5 minute read
The Design Online Company (TDOC)
A Family’s Labour of Love: TDOC Set to Reinvent Goa’s Architecture, Design Landscape
In conversation with Goa Tycoon, the Pai Raikar family, comprising architects Hemlata, Sacheen and their son Sudanshu, shares insights into how their approach towards architecture and space design has led to the creation of an amalgam of traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology, embodied in The Design Online Company (TDOC). Goa’s first design experience centre, TDOC, is poised to create a legacy in the field of space design and architecture.
As a young boy, Sudanshu Pai Raikar was obsessed with playing with LEGO blocks. After many a summer, though, the same child is now all set to shape the foundation blocks of someone’s dream home, as part of The Design Online Company (TDOC), a one-of-a-kind design experience centre in Panaji, Goa, launched by his parents, renowned architects Sacheen and Hemlata Pai Raikar.
Sudanshu’s early days spent building LEGO models honed his creativity and interest in architecture and design, further encouraged by his parents. Having recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from VTU University, Belagavi, he has begun his professional journey onwards under the aegis of TDOC, on a path already trod on by his mother Hemlata and father Sacheen.
TDOC is a unique design experience centre in Goa, that helps forge a new path for architecture and interior design communities and is located at Campal Trade Centre, in the heart of the state capital. This one-stop design concept store serves as a consultation and conceptualisation space for the architecture and interior design communities not just for in-person clients but out-of-state clients as well. This is the brainchild of Arch. Hemlata Pai Raikar, founder of TDOC.
The story of the first design experience centre in Goa began with Arch. Hemlata, who dedicated three decades to the field of architecture. Hemlata has been greatly influenced by her experience working in architectural firms in Mumbai and Dubai. Her approach has always been ahead of its time, integrating modern practices aiming to save clients’ time, long before they became mainstream.
This ability to think ahead of the pack in the architectural design arena is what makes TDOC so unique. Imbibed during her time in Dubai, which has a four-day workweek, Arch. Hemlata has incorporated a measure of disciplined punctuality and brevity that is evident in the efficient, concise method of communication utilised at TDOC. This ensures that the clients’ design visions are conceptualised and delivered expeditiously.
The Pai Raikar family has beautifully integrated traditional architectural practice and modern technology tools to provide a comprehensive visual experience for their clients, enhancing their decision-making process.
Sudanshu has imbibed his love for architecture through his parents. His frequent visits to construction sites as a child gave him first-hand
exposure to the world of architecture, gradually fostering his passion for transforming drawings into tangible structures. Sudanshu’s visual design style is greatly influenced by the city of love, Paris and Japan’s capital, Tokyo. Having interned with CCBA Designs, Pune, mentored by Master Architect Christopher Charles Benninger, where he had firsthand experience working on large-scale projects like various institutions and government projects abroad. Here, he noticed how a clear vision can drive a team of 40 to achieve remarkable results.
The young man brings his skillset to the TDOC table. His inclination towards incorporating the many gifts of the virtual reality world into architectural and design spaces has led TDOC to occupy a unique position in Goa — a design experience centre that is the cumulative effort of a close-knit family.
TDOC is also a product of arch Sacheen's extensive experience in the field of architecture and design. His insatiable thirst for knowledge led to his return to the classroom at the Gujarat-based Centre for Environment Planning & Technology (CEPT) after 27 years to complete his Master’s degree in Conservation and Regeneration. This dedication to his work comes from his desire to have an independent practice and his willingness to expose himself to every possible aspect of the profession.
Sacheen has been guiding Final Year B.Arch. students at the Goa College of Architecture (GCA), Altinho, with their dissertations and design theses since 2016. He has also been invited as a visiting faculty member to teach Urban Conservation for the Master's Degree in Urban Design at GCA. He credits these intellectually stimulating interactions with faculty and students with offering valuable insights into the latest trends in architectural thought and technology.
For Arch. Hemlata, the mother and the driving force behind TDOC, both her husband and son are critical
Support systems, who channel the familia bond into an efficient and effective team, creating synergy between their existing practice, Pai Raikar & Associates - Seven Inspirations, and TDOC.
TDOC’s success is a testament to the Pai Raikar family’s dedication to their craft and their unwavering commitment to innovation. It stands as a beacon of what can be achieved when a family brings together passion, expertise, and modern vision.
For the Pai Raikars, architecture is not just about building structures; it is about creating spaces that inspire and uplift. With TDOC, they invite the world to share in their vision of a more beautiful, sustainable future infused with familial love.
TDOC’s website: www.tdoc.in Instagram handle: @tdoc.goa Linkedin handle: https://www.linkedin.com/ company/tdoc-the-design-online-company/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/ iF9C5rz9fDvyuysi/?mibextid=qi2Omg
