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.