Studio
Listen first, draw second.
A family-owned practice in its third generation, with a legacy of over fifty-five years and more than sixty institutions built across India.
C R Shivakumar
C R Shivakumar was born in 1938 in Bangalore. After studying civil engineering at Central College Bangalore — one of India’s oldest colleges — he established Kumar and Swamy in 1969, one of Bangalore’s oldest architecture practices, which grew from a civil-engineering outfit into an architecture and design house.
A remarkable human being with an indomitable passion for life, he was an avid reader and traveller who explored South India, parts of North India, and Europe. He married Uma Shivakumar, a renowned personality of the Kannada theatre and film industry. A patron of music, dance, drama and writing, he held a deep love for nature and for Bangalore — values he instilled in his family.
Partners & family.
Our design
approach.
Aspiration first
We help our clients achieve their aspirations — the brief begins with their values, not our signature.
Form follows validity
Spaces should balance aesthetic appeal with functional validity, tested against real daily use.
Of its place
We incorporate indigenous cultural expressions evolved through climate, materials and customs.
Discovery & anticipation
Experience is enriched through discovery and anticipation — a building should unfold as you move through it.
Always learning
Learning from leading institutions, here and abroad, continually informs our practice.
Intellectually alive
Passion drives the creation of intellectually stimulating environments for the people who use them.
More than
an office.
At Kumar and Swamy, architecture extends beyond the office. We prioritise individual development: small teams of architects and interns are given real design opportunities and the freedom for creative expression.
We encourage music, film and art appreciation as essential to architectural success, and we value travel and cultural learning. Professional success, we believe, requires well-read, well-travelled, well-rounded individuals.
Work with us →