Studio 145
From film backdrops to large-format hospitality projects, Faisal Shareef Khan's career has moved through unusual territory. His work with Studio 145 shows how an alternative experience can reshape an entire category of design.
A Start That Didn't Look Like the Beginning of an Architecture Career
Faisal entered the design world through cinematic backdrops, something that demands speed, accuracy, and an understanding of how people read a space in a single frame. It wasn't architecture, but it forced him to think in scale and structure long before he ever used those words in a professional context.
That early training stayed with him. When you build environments for the camera, you learn what draws attention and what disrupts it. You also learn how much detail is invisible unless the space is planned properly.
Working in wedding set production exposed Faisal to a fast-moving industry that prioritised deadlines and scale. But over twelve years on event sites, another pattern became impossible to ignore: the opportunity for something better. While the venue industry had been flourishing for decades with their vibrant designs and mesmerising decorations, there was room for something different. The demand for innovative and memorable spaces increased, giving Studio 145 the opportunity to upgrade venue designs.
These venues that held special significance in people's lives, became a part of cherishable memories of celebrations and achievements, and Faisal observed that these venues can actively influence the way people felt inside them.
"We wanted spaces that could change how people remember an event," he says. "The goal was always to move beyond what works, into what stays with you."
The already established venue industry needed a fresh perspective, and Studio 145 aimed to take it to a new level with their futuristic designs that stand out at the intersection of modern decor and technology. Faisal believed venues could be built around atmosphere, emotional connection, and a sense of occasion, not merely function.
The venue design studio focused on the impressions these venues made, and not just its purpose. This became the foundation of Studio 145's design approach of bolder ideas, immersive environments, modern lines, and seamless integration of technology, all working together to define a new language of celebration. For Faisal, that shift isn't a trend, it's the future.
In 2022, Faisal partnered with Jai, whose technical depth complements his instinct for atmosphere and scale. Studio 145 began with a clear direction: push venue design beyond the familiar. The studio wants spaces to hold an identity, to feel current, and to create a strong emotional impression from the moment someone enters.
Their work focuses on experimentation with form, layout, and technology - not for spectacle, but to deliver an experience that feels distinct and memorable. With the celebration and hospitality segment rapidly evolving, Studio 145 sees significant room for progressive, design-forward thinking. The aim is not limited to India. By 2027, the team plans to expand globally, carrying this approach to markets seeking fresh ideas in destination and venue design.
A Different Kind of Project Output
Under Faisal's direction, the studio is design-led and operationally aware, a quality that has been successfully applied across multiple hospitality destinations in the NCR and other regions. Their projects stand out in the industry due to their willingness to take risks and experiment with what looks and feels better. This approach has allowed Studio 145 to deliver spaces that are not just built to accommodate events, but to elevate the experience for everyone inside.
A Working Style That Mirrors His Background
Faisal isn't the founder who talks about "vision statements." He works through details, checks drawings himself, and questions decisions that don't support the purpose. His approach is shaped as much by technical experience as by creative instinct.
What Keeps Him Moving
For Faisal, design is more about how a space makes you feel. That focus guides Studio 145's direction today: projects that focus on the feel and grandeur, and that age well, even in industries where spaces are often treated as temporary.
