Top 15 Architecture Firms in Mumbai to Apply to for an Internship (2022)

1. Architect Hafeez Contractor (AHC)

Established: 1982

Location: Fort

Architect Hafeez Contractor grew from a three-person group to one of the most famous firms in India with more than 550 employees including architects, interior designers, project managers, visualisers and draftsmen. The firm has catered to all kinds of clients ranging from Real-Estate Developers, Institutions, Public Sector Undertakings, Healthcare entrepreneurs and Large Corporations. It now specialises in large residential complexes, hospitals, educational institutions, hotels, resorts and town and city planning schemes. If you are interested in these kinds of projects, AHC is one of the best architecture firms in Mumbai for your internship.

2. Architecture BRIO

Established: 2006

Location: Khar West

Ar. Shefali Balwani and Ar. Robert Verrjit met in Sri Lanka where they were influenced by the ideas and works of the late architect Geoffrey Bawa. His bold interventions in sensitive environmental settings inspired them to start their practice, Architecture BRIO. The studio culture encourages everyone to learn and grow by providing an environment that fosters experimentation and innovation. The projects are considered both a challenge and an opportunity to investigate the scope of architecture beyond the project brief. For students interested in architecture and interiors, sustainable design, landscape design, urban design, residential, recreational and hospitality, Architecture BRIO is one of the best architecture firms in Mumbai for internships.

3. Atelier Design N Domain

Established: 2002

Location: Goregaon East

Atelier Design N Domain (ADND) was co-founded by Ar. Anand Menon and Ar. Shobhan Kothari for their love of bespoke design of spaces and furniture. It is a multi-disciplinary boutique architecture and interior firm with projects that are spread across many parts of the country. The firm believes in treating design as a process, allowing for discussions and collaboration with different design disciplines, and between the client and designers. Their work philosophy is coined as “FROGS” – Focus, Research, Options, Greatness, Success. ADND is one of the best architecture firms in Mumbai for an internship if you’re interested in luxury residential, corporate, hospitality and retail.

4. DCOOP

Established: 2003

Location: Kalachowki

DCOOP was established by the architect duo Quaid Doonerwala and Shilpa Ranade. Quaid Doongerwala is a graduate of CEPT, Ahmedabad and an alumnus of TU Delft, Netherlands. As an architect, he has worked with Geoffrey Bawa and Rahul Mehrotra. Shilpa Ranade is also a graduate of CEPT, while she pursued Cultural Studies at the University of Arizona, Tucson. In their view, design is what is derived through a thorough study and understanding of the site, its history, program and context. It is a multidisciplinary field that requires combined skills in engineering, management, art and anthropology. For students interested in residential, retail, office, institutions and master planning, DCOOP is a great choice.

5. DP Architects

Established: 1967

Location: Nariman Point

A mere 2 years after Singapore gained independence, Ar. Koh Seow Chuan, Ar. William SW Lim and Ar. Tay Kheng Soon set up an architectural practice by the name of ‘Design Partnership’. The focus was to create architecture that “uplifts the human spirit”. Now, DP Architects is a big family of 900 spread across sixteen international offices from Shanghai to London and 8 associated specialist companies. For students interested in architecture & urban planning, project management consultancy, interior design, engineering, facade design, landscape architecture, lighting & visual planning, and sustainable design, DP Architects is one of the best architecture firms in Mumbai for internships.

6. Morphogenesis

Established: 1996

Location: Andheri East

Ar. Sonali and Manit Rastogi established Morphogenesis to create an architecture that provides comfort, safety and livability, while at the same time responding to the local climate and ecology. They call their design philosophy ‘SOUL’- Sustainability is understood as something beyond a layer of applied technology to something that forms the very essence of design, Optimised with passive strategies, celebrates the Uniqueness of each project and focuses on its Livability. For students interested in master planning, residential, commercial, workplace, institutional, and hospitality, Morphogenesis is definitely worth exploring.

7. NUDES

Established: 2007

Location: Parel

Nuru Karim Design Studio was established as a practice by Nuru Karim, an alumnus of KRVIA and McGill University. After his graduation, he joined Zaha Hadid Architects where he worked for a year on institutional projects and competitions. His studio engages in the disciplines of art, architecture and design. NUDES has achieved recognition for its work, including an Aga Khan Award nomination in 2013 and the World Architecture Community Awards. The work culture is friendly and encouraging. The firm specialises in mixed-use, educational, retail, housing, art, culture, corporate hospitality, health care and religious architecture. If you are interested in these kinds of projects, NUDES is one of the best architecture firms in Mumbai for your internship.

