How to work with us

1. DESIGN WITH US

Architecture & Master Planning

This is our full architectural engagement for medium to large hospitality, learning, and community-scale projects.

We work closely with 2-4 clients each year, guiding projects from early concept through design development and coordination - always grounded in site, people, operations, and long-term performance.

Our role goes beyond form-making. We help structure the big decisions early, so design can evolve with confidence rather than correction.

This offering is best suited for founders and institutions with aligned values, realistic timelines, and a long-term commitment to building well.

Investment - Project-based fees based on COA recommended rates (shared after an initial conversation)

2. PROJECT CLARITY CONSULTATION

For early-stage projects that need direction

This consultation is designed for founders who feel the weight of early decisions - but aren’t ready to start design yet.

Across a focused 60-minute session based on our Hospitality Design Framework (included in the session), we help you unpack your intent, read your site, identify critical early decisions, and surface risks before they become expensive mistakes.

You leave with clearer priorities, better questions, and a grounded sense of what needs to happen next - whether or not you work with us further.

Investment - ₹55,000

3. PRE-DESIGN PLANNING PACKAGE

For teams that want to enter design with confidence

The Pre-Design Planning Package is a structured, time-bound engagement that translates early thinking into clear, usable foundations for design.

We work with you to define:

• project intent

• key spatial and operational priorities

• site considerations

• constraints and opportunities

• decision boundaries for the design phase

You receive a concise planning document that can be used to brief architects, consultants, or internal teams - reducing friction, misalignment, and redesign later.

This package is ideal for projects preparing to move into architecture, competitions, or funding conversations.

Investment - ₹1,50,000

4. THE HOSPITALITY DESIGN FRAMEWORK

For founders who want clarity before engaging anyone

The Hospitality Design Framework is a self-guided digital resource for anyone planning a hospitality, learning, or community project - and wanting to make better early decisions.

It covers:

• why projects struggle before construction

• how to define intent clearly

• reading a site beyond drawings

• experience sequencing

• operations and long-term thinking

• what to decide early - and what can wait

Investment - ₹12,000

Not sure where you fit?

Start with our Framework, or book a Consultation - clarity always comes first.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of projects get you excited?

We work best on projects where there is time, intent, and a long-term view.

Our focus is on hospitality, learning environments, and community-scale projects that are expected to operate, age, and adapt over decades - not just launch well.

Typically, this includes:

• Hospitality projects such as eco-resorts, retreats, hostels, and destination developments where experience, operations, and land stewardship matter as much as aesthetics.

• Learning environments - schools, alternative education spaces, and campuses designed for flexibility, curiosity, and long-term relevance.

• Community-scale developments including gated communities, campus-style housing, and mixed-use environments with shared infrastructure.

• Land-led, regenerative projects where climate response, water, soil, and systems thinking are integral to the brief.

Occasionally, we take on unusual or cross-disciplinary projects if they raise interesting spatial, ecological, or operational questions.

We are intentionally selective so we can engage deeply and deliver work that holds up in the real world.

How should I prepare for our first conversation?

You don’t need technical knowledge. You do need clarity about why you’re building.

Helpful things to reflect on:

• The long view: How do you expect this place to be used, maintained, and adapted 20–30 years from now?

• Daily realities: How people move, work, rest, gather, and maintain the space matters more than abstract ideas.

• Site information: Recent surveys, site plans, and soil reports help ground the conversation in reality.

• Budget comfort: An approximate budget range allows us to propose solutions that are financially realistic from the start.

The more honest and grounded the early information, the stronger the design decisions that follow.

What exactly do you do - and what don’t you do?

We are an architectural practice. Our role is to think clearly, coordinate intelligently, and design holistically.

What we handle in-house:

• Masterplanning and site strategy

• Architectural design

• Spatial planning and circulation

• Interior architecture (not décor-driven styling)

• Lighting strategy

• Early-stage landscape and ecological intent

We typically work from first conversations through design development, ensuring the project’s logic remains consistent as it evolves.

What we coordinate with specialist partners:

• Structural engineering

• Electrical, plumbing, and fire systems

• HVAC and building services

These disciplines are handled by specialist consultants and are separately contracted, though we remain closely involved to ensure alignment.

What we don’t do:

• Standalone interior styling projects

• Single-home residential projects without broader architectural or land-based intent

• Fast, speculative developments driven purely by short-term returns

What about fees and costs?

We prioritize transparency and realistic expectations.

