bamboo-based construction expert by experience. He has been working at various scales of design for residences, hospitality, institutional, social-technical and furniture His interest is in the sensitive use of materials and detailing to evolve a building language that is pragmatic and balanced. In addition, he enjoys working hands-on with various materials in collaboration with various artisans to understand their potential through practical knowledge. He is presently learning permaculture and ecological farming. He firmly believes that “architecture is the catalyst for the potential transactions between body, imagination, and environment.”
Co-founder | Furniture Design Head | Architect
Nikhil Patel is an architect & photographer by profession. He along with his fellow partners established ‘Thumbimpressions Collaboarative’ in 2013, a practice focused on design and build. Since then the practice has expanded into TiC Building Practices, TiC Furniture, TiC Groundwork, and TiC Urban Interventions. He spent his early professional years working with many alternate building materials and technology like adobe, rammed earth, CSEB and timber. He also pursued his other passion, photography in which he completed his master’s degree. Today he shifts his work between professional photography and furniture design and is actively involved in developing photography as a medium to explore design. He heads the TiC Furniture wing.
Co-founder | Research Head | Engineer
Manu is a civil engineer. He did his undergraduate research thesis on ‘bamboo as a construction material’. After graduation, continued learning about bamboo and various natural construction materials and systems. He has been traveling to India and abroad intending to explore various possibilities surrounding these materials. He was involved in developing a prototype shelter in bamboo for the coastal villages in Orissa improvising local techniques. His current interest is in earth & Lime-based construction techniques and finishes, improvising on the traditional technologies to suit contemporary architectural aesthetics.
Creative Minds
Architect
Harsh is an organized and fast-moving individual with a get-things-done attitude. His attention to detail and hands-on learning approach enable him to navigate between projects of varying sizes and complexities. While he excels at collaborating with diverse individuals, he is inclined to go deeper in the direction of abstraction and innovation in ideas. His innate organizational skills, multitasking abilities, and interpersonal finesse make him a dynamic asset to the studio, consistently extending his contributions beyond the conventional scope of his role and diversifying his experience. Harsh enjoys watching motorsports and experimenting with cuisines to nurture his playful spirit.
Architect
Rutu is an architect driven by creativity who eagerly contributes fresh perspectives to design projects. Gaining diverse experience, from bamboo projects to conceptualizing new designs, he collaborates with his experienced colleagues to deliver innovative solutions. Dedicated to honing his skills, Rutu finds inspiration in filmmaking and travel in his leisure, enriching his architectural perspective with fresh ideas.
Architect
Tirth is an architect driven by curiosity and a deep interest in problem-solving through design. Beginning his journey at Thumbimpression as an intern, he has grown into a thoughtful designer who enjoys exploring possibilities and experimenting with creative combinations of form and material. His approach is iterative and hands-on, allowing ideas to evolve through exploration and refinement. Hardworking and diligent, he contributes depth and clarity to every project, constantly seeking meaningful connections between concept and craft. Outside the studio, he finds inspiration in travelling, sketching, music, and podcasts, all of which enrich his perspective and fuel his design thinking.
Furniture Designer
Sandeepani is a curious and organised furniture designer, with a keen interest in furniture, materials, craft, and everyday experiences. She brings a research-driven approach to design, combining observations, material studies, and hands-on making to develop thoughtful and functional solutions. She enjoys working with the team, learning from different perspectives, and exploring how design can respond to its context and create lasting value. Her interest in craft and making helps her bring sensitivity and attention to detail to the design process. Outside work, Sandeepani enjoys cooking, puzzles, board games, travelling, and spending time with cats.
Product Designer
Hoshil likes to understand how things come together right from the material and process to the people who make and use them. As a designer, he brings a hands-on approach to his work, using his practical knowledge of materials and making to navigate challenges, work with makers, and find ways to bring ideas to life. He enjoys learning by observing, questioning, experimenting, and making, allowing each project to add to his understanding of design. At Thumbimpressions, his curiosity and willingness to explore help him grow with every project. Outside work, Hoshil enjoys listening to music, watching movies, and going down rabbit holes of interesting new things he discovers.
Site Engineer
Shette Babu, a civil engineer, overlooks all our lime plaster sites. He is known for his honesty, hard work, and genuine passion for his job. With a penchant for on-site work, Shette Babu has honed his expertise in lime plaster works under the mentorship of a seasoned leader. Shette's experience extends to building construction and resource management, enabling him to consistently deliver projects on schedule. When he is not on the field, he is scoring runs on the cricket pitch.
