Chitnavis Wada, Nagpur
26 Sept - 4 Oct 2026
A space where those who carry knowledge and those who seek it come together.
Edition One : A Life In Architecture
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Architecture is rarely just a collection of buildings. It is a life of choices, discoveries and ideas that keep changing with time. This first edition looks at architecture through four decades of Ar. Girish Doshi's practice, thought and making.
His life becomes the starting point for a larger conversation about making, questioning and continuing to look. For nine days, a 250-year-old Wada in Nagpur becomes that room. The finest minds in art, design and architecture travel here, and any seeker curious enough to show up is welcome.
9 DAYS OF GATHERING AND SEEKING THY Lore.
NEVER SEEN BEFORE IN NAGPUR
Exhibition
Presentations
Conversations
Panels
Play
Film Screening
Musical Performances
Heritage Walks
Programs
There is plenty to experience at A Gathering of Seekers, from thought-provoking exhibitions and memorable performances and conversations.
Seek your Lore.
Inaugration Ceremony
26.09
10:00 AM
Inauguration:
10:00 am
A Gathering of Seeker by lore
Girish Doshi: A Life in Architecture
Day 1
Exhibition
Free
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Key Note Speech
26.09
6:00 - 7:00 PM
Girish Doshi
Navkar Architects, Pune
Seven years at Sangath under B.V. Doshi shaped a practice of his own, rooted in “Traditionally Contemporary” architecture and the Vishnu Paddhat approach to building.
Across nearly four decades, his homes, schools and institutions have carried this philosophy into Maharashtra’s smaller cities and his work reflects a lifelong pursuit of architecture that is thoughtful, buildable and deeply connected to place.
Day 1
Conversation
Free
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Conversation 01
26.09
7:00 PM
Girish Doshi
Navkar Architects, Pune
Seven years at Sangath under B.V. Doshi shaped a practice of his own, rooted in “Traditionally Contemporary” architecture and the Vishnu Paddhat approach to building.
Across nearly four decades, his homes, schools and institutions have carried this philosophy into Maharashtra’s smaller cities and his work reflects a lifelong pursuit of architecture that is thoughtful, buildable and deeply connected to place.
Day 1
Conversation
Free
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Heritage Walk
27.09 / 03.10
8:00 -10:00 AM
Sandeep Pathe
Chitnavis Wada, Mahal, Nagpur
Guided explorations of the Chitnavis wada’s architecture, history, spaces and stories. Walk through its built heritage and discover how a historic place continues to shape our understanding of Nagpur.
Across seven states, conservation architect and author Sandeep Pathe works with archaeological and tourism departments to engage with India’s built heritage. Through practice, teaching and writing, he continues to explore how heritage can shape new ways of seeing for young designers
Day 2, Day 8
Heritage Walk
Free
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Presentation 01
27.09
10:00 AM
Majid Abidi
MONTAGE, Nagpur
Since founding MONTAGE in 2019, Majid Abidi has moved between architecture, research, art, writing, teaching and film.
His practice begins with a simple act of looking again to uncover what the ordinary, overlooked and unnamed might reveal.
Day 2
Presentation
Free
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Presentation 02
27.09
11:00 AM
Asad Firdosy & Shayan Firdosy
Firdos Furnishers, Nagpur
Father and son, Asad and Shayan Firdosy carry nearly 90 years of Nagpur’s furniture-making legacy into a contemporary practice rooted in teak craftsmanship and experimentation. From London Design Festival to training local craftspeople, they are reimagining how regional woodworking knowledge can travel into the future.
Day 2
Presentation
Free
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Heritage Lunch
27.09 / 02.10
1:00 PM
Curated by Ajinkya & Vikram Gandhe
(Invitation Only)
Ajinkya Gandhe - Architect-turned-chef and co-founder of Place Bakehouse & Coffee, Ajinkya explored cafés, baking and supper clubs in Goa before turning food into his full-time creative pursuit. He is also a MasterChef India Season 9 winner, known for reimagining familiar Indian flavours with a contemporary approach.
Vikram Gandhe - Entrepreneur and co-founder of Place Bakehouse & Coffee, Vikram began his food journey at 19 and went on to build and experiment across food ventures, with a particular passion for desserts. A MasterChef India Season 9 winner, he brings together entrepreneurship, food craft and contemporary Indian hospitality.
Day 2, Day 7
Heritage Walk
Invite Only
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Presentation 03
27.09
6:00 PM
Veeram Shah & Dolly Thakkar
Design Ni Dukaan, Ahmedabad
Mentored by Girish Doshi, Veeram Shah brings architecture, interiors and furniture together through a practice shaped by art, design and craft. His influences range from Gandhi and Raza to Le Corbusier, creating a language where seemingly different disciplines become one.
Day 2
Presentation
Free
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Presentation 04
27.09
7:00 PM
Bijoy Ramachandran
HundredHands, Bangalore
MIT-trained architect and co-director of Hundredhands, Bijoy Ramachandran uses analytical drawings and urban observation to understand Indian cities.
His long association with B.V. Doshi also led him to document the architect’s life and work through the film, Doshi.
Day 2
Presentation
Free
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GIDO
A Life In Architecture
This exhibition looks back at nearly four decades of work by architect Girish Doshi, based in Pune. Rather than a dense architectural showcase, it has been kept simple and open — built for anyone to walk through and connect with, whether or not they know the language of architecture.
A central section of the show, built around nine of his residential projects, brings out how he shapes light, space and scale — using models and photographs to show how small, modest homes can still feel open and generous.
Explore More
Browse the programme by day or category and find what speaks to you.
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Venue
Chitnavis Wada
What better place to seek stories than a place that has been holding them for centuries?