Design fees
Our architectural fees are guided by the Council of Architecture (COA) Scale of Charges and adjusted based on project scope and complexity.
For many projects, this works out to approximately 7.5% of the project cost, or around ₹140 per sq. ft. for architectural services (excluding detailed interior fit-outs).

Construction costs
Construction costs in India vary widely depending on materials, systems, and location.
As a broad range, projects often fall between ₹1,800- ₹3,500 per sq. ft.

Why this matters
Good architectural thinking typically reduces:

• long-term maintenance costs

• energy and operational expenses

• future retrofitting and correction

In our experience, clarity early on is one of the most cost-effective investments a project can make.

How long does the process usually take?

Most projects move at the pace of good decision-making, not urgency.

Early thinking and definition

The first 1–2 months are spent clarifying intent, constraints, site realities, and long-term goals.

This phase often determines whether a project succeeds or struggles later.

Design development

Once direction is clear, architectural design typically takes several weeks to a few months, depending on scale and complexity.

Overall timeline

For most projects, the full journey - from early discussions to completion - is measured in years, not months.

This allows space for iteration, coordination, approvals, and careful execution.

In our experience, projects that rush the early stages often pay for it later - financially and operationally.

Why hire an architect instead of just a contractor?

A contractor builds what is asked for.

An architect helps define what should be built in the first place.

Our role is to:

• ensure land, climate, and orientation are working for you

• reduce wasted space and inefficient circulation

• design for daylight, ventilation, and comfort before adding mechanical systems

• align experience, operations, and long-term use

• This is less about control, and more about foresight.

The goal isn’t a building that only looks good on day one -

it’s a place that continues to function well, feel good, and make sense years down the line.

Do you work on projects outside Mysore / Karnataka?

Yes.
While we are based in Mysore, we work on projects across India.

What matters more than geography is:

• clarity of intent

• availability of reliable local consultants and contractors

• realistic timelines for coordination and site involvement

For larger or long-term projects, distance is usually manageable with the right structure in place.

What stage should a project be at before approaching you?

The earlier, the better.

We add the most value before key decisions are locked in - site planning, program size, phasing, and infrastructure logic.

If land has already been purchased or drawings already exist, we can still step in, but the scope may shift toward course correction rather than foundational thinking.

A useful question to ask yourself is:

“Are we still open to changing direction if a better solution emerges?”

Do you help with sustainability certifications (GRIHA, LEED, etc.)?

We design for performance and longevity first.

If a project requires formal sustainability certifications, we coordinate with specialist consultants to support the process. However, certification is never the driver of our design decisions.

In our experience, buildings that are climate-responsive, operationally sound, and simple to maintain often perform well - with or without labels.

Will you help us manage construction?

Our primary role is architectural design and coordination.

We typically provide:

• periodic site visits

• design clarifications

• coordination support during construction

We do not act as full-time project managers or contractors.

That role is best handled by dedicated site and construction management teams, especially on larger projects.

Clear roles tend to lead to clearer outcomes.

How involved will you be once construction starts?

We remain involved to ensure the design intent is understood and respected.

This usually includes:

• reviewing drawings and on-site queries

• resolving design-related decisions as conditions evolve

• supporting alignment between consultants and contractors

Our involvement is structured, not ad-hoc - which helps avoid confusion during construction.

Can you work with our existing contractor or consultant team?

Often, yes.

What matters is a shared commitment to:

• clarity

• accountability

• problem-solving rather than blame

If teams are open to collaboration and clear communication, existing relationships can work well.

If not, we may recommend alternatives in the project’s best interest.

What if our budget changes mid-project?

Budgets change - that’s normal.

What matters is addressing changes early and transparently.

When constraints shift, we revisit priorities and adjust design decisions accordingly rather than applying last-minute cost-cutting that compromises performance.

Clear trade-offs lead to better outcomes than reactive fixes.

Do you take on very small projects?

Generally, no.

We focus on projects where:

• architectural thinking meaningfully affects outcomes

• time can be spent on early clarity

• long-term use and performance matter

Smaller or purely cosmetic projects are usually better served by other professionals.

How do we know if Kartofl Studio is the right fit for us?

You’re likely aligned with us if you:

• value thinking before building

• are open to being challenged constructively

• care about how a place functions 10–30 years from now

• prefer clarity over speed

If the priority is fast approvals, trend-led design, or minimal involvement, we may not be the right studio - and that’s okay.

If you’re still early, still asking questions, and willing to think carefully - this is usually where we step in.