Architect

Hafeez
 Biography…

• Hafeez Contractor was born in 1950. He did his

Graduate Diploma in architecture from Academy of
Architecture, Mumbai in 1975 and completed his
graduation from Columbia University, New York
(USA).
• Contractor commenced his career in 1968 with T.
Khareghat as an apprentice Architect and in 1977
he became the associate partner in the same firm.
• He began his practise independently in 1982.
• He is a member of the Bombay Heritage
Committee and New Delhi Lutyens Bungalow Zone
Review Committee.
 Hafeez Contractor…

• Today, at the age of 58, Contractor is one of the

most famous faces of architecture in India with
projects for names like Hiranandanis,Tatas, BPCL,
ICICI, National Stock Exchange, CIDCO,DLF,
Infosys etc.
• He has conceptualized ,designed and executed a
wide range of architectural projects like
bungalows, residential developments, hospitals,
hotels, corporate offices, banking and financial
institutions, commercial complexes, shopping
malls, educational institutions, recreational and
sports facilities, townships, airports, railway
stations, urban planning and civic redevelopment
projects.
Works of Hafeez Contractor…
Some of his works are:
• DLF Pinnacle, Gurgaon.
• Beach House, Mandwa.
• Vastu, Mumbai.
• Konark Estate, Pune.
• Hiranandani Gardens, Mumbai.
• Spagetti, Navi Mumbai.
• Gharkul, Navi Mumbai.
• Lokhandwala Residency, Mumbai.
• M.P. Mill Redevelopment, Mumbai.
• Infosys, Mysore.
• Sarla Birla Academy, Banglore
• Osho Commune, Pune.
His contributions …
• Hafeez’s approach to the residential sector
has been an original reply to the
inescapable practical constraints of the
present day cityscape.
• He developed the concept of 6 inch internal
wall with an external skin and thus, the
double wall concept, which virtually
changed the housing scenario.
• Hafeez introduced the 2’ 6” deep
architectural projection for elevational
treatmement in residential buildings.
• He also exploited the aesthetic potential of
water tanks on rooftops.
• His style is unorthodox, filled with domes,
Commercial Architecture…

• Hafeez has consistently engaged the powerful

symbolic significance of architecture as an
ultimate value proposition in his commercial
works.
• His office buildings not only reflect the new
architectural conceptions, but also the changing
communication networks and technological
systems.
• Hafeez believes that increasing the F.S.I. or
creating high rises is the most fitting solution to
the spatially challenged cities that can not seem
to comfortably house their citizens.
• His architecture has been defined as brilliant and
breathtaking but also strange and eccentric.
Nevertheless, in over two decades of his practice,
he has displayed a pivotal role in shaping the
urban built landscape of the country.
Worli Water-Front Development,
Mumbai…
• The Western Waterfront
Development proposal is a
scheme that attempts to
rejuvenate the urban
environment of Mumbai.
• The city with its continually
unplanned development
pattern has devoured open
spaces, thus affecting the
citizen life.
• The Waterfront proposal is an
endeavour to bring the
architects, developers and the
citizens of Mumbai to
collaborate in an idea that
touches the future of the city
• Miles of under-utilized and neglected waterfront
area is envisioned as a new and vibrant
community space, intertwined with a dramatic
ribbon of seafront parks, walkways and waterfront
esplanades.
• When completed, these parks will link Mumbai’s
downtown to its suburbia along the seafront and
ultimately reintroduce the citizens to their city’s
once revered oceanfront and the world to a new
image of Mumbai.
 VASTU, Mumbai…
• Vastu introduced a new aesthetic to
Mumbai’s skyline..
• The arrogant and strange sense of
expression is ardent in the building’s profile.
The perforated dome roof further
accentuates its unconventional rhetoric.
• Vastu is significant for the use of its ‘double
walls’, that not only enable the creation of
the necessary form and modulations on the
surface, but also at the same time act as a
protection against harsh weather.
• This system added value in the commercial
sense, as it delivered larger saleable space
that was created due to reduced width of
external walls.
 Konark Estate, Pune

• A vivacious merger of square, circular, rectangular and

triangular openings form the interesting facades of the
apartment buildings in Konark Estate.
• The linear apartment blocks facilitate the creation of large
recreational space in the centre.
• The buildings are planned in such a way, that the end
walls of two buildings connect and in turn create the
desired linear layout.
• The idea of linear planning was a huge success and the
developer insisted on using the replica of this layout in
other projects in Pune and requested Hafeez to modulate
Beach House, Mandwa…

