ABOUT

I founded DDAA (Dev Desai Architects and Associates) in 2020. DDAA is an offshoot from a firm that specialises in Residential villas and interiors. As a young and dynamic studio, DDAA constantly challenges the threshold of architectural design through a contemporary unique language. One of the initial projects under DDAA was the design development of a Tiny Cabin on a coffee estate as an alternative way of living during the Pandemic. To minimize the ecological impact, we decided to prefabricate the Cabin and assemble it within 4 weeks on-site. What started as a Humble architectural project has now evolved into a series of Prefabricated Cabin Designs (185 sqft, 225 sqft, 375 sqft, 550 sqft and 800 sqft) and an Eco-resort at the estate where 15 such Cabins will be built in the first Phase. We have also designed and flat packed Gazebos and Meeting Pods for offices. But we didn’t want to stop there and I Founded ‘Re-Build’. Re-Build Is our research venture that addresses the challenges in conventional Prefab, our personal experiences and merges the power of digital fabrication to amortise the cost of construction, reduce the dependence on manual labour, eliminate the need for heavy machinery and reduce the time for assembly to a few days.

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My formative development as an architect was under the guidance of Pritzker Laureate Toyo Ito and associates, Japan and Vo Trong Nghia Architects, Vietnam. Both continue to have a strong influence on my work. The connection with nature and the desire to push the boundaries of architecture and construction are the guiding principles behind my work.