Welcome we are D.L.E.A
Design Lab for Experimenting Architecture
Based in Chennai, Design Lab for Experimenting Architecture (DLEA) is a multi-disciplinary firm where experimentation serves as the pulse of evolution and architecture is treated as a living, breathing extension of the human spirit. We believe that built space is an intricate interweave of form and psychology; much like music, it possesses the profound ability to influence one’s mood—comforting us in reflection, energizing us in joy, and grounding us in chaos. We do not subscribe to a fixed architectural “style”—we are not strictly contemporary, parametric, or vernacular architects. Instead, we function like a master musician. Just as a composer finds the “pocket” of a listener’s soul to produce a melody, an anthem, or a rhythmic rap, we adapt our architectural instruments to the specific dreams, context, and budget of our clients. Our “music” is defined entirely by your aspirations and the unique emotional requirements of the project.
Our commitment to Deeply Personalized Design means we don’t just ask what you want to build; we ask how you want to live. Our process begins with a deep dive into the nuances of your daily rituals to foster a genuine, lasting emotional connection between the inhabitant and the space. This vision is executed through a Collaborative Spirit that breaks down traditional silos. We pride ourselves on a “hands-on” partnership involving architects, engineers, and skilled tradespeople from day one. By unifying these voices, we ensure that every conceptual line drawn on paper is grounded in structural reality and craftsmanship.
At the intersection of Innovation and Craft, we integrate modern technologies and innovative materials with traditional wisdom, envisaging every project three-dimensionally from the very first sketch. This approach allows life to “ooze” into the built form, helping users feel the volume of their space before construction begins. From the intricate detailing of a bespoke door to the flow of an urban-scale development, we bridge the gap between research and the practical realities of building codes. At DLEA, we design a responsive, high-quality organism tailored to your unique lifestyle.
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Best Architects in Chennai
Get your Dream home / project sculpted by the hands of one of the best architects in Chennai. We understand every requirement carefully and work with every detail to bring out the best in class design output.
Latest Projects
ALL PROJECTS
Coexistence House
Residential
Annai seetha illam
Residential
House of arches
Residential
Perforated Plane house
Residential design
How We Work
Client Study + Site Study
We understand our client requirements, Ideas wishes and goals. A detailed study of the site location, orientation, context climatic conditions, wind direction to do climate responsive contextual Architecture.
Concept+Scheme Design
We come up with a unique design Concept that can fit the client ideas and needs. Preparing schematic sketches 3d drawings and models to understand the built and unbuilt spaces. Preparation of corporation drawings.
Space Planning
We listen to clients feedback and interact with the client to fine-tune the Floor plans and spaces. Preparation of furniture drawings to understand the circulation spaces and landscape spaces etc.
Exterior Design
Understanding the exterior facade and play with windows, ventilator, balcony positions to get a unique Elevation Design. Preparing three dimensional (3D) Photo realistic views of the buildings and spaces with actual colors and material finishes.
Finishes and Detailing
Listening to clients feed back and fine tune the elevation . Finalizing the colour combinations and material finishes of the building.
Construction Drawings
Preparation of Working Drawings, Structural Drawings, Electrical and plumbing drawings.
Cost Control
Preparation of BIll of Quantities (BOQ). Forecast of the total Project Budget. Identifying the material suppliers. Selection of vendors and brands to fit the materials for construction in the stipulated Budget.
Team Organising
Identifying the Qualified and experienced Contractors, site supervisors, painters, carpenters, electricians, fabricators etc.
Quality Control
Periodic Site visits with site photographs showing the Construction progress. Checking the drawings and site conditions. Checking the contractor’s material quality. Photographs of the site progress.
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FACTS
Run by Award Winning best architects in Chennai, we offer a wide range of architectural services. Our working style makes us one of the top architects in Chennai and one of the best Interior Designers in Chennai and all over Tamil Nadu.
Commitment
Finished Projects
Happy Clients
No of Years
About Principal Architect
AR. G. DHAYANANTH, M.ARCH
PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT
Educational Profile
• Under-graduate : School of Architecture & Planning, Anna University,
Chennai; (B.Arch 2002-2007)
• Internship : Third Space Architecture Studio,
Belgaum(2005-2006)
• Post-graduate : School of Architecture & Planning, Anna University, chennai, & Leibniz University, Hannover, Germany; (M.Arch (General) 2011-2013)
About Dhaya
Born and brought up in the earthiness of the down south, at Thanjavur, the city of temples, the land of tradition and cultural glory, he grew up watching this tradition, detailing, and simply, the way of life. His childhood experiences are etched in his memory as special and memorable characters. With a cultural foothold as this, his fascination for sports transformed him into an aspiring athlete, instilling within the qualities of a true sportsman, punctuality, sportsmanship, discipline and speed. Moving forward with this substance, academics offered graduation from the School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University, a post-graduation, in collaboration with Germany, which gave him international exposure and made him the top architects in Chennai. This was where the roots of thought DLEA began, from experiencing diverse cultures and background, experimenting on the culturally evolved Indian built spaces and planning ahead of the present, to evolve contextual yet internationally competitive structures on a global scale, and performing this experimentation constantly. His professional training at Third Space Architecture Studio, experience as a Junior Architect at SPA Designs and project architect at Oasis Design Inc., New Delhi has transformed him into a successful practising one of the best architects in Chennai. He has vast experience in designing an individual house to urban design projects. His experience in a wide range of projects is indeed an asset to DLEA.
An award winning architect and a Jury member, Grand Stand Awards, Acetech, held at Chennai Trade Centre on 15th July 2022
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Latest News
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Suvadu by DLEA | Volume Zero
Located in a tight urban fabric near a main district road and the Chennai Metro Rail corridor, Suvadu – Annai Sita Illam is a compact yet deeply layered residence that traces memory and anchors generational connection. “Suvadu” (சுவடு) in Tamil translates to trace, mark, or footprint—a concept that underpins the architectural philosophy of this home. Every built edge, shaft of light, and surface finish becomes a subtle imprint of remembrance, grounding a global family in their ancestral roots and shared spatial memory.
Archiabode The House of Arches – D.L.E.A | Arch Daily
Amidst the concrete jungle that Chennai city is, there exists this half-ground corner plot, bounded by two quiet roads on its North and East sides, offering a serene green vista, hiding behind the noisier, less polluted areas of Chromepet, a suburban area in Chennai.
Perforated Brick Planes invite light and shade into D.L.E.A's house in chennai | designboom
In one of Chennai’s fastest-developing urban areas, D.L.E.A’s Perforated Plane House is shaped as a pierced plane of open space. This east-facing plot was one of the few remaining vacant lands in the built-up area, its distinctive position informing the Indian practice’s ethos to blend the home into the surrounding environment while offering a serene ambiance within. A small clinic with separate entrances sits on the site, divided by a courtyard which acts as a buffer and enhances the vistas from the living room.
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