Associate Architect & Interior Designer
Alisha
Chitalwala
Crafting human-centric spaces where legacy, creativity, and detail converge.
Mumbai, India
About
Alisha Chitalwala is an Associate Architect, Interior Designer and Lighting Designer at Designers Group, Mumbai — her family's architecture and interior design practice, founded in 1988 with a team of 90. She leads a 12-person design team and is responsible for design and project delivery, client acquisition and the firm's PR, with a growing focus on business administration and the growth of the organization.
Over nine years she has delivered 19 hotel, resort and commercial projects across 12 Indian cities — 1.77 million sq ft of built area — for brands including Alila by Hyatt, Hilton Garden Inn, Lemon Tree and Radisson. Her work is rooted in the belief that every detail, from light and material to spatial flow, shapes how a space is experienced: a human-centric approach that blends traditional techniques with modern principles to create spaces that tell a story.
“It is important to ensure growth remains rooted in legacy, creativity, detail, and human-centric design.”
— AD Young Icons 2025
Experience
Associate Architect & Interior Designer
Designers Group, Mumbai
- Junior Architect & Interior Designer·Feb 2017 — Dec 2019
Leads a 12-person team of architects and designers at the family practice (founded 1988, 90 staff), with responsibility for design and project delivery, client acquisition, the firm's PR and studio operations.
Junior Architect
Architect Hafeez Contractor, Mumbai
- Intern Architect·Jul 2015 — Nov 2015
Design development and documentation for 9 large commercial and luxury residential projects at one of India's largest architectural practices, alongside site analysis, design alternatives and facade studies for urban-scale projects across Mumbai.
Master's, Lighting Design and Design Management
Wismar University — WINGS, Germany
Completed part-time while working full-time. Thesis: Reclaiming public leisure space in land-constrained cities through architecture and public lighting.
Bachelor of Architecture
KRVIA (Kamala Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture), Mumbai
Thesis: Configuring and Remolding a Public Realm in a Religious Precinct — Bhendi Bazaar, Mumbai.
Projects
Hotels, resorts, residences, clubhouses and exhibition spaces Alisha has led or worked on at Designers Group. Select a project to browse its gallery.
Radisson Resort & Spa
Khopoli, Maharashtra — 2025
Hilton Garden Inn
Surat, Gujarat — 2023
Lemon Tree Hotel
Bhuj, Gujarat — 2026
Vivanta & Ginger
Kevadia, Gujarat — 2022
Pride Hotel
Nagpur, Maharashtra — 2019
Kashi Ra
Bengaluru, Karnataka — 2024
Mayfair Majestic Club
Hyderabad, Telangana — 2025
Mayfair Gateway Club
Hyderabad, Telangana — 2024
Mayfair Classic Club
Hyderabad, Telangana — 2025
Sukh Villa
Alibaug, Maharashtra — 2023
Lake View Residence — YSS
Solapur, Maharashtra — 2022
Lake View Residence — KYS
Solapur, Maharashtra — 2022
iDAC 2026 — VIP Lounge
Mumbai, Maharashtra — 2026
iDAC 2025 — VIP Lounge
Mumbai, Maharashtra — 2025
iDAC 2020 — VIP Lounge
Mumbai, Maharashtra — 2020
iDAC 2019 — VIP Lounge
Mumbai, Maharashtra — 2019
Awards
Recognition moments and ceremonies. Press features and award details are listed in the section below, and project photography lives in the Projects section above.
Awards
Recognition, ceremonies, and trophy moments.
Infinity Awards
Creator x iDAC Lounge
IndeXcellence Award 2023
IFJ Publications - Gen Next
Construction Week Awards
Interior Design of the Year - Hospitality
Essentia Home x AD
Young Icons recognition
D/List Award 2025
Hansgrohe ceremony moment
ET Designscape
Radisson Khopoli trophy
Exponential Real Estate World 2026
Guest of Honour - Award of Excellence
Features & Recognition
Guest of Honour & Award of Excellence
Received the Next Generation Excellence Award and an Appreciation Award as Guest of Honour, recognising her contribution to the design industry and participation in the programme.
