Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
YUGEN REALTY, SURAT
In this edition of Yugen Realty Newspaper, we are proud to feature ace designer Vishal Kheradia, Founder & Principal Designer of Vishal Kheradia & Associates — a renowned architecture, interior, and design consultancy firm — in our popular column ‘The Design Ace’. With a career spanning over three decades and a portfolio of over 3000 projects across retail, commercial, industrial, residential, high-rise, and office spaces, his journey is a compelling blend of creativity, strategy, and vision. Vishal Kheradia stands as a true champion of efficiency, economy, and thoughtful design.
“Design is about adapting — to space, to people, to dreams.” These words encapsulate the essence of Vishal Kheradia’s prolific journey. With over 3000+ projects under his belt and more than three decades of experience, Kheradia isn’t just an interior designer – he’s a quiet force behind some of India’s most successful retail environments, bringing global vision, local understanding, and deeply human-centered design to life.
Born with a passion for functionality and aesthetics, Vishal completed his interior design education from the renowned Marathwada Mitra Mandal’s School of Interior Design (MMSID) in Pune in 1991.
Even during his academic years, he worked at a furniture factory and took on part-time roles at Benja Design Centre. These early jobs were more than resume-fillers — they were his grounding in practicality, material behaviour, and the rhythm of client expectations.
His internship with architect Iqbal Chaney, Chaney Architects in Pune and initial experience with Arun Manjrekar Associates in Surat built his foundation. But it was a six-month stint in Dubai that changed everything.
“In Dubai, I saw how supermarkets and retail spaces were conceived, operated, and navigated. It gave me a fresh lens,” he says.
That exposure proved pivotal when in 1996, Dhiraj Sons approached him to design their flagship supermarket. Instead of jumping to the drawing board, Vishal did what few would — he invited them to Dubai, to see retail spaces in action.
This project became a turning point, not just for him, but for Surat’s retail landscape. He spent hours at the client’s store, observing user behaviour, logistics, and warehousing before even sketching a layout. The result?
A benchmark-setting supermarket that set the tone for modern retail design in the region. It opened the doors to hundreds more — Bhagwandas & Company, B<More, G3, and several jewellery showrooms including Tanishq across India and abroad.
Today, Vishal has designed over 3000+ across retail, commercial, industrial, residential, high-rise, and office spaces.
So, what drives his designs? Human comfort, working methodology, and data analytics, he answers simply. Design isn’t just about how it looks. It must function, fit the budget, meet timelines, and reflect the client’s taste and aspirations.
His approach is deeply analytical — a rare combination of creative intuition and business insight. Understanding finance is just as crucial as understanding form.
When you’re designing a store, you’re not just building walls and shelves. You’re creating a space that speaks to its customers, manages logistics, supports franchise expansion, and aligns with brand positioning.
He says, “In the first meeting with a client, I just listen. That’s the most important job of an architect — to collect their dream, refine it, and define it.”
Vishal draws inspiration from nature. Nature hides its services beautifully. A tree doesn’t flaunt its plumbing. Similarly, in my designs, services are always there — just invisible. Functionality is hidden behind aesthetics.
While his portfolio is diverse — including hotels, hospitals, resorts, mixed-use developments like CG Mall in Nepal, and global hotels — his heart lies in retail.
One of his most challenging assignments was the CG Financial Project in Nepal, originally intended to be the tallest building in the country. Regulatory changes forced redesigns, and yet, the project was completed without compromising on space or vision. “It taught me adaptability and resilience.”
When asked how he deals with real estate developers who prioritize sales over design, his response is practical : “Builders want fast-selling projects. That’s understandable. But architecture has a role to shape a city, and it’s our responsibility to push for designs that are both commercial and visionary. It’s not easy, but we keep trying.”
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Disclaimer : This information has been collected through secondary research and Yugen Realty Newspaper is not responsible for any errors in the same.
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