• This design is anchored in the

ancient principles of ‘Vastu’.
• The five bedroom house has been
composed in such a way that each
bedroom opens into a curving
verandah looking out at the sea.
There is an amalgamation of indoor
and outdoor spaces, which gives the
house an extraordinary feel.
• The strong expression of the roof
with its intertwining rhythm allows
the building to emerge gracefully.
• The constructional elements are
presented symbolically by relating to
the local vernacular coastal heritage.
• The gigantic arches constructed with
local stone, coils of exposed timber,
wooden windows with cane blinds
and a bar with a thatched roof in the
swimming pool complete the
vernacular idiom.
• The genesis of the design has its
roots in the inherent qualities of
rustic fishing hamlets that dot the
Indian coastline.
• This oceanfront abode offers
sweeping views of the sea and is set
in the midst of lush coconut grooves
 Osho Commune, Pune
• The architecture of the Osho
Commune is striking in its
subtlety as it integrates into the
lush green surrounds.
• It is the centre from which
Bhagwan Rajneesh (Osho)
institutes his philosophical
teachings.
• The design highlights the
pyramid- the oldest existing
monumental form, to epitomise
the spectrum of the client’s
religious beliefs.
• The idea was not to create
buildings, but to create an
environment with emphasis on
spaces that are quite, tranquil
• The compelling black pyramidal forms
have a series of connotations: black
embodies the amalgamation of all
colours, harnesses cosmic energy and
the pyramid is the most stable form.
• Blue is used in the fenestrations as it
signifies enlightenment- the halo of life.
• Structurally, each pyramid is conceived
as a shell resting on peripheral beams
,which rest on R.C.C. columns.
• The visual impact of the facades lies in
the variations in the intensity of black
and the inherent textures of various
materials.
• The structures stand out against the
rough black cudappah paving and
beautiful landscaping .
 Textile Laboratory And Research Institute,
Mumbai…
• Situated in the busy locality of
Prabhadevi, Mumbai, the Textile
Laboratory And Research Institute is
an is an intriguing piece of
architecture, with metaphoric
interpretations ranging from flowing
fabrics to a spinning wheel (charkha).
• The primary design idea was to reflect
the powerful tradition and heritage of
Indian textiles.
• The institute is designed to
accommodate research and
administrative activities in one block
and other activities in different blocks.
• The various activities are joint together
• The atrium symbolically depicts the
‘charkha’ that is rooted in India’s
glorious textile heritage. The structure
is basically a steel frame swathed in
Teflon fabric.
• Juxtaposing of wavy granite,
aluminium and glass surfaces marks
this 6 storey building block.
• The wavy facade derives its
inspiration from the imagery of
flowing fabrics.
• The materials used with the contrast
in their intrinsic textures colours go
on to reflect the diverse range of
Indian textiles.
 Le Meridian, Pune…

• Situated in the heart of Pune,

the architecture of Le
Meridian pays homage to
India’s rich heritage.
• The hotel features arched
windows, jhrokas and classic
details that are reminiscent
of the impressive Wadas of
Pune and the old charm of
Rajasthani architecture.the
pale hued palette enhances
the classical expression of
the façade.
• The basic conception is
• The rich materials and
luxurious proportions in the
interior spaces reflect the
architectural theme of a
classically inspired design.
• One of the most fascinating
elements of the interior are
carpets, inspired by the
traditional Maharashtrian
Paithani sarees.
• The hotel is a nine storey
structure, encompassing 176
rooms in all.
Conclusions….
• Hafeez Contractor is peculiarly a Bombay
phenomenon. His architecture is an attempt to
make the best of the cramping site and by-law
conditions in Bombay .
• His architecture reflects the multitudes of
preferences that the consumerist masses demand.
He believes that the success of any idea rests on
whether or not the consumers are fully satisfied
with the product and if the product is not
adaptable to the complex market environment, it
is a complete failure.
• Also, he believes that modern day concerns are
infinite and working within any one system is too
limiting.
• Critics have often condemned Hafeez’s practise as
frivolous for being inconsistent in his style and
continually said that he has surrendered to
• Contemporary architecture draws its inspiration
from architecture of the past, and yet is modern
in its own way.
• Similarly, Hafeez Contractor’s architecture is
deeply rooted to the past but still is aspirational,
visionary, risky and there is a use of new
materials in an innovative way.
• He has attempted to push the boundaries of
materials and technology as well as geometry.