Balan + Nambisan Architects is an established, future-forward design firm headed by principal Architects Arun Balan, Arjun Nambisan and Nilanjana Roy. BNA’s philosophy has consistently evolved under the core ideals of creating sensitive spaces that respond and inspire.
Our portfolio spans varied scales of projects, each one backed by our key strengths of quality craftsmanship and attention to detail.
The aspiration of our Architecture is simple - to create meaning and improve living.
The practice is driven by its people, where individuals strive to achieve this simple goal through their own interpretation of our philosophy. Our methodology is clearly seen through our interactions with clients and in services delivery. Clarity in design, backed by accurate drawings and detailing is our core strength, all the while placing utmost importance to coordinating with our consultants for timely delivery.
Our VISION
To be a people centric practice that evokes inspiration through cutting edge design & ethical business practices.
Our MISSION
A design collaborative that crafts personalised innovative solutions enriching people, organisations and communities.
Our VALUES
An environment that consistently fosters innovation and life-long learners. We strive to challenge and push boundaries within our sphere of influence.
Respect and dignity for all people who come within our centrefold with the hope of influencing people to break hierarchical confines.
Ethical decision making in all interactions be it people, projects, business, environment.
Striving towards exceeding clients’ expectations in all aspects of a projects, aiming to add value and purpose to relationships.
Being dynamic and adaptable to a constantly changing environment, a flexibility that will allow for more successful impact and influence.
Our approach is clearly visible in our interactions with clients and in project delivery. Innovative design is backed by rigorous engineering, coordination and timely delivery. Our success is evident in the number of clients who continue to associate with us on their multiple undertakings.
Our strength lies in our understanding of clients’ objectives, personality and values. This innate characteristic has been pivotal in achieving our award winning success. Design needs to work within a context and not in isolation. Spaces, be it personal or public, need to be moulded around 3 core principles:
The fundamental need for the space.
Social habits of the inhabitants.
The mood the space needs to inspire.
In order to personalize our approach towards a client's individual needs, our architects apply these three principles towards understanding the project and founding basic design parameters.
BNA also fosters the spirit of continuous improvement and constant reinvention to further our commitment to value based design. Being an active part of the city’s unfolding future, both from an educational and from a professional point of view, is very important to us.
Balan + Nambisan Architects evolved in 2012 as a marriage of two established architectural practices from the 90’s – The Bodhi Tree & Nambisan Associates. Arun Balan and Arjun Nambisan, later joined by Nilanjana Roy, came together to lay the foundation for a firm rich in its palette of boutique designs of small format architecture like homes, F&B and retail as well as planning of larger format spaces like apartments, communities and urban intervention. Today, we are a team of over 30 master planners, architects, interior designers and engineers. We function out of a 3-storeyed studio in Indiranagar fondly called The Rambler that we desperately try to keep buried in as much foliage as possible, all around the year.
Geometric spaces, composed symmetry, and visionary aesthetics.
This is what drives Arun in his eternal search for design innovation. With over twenty five years of experience in the field, he is the creative inspiration behind this team of architects.
His designs are mostly inspired by his passion for travel. Show him a museum of modern art or a building that towers in poetic elegance and you will find him in divine documentary, behind the camera lens.
The mind behind complexities of ROI and square footage, Arjun is the hack master of BNA. Armed with the “Architect of the year” award for 2012 and over 20 years of experience, he runs a tight ship balancing numbers and design.
His is a mind devoted to solving the most complex knots to unravel project plans that are architecturally sound and financially viable. And rightly balancing the mental with the physical, invite him to a game of football or go deep sea diving and you see him unwind.
With over 14 years of experience and international certifications in the field of architecture, Nilanjana brings a different perspective to the BNA fraternity. An accredited member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), she holds a Certificate in Professional Practice & Management from the Architects Registration Board (ARB), UK. Having practiced in Washington DC and London she brings a global angle to BNA.
She is a constant juggler attending to the demands of complex architecture projects and clients down to the minutiae of detail oriented interiors. Give her a pair of sneakers and challenge her to a race and you will be left far behind catching your sides.
Janice graduated from R V School of Architecture, Bangalore; after which she quickly evolved from being a shy intern to molding and leading her own team of design architects, in the span of a few years.
Her design philosophy could be best described in the words of Leonardo Da Vinci – “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”. Her personal interests include travel, ballroom dance and contemporary art.
After training in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Hamsini joined BNA and got involved with a variety of projects like residences, salons, offices and retail. She also spent a year in Project Planning, and helped set up internal processes and management systems. She now runs a team working on boutique projects and is always up for a new challenge to find her. If she is not in the office you will find her chasing a frisbee somewhere. She plays Ultimate Frisbee with a club team at a national level and will try to convince anyone she meets to give it a go.
After completing her Interior Design Diploma with RLS in 2011, Shruthi began her professional journey as a fresher with The Bodhi Tree, moving with the firm to continue with Balan and Nambisan Architects. She then spread her wings wide and didn’t just restrict herself to the Interior Team but also worked on many Architectural projects - both Residential and Commercial. After being a part of the management team for a brief stint, Shruthi really found her groove to run her own army with an energy that is unmatched. With a love for beer so strong, it’s no wonder that she has successfully designed many big breweries in the country.
From an intern to associate architect, Bopanna has dabbled in various aspects of the firm until he found his calling in technical design.
BNA takes pride in not just its design, but enabling smooth execution to the highest standard. This is engineered by the Technical Team headed by him. With a passion for building techniques and problem solving, he truly believes the details make the design.
Although adept with several languages, he prefers to let his sketches do the talking. When he is not designing buildings, he is usually capturing them through his lens. The surprising combination of a boxer with a goofy sense of humour makes him an instant crowd favourite.
With over twenty years of experience under our belt, our portfolio includes several glowing testimonies to success. Thorough understanding of a client’s need and budget and an emphasis on sound engineering are key components of our practice. We offer Architectural, Interior Design and Master Planning Service Consultancy for a large spectrum of projects like homes, offices, retail spaces, commercial complexes and residential communities to our varied clientele.
In addition to our design expertise, our rich network of consultants and vendors can collaborate to give you the best of it all - from structural wizards to landscapers, furniture experts to talented craftsmen, brewmasters to graphic gurus.
Villa A09, Bangalore, India
Vaishnavi Rhapsody, Bangalore, India
Cake Walk Bakery, Bangalore
SPA Campus Design
Belvista Apartments & Bangalore Outer Circle Residence
Runner citation, Belvista Apartments
Special Mention, Belvista Apartments