Chawla Shveta Architect

My office is in Hira Mahal, which is right near Dhaliwal Eye Hospital and across from the PPS staff quarters in Nabha. It’s a well-known spot in the area, so I don't have to give many directions. Hira Mahal has that old-school feel to it. My workspace is a bit cramped because I have so many books and samples of materials lying around on the floor. The windows look out towards the hospital, and I often see people waiting around outside. Nabha is a small enough place that you see the same faces every day. My desk is an old wooden one that has some scratches on the top, and my computer sits right in the middle of a mess of pencils. I usually have a fan running because it gets quite stuffy in the afternoons. It’s not a polished, high-end studio. It’s just where I work. The walls are covered in some old photos and a few notes I’ve taped up so I don’t forget things. Sometimes the staff from the quarters opposite come over for a chat, or I’ll go out to get some tea from the stall on the corner. It’s a very human way to spend the day. There is no corporate pressure here, just the steady work of drawing and planning. It’s a simple life in a familiar building. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now.