Gujarat has always been through history, a very progressive state, be it in the field of business, literature or art. In architecture & interior design too, Gujarat has been on the forefront with projects of internationally renowned architects like Le Corbusier, Louis Khan. Internationally renowned Indian architects like BV Doshi, Hasmukh Patel, Suryakant Patel, Karan Grover, Anant Raje etc have also made Gujarat their home. All these architects have designed the entire environment from the external enclosure to all aspects of the interior. Emulating this practice and other architectural practices recognised interior spaces to be as important as the exterior, and today, interior design is recognised as being as important as architecture.
Interior Design is meant to improve the psychological and/or physiological well being of the user of the space. This is achieved by understanding the user's needs, seeking appropriate solutions, respecting their social, physical and psychological needs and applying them in a safe and ecologically sensitive manner that promotes their health, safety and welfare.
Being one of the most literate, industrialised & progressive states, the average dweller in Gujarat is well aware of how good interiors improve the quality of life as well as the productivity of the user. This is the prime reason that Interior Design in Gujarat is now improving & increasing at an exponential rate. In conjunction with this & the growth of the manufacturing industry, there is a growth in the manufacture of furniture, furnishings & accessories. Gujarat state with the help of government policies has attracted a substantial amount of investment in the interior design field & associated industries. Gujarat is today the largest manufacturer of flooring in the country with Morbi in Saurashtra being the centre of the floor tile manufacture in India. Morbi is also home to the ceramic industry & a major part of the fixtures in bathrooms all over India is manufactured here. Ahmedabad & Surat are still centers for fabric manufacture & trading not only for clothing but also for soft furnishing for both the national & international market. In furniture manufacture, Gujarat leads in the manufacture of flat packed or knockdown furniture. The largest & most widespread Modular Kitchen manufacturer in India has its base in Gujarat as also a large number of Hardware manufacturers associated with this industry. Education, in Gujarat, has played a vital part in the change. Design schools in Gujarat are the more progressive design schools in the country with premier institutes like the CEPT University, National Institute of Design here. These institutes emphasise the allegiance of architectural thinking in interior architecture and environmental design in the courses offered by these institutes.
Today we cannot discuss change in the design world without including sustainability. An awareness of the environment and the dangers to the planet by the irresponsible use of natural resources was not on our radar in the 1960's. Today, architectural projects designed by eminent architects from Gujarat like Karan Grover have been awarded Platinum certification by LEEDS. As we enter a new decade, no designer or manufacturer who wants to work in this increasingly competitive world can afford not to be responding to this challenge. This aspect of the change in the profession of interior design is one to be applauded and celebrated.