Architect Hitesh H Sompuraa's Profile
It's easy to accept or reject traditions.But combining traditions with modern ideas takes creativity,vision and the expertise of different eras.
Architect Mr. Hitesh H Sompuraa , the recipient of “Salute Mumbai 2005” award with an array of distinct architectural projects, combines the best of various styles by means of technologies of different eras and presents them to the Twenty First Century.
Hitesh is one of the few rare architects who have the expertise of both, the modern as well as traditional architecture as he is equipped with the degree of “Bachelor of Architecture” from Mumbai University, and his family has a grand history in the field of Traditional Temple Architecture.
Hitesh's family ie. the Sompuraas are famous for their family tradition of designing temples according to “Vastu-Shastra” since past 12 generations.Their ancestors had designed and built great historic monuments like Somnath Temple, Ranakpur Temple, and Dilwara temples of Mount Abu hundreds of years ago.Within their family,the expertise of Temple Architecture is handed down orally from generation to generation.Therefore the Sompuraas do not need formal education or a degree of architecture or even a structural engineer to design and build temples. In fact, even today, when a traditional stone temple is to be built anywhere in the world, a Sompuraa being a specialist in designing temples is preferred over an educated architect.
Therefore it is said that the Sompuraas have Temple Architecture flowing in their blood.
Hitesh's grand father and father Late Mr.Hariprasad H Sompuraa were the leading temple architects of India who had designed and built many temples in India like Jain Temple in Thane,Shri Mahalaxmi Temple at Dahanu and Shri Vallabhnidhi Trust Haveli in Mumbai.
Hitesh used to accompany them on site-visits to their temple projects since childhood.Since the age of 6, as a hobby,he started making sketches of temples as per his grand-father's guidance.
Hitesh belonging to the Sompuraa family, could also practice as the Temple Architect without the Bachelor's degree in Architecture.
But Architecture to him, was not just making temples or buildings, but it is his way of life,a way of thinking.He is a thinker since childhood.And he wanted to learn the creative process of how to transform the ideas floating in his mind into an art form.
He learnt this creative process while studying Architecture in Kamala Raheja college for 5 years and got the degree of “Bachelor of Architecture” from Mumbai University in 1998.
During college years, he would learn Modern Architecture in college and Traditional Temple Architecture at home from his family.
In college, he planned Shopping complex,factory,hospital,school, museum,etc. with the modern style and techniques.
After completing the college, he assisted his father for a few years before starting his independent practice.He worked on Temples in Pune and Andhra Pradesh.
In 1999,he traveled in the USA and observed their Architecture. He observed that unlike European and Egyptian style,Indian style was absent at the international level despite its unquestionable merit. During this tour in the USA,he set his ultimate goal to make the Traditional Indian Architecture globally popular and a part of Global Culture just like Yoga and Meditation.
As a move towards his goal, he revolutionized the way the Traditional Temples were designed by using the modern computer technology in this traditional profession.He made some of the first computerised drawings,3D models and walkthroughs of temples on computer.He developed softwares which can do the complex calculations necessary for designing temples in seconds on computer which previously took hours to do manually.
He designed widely acclaimed Architectural Projects in India as well as abroad.
The Examples are,
Shri Nija Sevashram Temple in Mumbai which is one of its kind as it is an abstract form of a traditional temple.
Shri Madan Mohan Trust Haveli in Balasinor is a path-breaking example of how the traditional Indian architecture can be combined with modern style and materials.
The very popular Shri Mukteshwar Temple in Mumbai was given a new look by Hitesh in the year 2005 .
He is presently designing projects with leading corporates & architects of India.
He has been featured in many newspapers and TV channels.Universities across the globe seek his guidance regarding Indian Temple Architecture.
He strongly believes that for a concept to be popular,it should reach the masses as well in addition to the class.Therefore he runs an Art-Gallery which is popular as “Sompuraa Art Home” in Vile-Parle-East in Mumbai, where he displays his work namely drawings,models, stone-furniture, sculptures,paintings and his documentary films about the Temple Architecture. He lectures in Universities, writes articles and hosts exhibitions and two web-sites which are www.Sompuraa.com and www.Hitesh.org.
For his special contribution in architecture, he was awarded “Salute Mumbai 2005” award by the Honourable ex-cultural minister Late Shri Pramod Navalkar in May 2005.
He promotes the traditional Architecture by discussions with the leading personalities like Political leaders,film-stars and spiritual masters.
Despite his distinct family background and achievements, Hitesh is a simple and humble 32 year old spiritual person.
He enjoys reading, meditating and various other art-forms like painting and writing poetries.
Hitesh's work and personality have the rare combinations of tradition with innovation and eccentricity with professionalism.
Hitesh H Sompuraa's Contact Details.
E-mail: H9819657726@yahoo.co.in
& ArchitectHitesh@hotmail.com
Mobile:98196-57726 & 9324 222 448