Sona Reddy’s Hyderabad studio is shaped by habit, material, and making

The studio took shape in 2019, formed by circumstance rather than intention. Reddy was pregnant and needed a separate workspace quickly. This former storeroom for a furniture shop could be converted without delay. There was no search for symbolism, no attempt to anchor the decision in romance. “Those are real life things,” she says, resisting the expectation that spaces must always be justified through sentiment. The place exists because it needed to, and that practicality continues to inform how it functions.

Architecturally, the transformation was restrained. The brick shell remained. The tin roof stayed. What shifted were the interventions that allowed the space to work better through the day and across seasons. Walls were painted, windows introduced, and a terracotta false ceiling added beneath the tin roof to reduce heat. Along the southern edge, a continuous terracotta jali wall replaced glass, allowing light and air to move through.

Spaced Out

Orientation reinforces this logic. Most of the workspace faces east, while the pantry and washrooms sit to the west, acting as buffers against heat. Along the south, glass is avoided entirely. These choices are framed as responses to climate, comfort, and daily occupation.

Work unfolds within an open office plan. Visibility is intentional. “Everybody can see everybody at all points of time,” Reddy says. In a small practice, separation felt unnecessary. The openness allows work to remain collective, conversations to unfold without interruption, and ideas to circulate without formal cues.

Large as Large Needs

Furniture reflects the same emphasis on use. All fixed pieces are custom made. Reddy has little patience for compact workstations. “I’ve never really enjoyed small work desks where there isn’t enough space to put your things,” she says. Each desk is deliberately generous, allowing room for both studio work and personal belongings. Other pieces have been collected gradually and brought together without forcing visual cohesion. Light fixtures across the workspace are also custom, including those in the conference room and Reddy’s own room, with fabrics produced to specification.

The Day-to-day

The rhythm of the day mirrors this sense of ease. Mornings begin quietly, with people taking a moment to themselves before settling into work. Hyderabad’s later start allows a slower build-up before activity gathers pace. Coffee breaks punctuate the day. Lunch is unhurried. A chai ritual, learned from a client, has become part of the routine. Each morning begins with sambrani. “For me, I like to come in and definitely light a candle, light some incense,” Reddy says. Sketching often follows, or a review of what the day requires.