8. RMA Architects

Established: 2003

Location: Kalachowki

9. Rooshad Shroff

Established: 2011

Location: Marine Lines

Rooshad Shroff is a boutique firm based out of Mumbai, that engages in architecture, interior, furniture, products and even designing exhibits. The firm has “carved out” a niche for itself in integrated design by focusing on artisanry and high-end luxury. The founder, Rooshad Shroff is an alumnus of Cornell University and Harvard GSD. He previously worked in the offices of OMA/REX in New York and Zaha Hadid Architects in London. The in-house team at Rooshad Shroff includes architects, designers with expertise in many diverse fields, and craftsmen and artisans from across the country. The project discussions are hence rich with ideas from different perspectives and backgrounds.

10. sP+A

Established: 2007

Location: Bandra West

Sameep Padora and Associates is known for its innovative projects that often ‘emerge from the site’. The working process encourages discussions and innovation from everyone involved in a project. In their quest for producing designs that are informed by the context, they scout for local materials and production processes, often combining the traditional methods and ideas into the design as means of ‘preservation through evolution. For students interested in architecture and interiors, residential, urban planning, corporate hospitality, educational, and religious spaces, sP+A is one of the best architecture firms in Mumbai for internship. It is presently led by Ar. Sameep Padora as the founder principal and Ar. Vami Koticha, Ar. Aparna Dhareshwar and Ar. Shefali Javeri as the associate principal.

11. Sanjay Puri Architects

Established: 1992

Location: Mahalaxmi

Sanjay Puri graduated from the Academy of Architecture in Mumbai in 1988. He worked with Architect Hafeez Contractor throughout the five years of his education and was made an associate when he graduated in 1988. After working for 4 years in AHC, he established his practice Sanjay Puri Architects. For students interested in large-scale residential, educational, office and interiors, Sanjay Puri Architects makes for a superb internship experience. The firm is led by Sanjay Puri and Nina Puri, who also runs her own independent firm – Nina Puri Architects – specialising in residential and commercial interiors.

12. Serie Architects

Established: 2008

Location: Lower Parel

Founded by Ar. Christopher Lee in London and Ar. Kapil Gupta in Mumbai, Serie architects is an international practice that has now expanded to Singapore and Beijing. The firm specialises in Architecture, Urban Design and research. The spaces designed by Serie are elegant responses to the context. Their approach to design emphasises rigorous use of geometry and innovative use of materials, complemented by a meticulous construction methodology. The firm specialises in cultural, civic and educational buildings.

13. Somaya and Kalappa Consultants

Established: 1978

Location: Fort

Back in 1975, Brinda Somaya converted a garden shed in the backyard of her home into her architectural office. Within a few years, it developed into a fully-fledged architecture firm. Somaya and Kalappa Consultants (SNK) was established as a multi-disciplinary architecture and design practice offering solutions across a variety of projects. The designs of the firm are informed by intensive research into the site and cultural context, inspired by indigenous and innovative use of materials and vernacular methods of construction. The firm specialises in master planning, architecture, conservation, interior design, landscape design and graphic design. If you are interested in these kinds of projects, SNK is one of the best architecture firms in Mumbai for your internship.

14. Studio Emergence

Established: 2015

Location: Vikhroli West

Founded by the architect duo of Seeja Sudhakaran and Khushbu Davda, Studio Emergence is an architectural practice that has characteristic geometric and parametric designs. The office is a network of architects and designers who specialise in algorithmic and parametric design strategies, along with a research cell that collaborates with various architects, artists and designers from across the globe. For students interested in parametric architecture, digital fabrication, architecture, landscape, interior design, and urban design, Studio Emergence has the potential to offer a good learning experience.

15. Studio Nishita Kamdar

Established: 2014

Location: Ville Parle

Studio Nishita Kamdar is an award-winning architecture and design practice in Mumbai. The studio engages in architecture and interior design projects including furniture designing, holiday homes, residential interiors and commercial spaces. The team is led by Founder-Principal Architect Nitisha Kamdar, an alumnus of Kamla Raheja Vidhanidhi School of Architecture and Environmental Studies in Mumbai. After her graduation, she worked in Mobile Offices in Mumbai, Rast Architekten in Switzerland, and Architecture Brio and Labwerk in Mumbai, before starting her own practice in 2014. For students interested in Architecture and Interiors, Home Renovation & Remodeling, Studio Nishita Kamdar is a good option.

Architecture internships are exciting. However, students are often confused about how to choose the right firm. Do thorough research on the various firms and their projects, and maybe even try contacting their present or past employees to gain more insight into their work culture and office environment.

Meanwhile, keep honing your skills and working on building a strong portfolio. Interested in giving your portfolio a boost? Check out Oneistox’s upskilling courses, and keep an eye on Oneistox’s Learning Hub for more insights on architecture and design.