Introduction:
‘The Treasure Within’ is an interview based on a conversation between Ms Bela Raja, editor of Sparsh, a newsletter from the Resource Centre, The Valley School, Bangalore, and Mr Hafeez Contractor, one of India’s leading architects.
Born in 1950, Hafeez Contractor did Diploma in architecture from Mumbai in 1975 and completed his graduation from Columbia University, New York on a Tata Scholarship. He began his career as an apprentice architect. In 1977 he became the associate partner in the same firm. Till 1980 Hafeez was a visiting faculty at the Academy of Architecture, Mumbai. He is a member of the Bombay Heritage Committee and New Delhi Lutyens Bungalow Zone Review Committee.
In 1982 he started his firm with just two people which has over 350 employees today. This includes senior associates, architects, interior designers, draftsmen, a civil engineering team and architectural support staff. The firm has conceptualised, designed and executed a wide range of architectural projects like bungalows, residential developments, hospitals, hotels, corporate offices, banking and financial institutes, recreational and sports facilities, townships, airports, railway stations, urban planning and civic redevelopment projects.
Through this interview we learn that it is not always disciplined studies that will lead you to success. Of course, studies are important and one needs to appear for tests and score good marks. But, average or below average students need to identify their skills and work their path accordingly.
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