From Odd Jobs to 10,000 Sq. Ft. Hospitals: The Design Journey of Amitabh Talreja

For Amitabh Talreja, a career in interior design was not something that came from a carefully planned beginning. It came as a calling after doing multiple odd works and discovering a field where creativity, practicality and hands on learning could come together. Today, through HJ Talreja LLP, Amitabh has built his work around a simple belief that good design should first make sense to the people who are going to live or work in the space.

His journey in design has largely been shaped by experience. Rather than depending only on formal learning, Amitabh learned from every project that came his way. Each assignment brought a different set of requirements, challenges and lessons, allowing his understanding of interior design to grow naturally over the years. This self learning continues to influence the way he looks at every new project.

His personal philosophy is equally straightforward. Amitabh believes every project should be treated as one's own, with the best possible effort given to it. For him, designing a space is not simply about making it look good. It is about taking ownership of the work and paying attention to what the client actually requires.

Understanding a client's lifestyle is an important part of this process. Before planning a space, Amitabh and his team first try to understand the client's requirements and daily routine. The way a person lives, works and uses a space can have a direct impact on the design. Once these aspects are understood, the planning begins around the actual needs of the client rather than around a fixed design formula.

For Amitabh, minimalism has a strong connection with timeless interiors. He believes a space does not need to be overloaded to make an impression. Simplicity can give a design a quality that remains relevant for years. At the same time, aesthetics cannot come before functionality. His order is clear: functionality comes first, aesthetics comes second and budget comes third. To work within budgets, his team often looks for materials that appear expensive without actually carrying an expensive price tag.

Large projects bring their own difficulties, and coordination with contractors is one of the biggest challenges Amitabh has experienced. Managing different people, materials and activities at a site requires regular attention. He maintains quality through frequent site visits and careful material checking, making sure that what is being executed remains close to what was planned.

Every project remains close to his heart, though some assignments have had a special place in his journey. One such project was CritiCare Hospital, covering around 10,000 square feet across six floors. The project involved designing several specialised areas, including an operation theatre, ICU, CT scan area and general wards. The scale and range of requirements made it a memorable assignment for Amitabh and his team.

Technology is also changing the way interior projects are executed. Amitabh sees much of this change happening at the factory end, where furniture is manufactured before being brought to the site for installation. This can help save time and can also result in better finishing. The growing connection between factory production and site installation is changing how designers and contractors can execute interiors.

He also believes there is no fixed limit to where interior design can go. New materials continue to enter the market, while clients are becoming more open to experimentation. Design keeps changing with these possibilities, giving designers more room to try different ideas. For Amitabh, “the sky is the limit.”

At HJ Talreja LLP, the future is guided by three simple ideas: be real, be practical and design for the client, not for an Instagram page. This belief captures Amitabh's larger view of interior design. A space may be photographed and admired, but its real success comes from how well it works for the people using it every day.

His philosophy can perhaps be summed up through one of his own lines: “Design is not for philosophy, it’s for life.” For Amitabh, design can certainly be art and aesthetics, but simplicity is often what makes good design difficult. His journey continues with the belief that spaces should not merely look impressive. They should feel right, work well and belong to the people they are designed for.