Ep 47 | The Masterclass in Luxury Design: HBA’s Global Approach to Indian Projects & Infrastructure

This episode was with Mr. Mak and Mr. Binu from HBA two names that have redefined global hospitality and luxury design.They spoke about how HBA was built, how it grew across continents, and what it takes to manage multiple design studios under one vision. What stood out to me was their clarity on how culture, detail, and human emotion play such a crucial role in shaping great design.We discussed the difference between Indian and international clients, the story of how MAK entered real estate, and even an interesting chapter about the Jewish Museum. Their definition of luxury wasn’t about money or material it was about emotion, experience, and identity.The conversation went deeper into topics like why details matter while constructing homes, how to build true luxury in Mumbai, and the importance of designing amenities for every age group.Beyond the design side, they shared their thoughts on the challenges of working in India, the rise of global designers shaping Indian projects, and what the future of Mumbai’s infrastructure could look like.This episode isn’t just about architecture or design it’s about understanding people, culture, and how global design philosophies can beautifully blend with India’s soul.Timestamps:00:00 Trailer01:35 Introduction03:02 What is HBA?04:59 How HBA manages different verticals07:17 Building studios to acquiring studios reason08:13 Branches of HBA around the globe10:13 Difference between Indian & foreign clients explained by Binu13:31 The story of MAK into real estate16:40 Jewish museum story18:47 Definition of luxury by man24:22 Activity done with customers before starting the work33:13 Why details matter while constructing homes35:53 Timelines for the projects38:15 Learnings from project40:40 Experience working in India41:48 Challenges in India46:21 Best stone work in India?48:28 How to build luxury in Mumbai56:25 Importance of amenities for each age group59:24 The future of Padel courts globally59:55 How global designers can shape India in the coming future1:03:05 Future of Mumbai infrastructure01:04:47 Conclusion