Building Tomorrow — The Future of Real Estate, Design and Construction
Panelist and Guest of Honour, alongside her father Khozema Chitalwala, at the 10th physical evening meeting of Exponential Real Estate World at Ginger Mumbai Airport on 28 August 2026. The platform brings together real estate, architecture, design, construction and infrastructure professionals; the discussion covered how sustainability is being integrated into contemporary design practice.
iDAC Infinity Award
The iDAC Infinity Award recognises sustained contribution to the platform through design excellence, industry engagement and continued participation. Awarded in 2025 and 2026 for a long-term association with iDAC and for consistently designing and curating the VIP lounge across successive editions.
AD Young Icons Award 2025
Recognises visionary young architects and design practices that challenge conventions and shape contemporary Indian architecture. Selected and featured among 50 recognised studios.
Interior Design of the Year — Hospitality
The Construction Week Awards recognise distinguished projects, firms and professionals across architecture, design, construction, real estate and infrastructure, judged by a jury of industry experts. Radisson Resort & Spa, Khopoli was selected in the Interior Design of the Year, Hospitality category from 642 overall entries.
D/List Award 2025
An annual event hosted by GoodHomes Magazine and presented by Hansgrohe, honouring India's leading architecture, interior design and creative practices.
ET Designscape Awards 2025
The ET Designscape Awards recognise excellence and innovation across architecture, interior design and the built environment. Radisson Resort & Spa, Khopoli received a commendation in Interior Design, Metro City Hotels, recognising Designers Group’s contribution to hospitality design.
IndeXcellence Award 2023 — Gen Next
The IndeXcellence Award by IFJ recognises emerging architects and designers for their creativity, design thinking and contribution to the built environment. Awarded in the Gen Next category in 2023.
Crafting Luxury & Inclusivity in Hospitality Design
An exclusive feature on sustainable luxury, AI-driven design innovation, and championing women in the hospitality design industry.
Spotlight on 20 Women Architects and Designers in India
Featured among 20 leading women architects and designers shaping the future of architecture and interior design in India.
11 Architects Carrying Their Fathers' Legacy Forward
Featured in AD's Father's Day special, highlighting architects blending inherited legacy with their own innovation.
Insights on the Jamawar Textile Wallcovering Collection
Shared insights on the Jamawar textile wallcovering collection at the iDAC 2025 booth, exploring heritage-inspired luxury surfaces.
Material Curation at the iDAC iLounge
Collaborated on fabric curation for the iDAC iLounge, bringing stories to life through material selection and design refinement.
Elevating Spaces with Baffle Ceilings
Discussed the versatility of baffle ceilings and the wide range of textures and panels for elevating hospitality and architectural spaces.
How Glass Transforms Architectural Spaces
A conversation on how glass as a material can redefine the experience of architectural spaces, from light to transparency.
Designers Group Celebrates 35 Years of Design Excellence
Commemorating three and a half decades of hospitality design innovation and excellence from Mumbai to the world.
The Influence of Women Designers on Luxury Travel Experiences
Exploring how women designers at Designers Group are shaping luxury hospitality through innovation, novel materials, and technology.
The Tasteful and Talented Trio of Designers Group
Society Interiors featured Alisha, Husain Jariwala and Sujata Chitalwala at its cover-unveiling evening in Mumbai, exploring the philosophy of Designers Group and the design journey behind its projects ahead of a published interview.
Architects' Lounge at iDAC Expo
Royale Impex, a stone partner in the Architects' Lounge designed by Designers Group at iDAC Expo, showcased the lounge's book-matched marble backdrop and curated seating, crediting Alisha and the design team.
Let's Create
Together
Open to collaborations, speaking engagements, and conversations about architecture, hospitality design, and the art of space-making.