Chitnavis Wada becomes the natural home for A Gathering of Seekers — Edition One | A Life in Architecture, bringing together the lore of Girish Doshi and the lore of the Wada itself. Nearly four decades of Doshi’s architectural journey, ideas and work meet the stories of other loretellers from across architecture and design.
With over 250 years of history, Chitnavis Wada is one of the significant surviving traditional residences of Nagpur’s old Mahal quarter. Its courtyards, wooden architecture, temple, paintings and living spaces hold layers of the city’s social, cultural and architectural history, deeply connected to the Chitnavis family and the Bhonsle court.
But the Wada is more than a monument to the past—it remains a living piece of Nagpur’s heritage, where history continues to be experienced through cultural and community activity. For a gathering built around stories, ideas and the pursuit of meaning, there could be no more fitting place than Chitnavis Wada.
GIDO
A Life In Architecture
This exhibition looks back at nearly four decades of work by architect Girish Doshi, based in Pune. Rather than a dense architectural showcase, it has been kept simple and open — built for anyone to walk through and connect with, whether or not they know the language of architecture.
A central section of the show, built around nine of his residential projects, brings out how he shapes light, space and scale — using models and photographs to show how small, modest homes can still feel open and generous.
AGOS Edition 1
Date
26.09 - 04.10
Time
10 - 9 pm
Chitnavis Wada,
Mahal, Nagpur
Ar. Girish Doshi
GIDO
Girish Doshi is the principal architect of Navkar Architects based in Pune. After graduating from BKPS School of Architecture, Pune University in 1980, he joined Master Architect Balkrishna Doshis studio 'Sangath' in Ahmedabad. After seven years of apprenticeship with him, he started his own studio Navkar Architects in 1987. Girish Doshi's construction technique is strongly influenced by his Engineer guru Vishnu Joshi who taught him the Art of Ferrogami, Poured Rubble Masonry and concrete block technique for cost-effective load bearing construction now known as 'Vishnu Paddhat. Due to this Navkar Architects has had a fairly long spell of Design and Build practice. Inspired from Laurie Baker his major part of practice includes single family houses in tier two and three cities of Maharashtra.
In 2007, he started a forum with likeminded architects ROAD - Room Open 2 Art Design', where he promotes young talent, organizes sessions inviting people from varied fields. When it comes to design philosophy, 'We at Navkar strongly believe that architecture is not a simple manipulation of forms, but is about the construction of space and place.
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Exhibition
A curated showcase of ideas, objects, works, and practices that invite you to look closer.
Presentations
A focused sharing of ideas, projects, and perspectives by practitioners shaping the world of design.
Conversations
An exchange of ideas, experiences, and questions between creative minds.
Panels
A collective discussion bringing diverse voices together around a shared theme or question.
Play
A theatrical exploration of stories, ideas, and human experiences through performance.
Film Screening
A visual journey through stories, spaces, people, and ideas captured on film.
Heritage Walks
A guided exploration of the wada’s history, architecture, culture, and hidden stories.
Musical Performances
A live celebration of sound, rhythm, and culture through music and performance.
& Many more
programs
One Gathering.
09 Days.
25+ Voices.
20+ Programs.
A celebration of art, design and architecture — bringing the people shaping culture together.
Life in Architecture
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Sunday 9AM – 2PM
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AGOS Edition 1 - A Life in Architecture
GIDO - A Life In Architecture
This exhibition looks back at nearly four decades of work by architect Girish Doshi, based in Pune. Rather than a dense architectural showcase, it has been kept simple and open — built for anyone to walk through and connect with, whether or not they know the language of architecture.
A central section of the show, built around nine of his residential projects, brings out how he shapes light, space and scale — using models and photographs to show how small, modest homes can still feel open and generous.
Ar. Girish Doshi / GIDO
This exhibition looks back at nearly four decades of work by architect Girish Doshi, based in Pune. Rather than a dense architectural showcase, it has been kept simple and open — built for anyone to walk through and connect with, whether or not they know the language of architecture.
A central section of the show, built around nine of his residential projects, brings out how he shapes light, space and scale — using models and photographs to show how small, modest homes can still feel open and generous.
A life in Architecture
Open to all
Chitnavis Wada, Mahal, Nagpur.
Date - 26 to 4 September 2026
Time -
lore-tellers
Founder of Navkar Architects.
Ar. Girish Doshi
Architect Veeram Shah, mentored by Ar. Girish Doshi, Founder of Design ni dukaan.
Ar. Veeram Shah
Co-founder of Hundredhands, a Bengaluru-based architecture studio.
Ar. Bijoy Ramachandran
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Ar. Paramjit Singh Ahuja
Habeeb Khan co-founder SHK Architects.
Ar. Habeeb Khan
Founder of Studio Modak in Nagpur, a studio built on bold, culturally rooted design.
Gajesh Mitkari
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Ar. Santosh Pisal
A faculty member and design studio mentor at the L.S. Raheja School of Architecture (LSRSOA) in Mumbai.
Ar. Shraddha Geevith
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PK_iNCEPTION
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Documentary photographer and multimedia journalist based in India.
Ar. Nipun Prabhakar
Ajinkya and Vikram Gandhe are the founders of Place Bakehouse.
Ajinkya and Vikram Gandhe
Majid Abidi
Ar. Sandeep Pathe is the principal architect of Studio Sakha.
Ar. Sandeep Pathe
Ar. Sanket Wakharkar is the founder of Kathaakar Atelier.
He is the force behind Seek Thy Lore
Ar. Kathaakar
Ar. Asad Firdosy & Ar. Shayan Firdosy
Prachi Mahurka
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NeelKanth Chhaya
Ar. Sameer Kachore
Anasuya Kale
Ar. Pradyumna Sahasrabhojanee
Venue
Location - Chitnavis Wada, Mahal, Nagpur