Discipline, Systems, and Building a Global Practice. A Conversation with Aditya Harsh

Interviewee: Aditya Harsh

Interviewer: Arpit Malhotra

In this interview, we explore how Aditya Harsh navigates global architectural practice while maintaining discipline and mental well-being. He shares how structure, experience, and technical judgement shape his daily work, from managing time and responsibilities to making long-term career decisions in different cultural and regulatory contexts.

Rather than focusing only on design outcomes, the conversation moves into the realities of practice: documentation, coordination, vendor knowledge, global work cultures, and the often invisible labour behind architectural projects. Aditya reflects on the gap between education and practice, adapting across countries, taking calculated risks, and redefining success beyond titles, firm names, and traditional markers of achievement.

Education & Early Foundations

Arpit: Were there any particular professors, studios, or projects during your CCA years that became turning points for you?

Aditya: Yes. There was one teacher who really stayed with me. Not because of design ideology, but because he valued on-time delivery. No extensions, no excuses. That attitude helped me finish my building construction sheets before time. It taught me something very important early on: sometimes being on time matters more than being perfect. That mindset has stayed with me in professional life.

Arpit: If you were redesigning an architecture degree programme today, what one significant change would you make?

Aditya: I would reduce the duration from five years to three or four years and push the curriculum much more toward the technical and practical side. A newly graduated architect practically knows nothing about real construction. Even in design studios, referencing products that are actually available in the local market is far more valuable than designing things purely from imagination. There needs to be balance.

Today, around 50–60 percent of my work involves finding vendors, talking to manufacturers, understanding how things are built, and then translating that into drawings. That skill is largely missing in Indian architecture education.

Global Practice & Cross-Cultural Adaptation

Arpit: You’ve studied in India and now work in Germany while freelancing globally. How do you manage these transitions?

Aditya: The fundamentals remain the same. You still need to fetch bylaws, work with software, coordinate with people. What really changes is the level of rigour. Germany demands extremely detailed documentation, and that discipline has shaped me a lot.

Arpit: Working in Germany involves strong regulations and documentation. How do you reconcile that with creativity?

Aditya: I’ve realised that architecture is not design-heavy in the way people imagine. Design is maybe 10 percent of the work and often happens in one or two days. The remaining 90 percent is coordination, vendor knowledge, detailing, and execution. Creativity shifts from form-making to how well you resolve reality.

The level of detailing expected here is on another level, and it completely changes how you think as an architect.

Arpit: What’s one lesson Indian architects could learn from German practice and vice versa?

Aditya: Indian practice can learn a lot from Germany in terms of rigorous documentation and long-term thinking. Germany, on the other hand, could allow a little more flexibility in rules and regulations. Sometimes common sense gets lost in compliance.

Arpit: How has living and working globally changed your worldview as an architect?

Aditya: It made me realise that architecture isn’t just about buildings. It’s about systems, public spaces, and how people interact with their surroundings. Responsibility feels broader once you see that.

Arpit: What kinds of projects excite you the most right now and why?

Aditya: Right now, I’m working in landscaping and planning, and I’m really enjoying designing public spaces. Buildings alone are not the full story.

When I visited California, I noticed something interesting: well-designed houses with poor streetscaping were selling for less than average houses with better public spaces. That showed me how important the surroundings are. Designing that interaction feels meaningful and exciting.

Time, Focus & Daily Systems

Arpit: How do you manage work across time zones without disturbing your rhythm?

Aditya: I rely heavily on structure. I keep a diary and have two to three whiteboards in my room. I plan things down to the minute sometimes. Living in Germany taught me the importance of order. Without structure, things fall apart very quickly.

Arpit: Can you walk us through how you structure your time?

Aditya: I don’t multitask. I schedule tasks based on priority. To avoid burnout, I walk, trek, or go to the gym. Physical activity helps me reset mentally.

Arpit: When everything feels urgent, how do you decide what to focus on?

Aditya: I don’t have a perfect practical answer for this. Sometimes when everything is urgent, you will lose sleep. That’s reality. The only thing I try to do is take care of myself and know when to push beyond my limits — but not live there permanently. It’s more philosophical than tactical.

