Sanjay Patil - Nesting in Nature

Sanjay Patil's tryst with architecture began in his early childhood
as he soaked up the environs that surrounded him in his birthplace,
Nashik. Moving on to formal education in architecture at the Sir
JJ College of Architecture in Mumbai, Sanjay returned to his hometown
in 1981 to immerse himself into a meaningful and sensitive
architectural practice.
Over the years, Sanjay Patil has received many honours from
the industry and his projects have been widely published in architectural
journals. His greatest reward however continues to be the
appreciation and support of his numerous clients who have played
a vital role in his approach to architecture. His workspace »Environ
Planners« has also evolved into a centre for learning; inspiring, training
and providing roots and wings to budding architects from various
parts of the country.
»Knowledge sharing is integral to me and has always given me
great pleasure and satisfaction. I have always made a conscious
effort to share with others the little bit that I have learnt through my
work, travel and other hobbies. This book is just an extension of
this love for sharing; a humble effort to document some of my
works across the last three decades and present it to a wider audience.
It is an honest endeavour to make the reader a part of the
design process and my passion for my work that is so much a part
of my being.«
The book is an attempt to chronicle the architect's journey and
delve deeper into his philosophy towards architecture and life, his
love for nature and his commitment to architecture. Our journey
thus encompasses influences from vernacular architecture, his leaning
towards sustainable design, response to nature and his diverse
use of courtyards in varying building typologies. It showcases 19
noteworthy projects, which include private residences, restoration
projects, educational institutions, resorts and retreats, office spaces
including his own workspace and farmhouse.
It also includes essays by Christopher Benninger, Anand Mahindra
(chairman and managing director, Mahindra Group) and Anurag
Kashyap (principal, BNCA College of Architecture, Pune) pro
viding valuable insights and perceptions about Sanjay Patil's work.
Minaz Ansari is an architect, writer and educator and has worked
in the industry for over a decade in various roles. Over the years Mi
naz Anari has written for various publications including leading newspapers
in the country, architectural journals and other design magazines.
She has been studying and analyzing Sanjay Patil's works for
the last two decades as a student, an architect and a writer.