Site Engineer
Srikanth is a Site Engineer at Thumbimpressions who takes pride in being part of the team. His journey here has been a valuable learning experience, giving him hands-on exposure to surface finishing, crack inspection, touch-ups, and site coordination. These experiences have strengthened his technical knowledge, communication, and ability to handle challenges on site. He focuses on maintaining quality, completing tasks on time, and working closely with the team for smooth project execution. Outside work, Srikanth enjoys improving his communication skills and exploring new ideas related to construction and site work. He also enjoys listening to music and spending time with family and friends, which helps him stay relaxed, positive, and motivated.
Product Drawing Technician
Mihir is the drawing technician for the furniture design wing of Thumbimpressions. He puts diligent efforts to swiftly prepare working drawings for our designs with an eye for precision and a well organized workflow with a well managed timeline. In his leisure, Mihir enjoys playing and watching cricket, making posters and he also has a keen interest in capturing moments through photography.
Office Assistant
Rahulbhai is a valued member of Thumbimpressions and has been part of the team since its early days. As a Junior Production Manager, he plays an important role in keeping day-to-day production activities organised and running smoothly. Diligent and dependable, he makes sure that tasks are followed through and things get done on time. His experience and familiarity with the team make him a reliable helping hand across various stages of work. With a practical approach and a willingness to take responsibility, he contributes to the smooth functioning of the workshop and office. Outside of work, Rahulbhai enjoys watching cricket whenever he gets the chance.
Crafting Hands
Carpenter
Paresh bhai's mastery of carpentry tools is a joy to witness, honed over years of working with timber. His expertise lies in crafting exquisite handmade furniture using traditional joinery techniques. As one of the rare craftsmen, he effortlessly transitions from older to contemporary carpentry practices. Leading our furniture wing, he has been the pillar of strength, and we gratefully acknowledge his unwavering support to the organization.
Carpenter
Bharat bhai's skilled hands effortlessly wield carpentry tools, creating a captivating sight acquired through years of working with timber. His forte lies in crafting exquisite handcrafted furniture, using traditional joinery techniques with finesse. What sets him apart is his ability to seamlessly adapt to modern carpentry practices while maintaining a deep connection to traditional craftsmanship. Leading our esteemed furniture wing, Bharat bhai's unwavering dedication has been instrumental to our organization's success, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude for his invaluable support.
Master Artisan
Rameshji was already an old familiar face to many members of Thumbimpressions before he formally joined as a master artisan for Thumbimpressions. His familiarity with some of the members goes almost a decade back, when he was working with the ODRC team for the Kosi reconstruction project. He is a versatile artisan skilled in masonry, earth, and bamboo construction. His human-centric approach towards his fellow artisans while supervising work on site is inspirational for the entire construction team. He has demonstrated great fortitude and leadership quality on-site is an extremely valuable member of the execution team. We acknowledge and thank him for his sustained support of the organization.
Master Artisan
Sudarshanji is a remarkable and humble skilled artisan, embodying a profound sense of personal duty. His unwavering simplicity and ease are reminiscent of the countless knowledgeable artisans in our country who venture to urban centers seeking work opportunities. Our fortunate encounter with him occurred during one of the hospitality projects in the picturesque region of Bandavgarh. As a highly skilled mason, Sudarshanji possesses expertise in modular block as well as stone construction, lime plaster, and earth construction techniques. We express our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude for his invaluable and sustained support to our organization, which has been instrumental in bringing our vision to life.
Master Artisan
Amrutlal, or as we call him, master plasterer on site, is a trained lime plaster artisan working with Thumbimpressions for the last six years. His main strength lies in welcoming challenges and working together with the members to come up with a solution. He is a shy artisan, but once you get to know him, you are in for a lot of surprises. We have learned a lot from each other and hope to continue doing so. We acknowledge and thank him for his sustained support for our organization.
Master Artisan
Vasantbhai's association with Thumbimpressions goes as far as our experiment in bamboo construction. He has been persistent, patient and reassuring while we have been trying to venture into more ambitious use of bamboo. Skilled both in bamboo craft and building, he has been the backbone of our execution in bamboo. We acknowledge and express our gratitude for the support to the organization.
Fabricator
Sharp, precise, and taking up challenging tasks; Kanubhai is a problem solver and torch bearer of good fabrication practitioners in the building industry. He has been a consistent supporter and inspiration for our team, who have been relentlessly striving to follow best practices in fabrication. His sincerity and responsibility have made us learn and helped us immensely over many years. For his contribution to Thumbimpressions work, we acknowledge and express our deep gratitude for supporting our work.
Carpenter
Hardik is a skilled carpenter entrusted with overseeing the prototyping of new research and ideas in furniture designs. He approaches his work with enthusiasm, always eager to tackle new challenges and explore innovative methods of craftsmanship to turn design concepts into reality. Hardik collaborates closely with the design team, contributing his expertise to refine and bring their visions to life. Hardik is a talented carpenter with a passion for innovation, a collaborative spirit, and a sunny disposition that brightens every project he's involved in.
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