Arpit: How do you manage digital distractions?

Aditya: I barely use my phone. I’m actually planning to switch to a basic Nokia phone. The only thing stopping me is banking apps. Phones are mostly a waste. I prefer reading books during travel time.

Arpit: What would you tell students who feel they don’t have enough time?

Aditya: You always have time. You just need to rearrange it. Start writing things down. Keep a pocket diary. Writing helps you manage commitments and think clearly.

Opportunity, Action & Risk-Taking

Arpit: How do you usually sense opportunities?

Aditya: I’m not fully convinced by the idea of “spotting” opportunities. Most important decisions come gradually, not suddenly.

Arpit: What makes you say, “I’m going for this”?

Aditya: The last time I had to take a major decision, I spoke to friends senior to me in my career about their experiences. Then I spoke to my parents and family. I tried to understand where the safety net would be if things went wrong. Once that was clear, the decision became easier.

Arpit: When things are uncertain, what gives you the courage to take the leap?

Aditya: Understanding risk and safety together. Courage doesn’t mean ignoring consequences. It means knowing where you’ll land if things don’t work out.

Arpit: How do you deal with setbacks?

Aditya: Setbacks will come again and again. Just don’t take them to your heart.

Arpit: Discipline or timing — what matters more?

Aditya: Discipline.

Arpit: One opportunity you almost didn’t take but changed everything?

Aditya: Moving to Germany. I didn’t actively decide it, and if I start that story, it’ll become a two-hour podcast. But I’m very glad it happened.

Arpit: What opportunities are you preparing for next?

Aditya: Developing stronger technical judgment. Software and AI will keep changing, and you’ll learn them eventually. What matters more is the ability to spot technical failures early.

For example, I once designed an L-shaped foundation along a curb pointing toward the road. On paper, it was correct. A senior colleague pointed out that vehicle movement could create pressure, and the orientation should be reversed. That kind of understanding only comes with experience.

Courage, Independence & Identity

Arpit: How do you manage what firms often find intimidating as an individual?

Aditya: I don’t fully relate to this framing. I don’t define my life around being an architect. I’m a human being first who knows a bit of architecture. I’m passionate about living life, not chasing labels. That mindset keeps decisions lighter, not careless.

Mental Health, Empathy & Purpose

Arpit: How did your connection with mental health work begin?

Aditya: Architecture is exhausting, and it’s taught to be exhausting. I saw that around me and experienced it myself. I believe it doesn’t have to be that way.

Arpit: How do you balance mental health in such a pressure-driven field?

Aditya: If you’re practical, working hours reduce naturally. German labour laws helped me see that. Suffering is not serious. You don’t need to spend ten hours perfecting a small detail. Take help from seniors. Learn how things are actually built instead of imagining endlessly.

Arpit: Has this changed how you view success?

Aditya: Yes.

Arpit: What does success mean to you today?

Aditya: Success means freedom.Freedom to choose what I work on, how I spend my time, and what I say no to. Financial freedom matters because it reduces anxiety. Mental freedom matters because it gives clarity. I’m not seeking heavy titles or labels. I want stability, clarity, and the ability to live and work without feeling trapped.

About the Guest

Aditya Harsh is an architect and BIM specialist whose work bridges creative design and digital precision. He currently works at HausFormArt GmbH, where he contributes to real estate and construction projects through design optimization, visualization, and value-oriented project management.

A graduate of Chandigarh College of Architecture, Aditya approaches architecture as a balance between narrative, technology, and collaboration. His experience spans architectural design, BIM coordination, and digital workflows that integrate storytelling with spatial design.

Beyond practice, Aditya is actively developing two startups, rooted in mental health and creative problem-solving. He describes himself as a design enthusiast, episodical UI/UX explorer, extraneous co-founder, and storyteller — reflecting his curiosity for multiple creative domains and his drive to merge architecture, business, and technology.

You can explore more of his work at aditya-harsh.com or connect with him on LinkedIn.