Sinuous and textural, Wallmakers‘ Kulhad Pavilion stands on Miramar beach in Goa, India as a temporary structure for the Serendipity Arts Festival 2025. The pavilion is set along the edge of the sand and occupies a narrow, shaded strip between trees and coast beyond.

Kulhads, also known as terracotta mud cups, once defined the everyday ritual of tea at railway stations across India. Used briefly and discarded soon after, they accumulated along tracks and coastlines, leaving a quiet record of consumption. For this pavilion, more than 18,000 of these cups were gathered from local communities in Dharavi and reused as a building material with structural purpose.

images © Studio IKSHA

the vaulted structure of terracotta waste

The architects at Wallmakers form the Kulhad Pavilion through three compressive catenary vaults, each shaped to direct weight downward into the ground. Built as unreinforced masonry, the vaults rely on geometry and gravity rather than additives or frames. The earthen cups are stacked and bonded to create a porous surface that filters light and air while maintaining mass and stability.

As the structure meanders along the beach edge, it takes on multiple roles as seating, shade, and informal stage. People pause beneath the vaults to escape the sun, while animals find shelter in the same spaces. Through this simple exchange between waste material and spatial need, Wallmakers presents the Kulhad Pavilion as an example of how discarded objects can regain civic presence through careful architectural thinking.

the Kulhad Pavilion stands along Miramar beach in Goa, India

Wallmakers designs the pavilion using 18,000 reclaimed terracotta ‘kulhads’

the pavilion reuses discarded mud cups collected from Dharavi in Mumbai

the structural system comprises three compressive catenary vaults

the unreinforced vaults rely on geometry and gravity for stability

earthen surfaces filter light and breezes along the beach edge

the structure weaves between trees as seating, shade, and gathering space

project info:

name: Kulhad Pavilion

architect: Wallmakers | @ar.vinudaniel

location: Goa, India

area: 1025 square feet
completion: 2025

photography: © Studio IKSHA | @studio.iksha

design team: Vinu Daniel, Preksha Shah, Jayesh Varma
structural engineer: Steelcrete
civil contractor: Aviyon Constructions

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Built99 is an architectural platform and curated registry founded to reposition Indian and Global South practices within the global design conversation, operating across India with an international editorial outlook. Conceived as a permanence-led archive rather than a directory, Built99 documents architectural work through ideas, ethics, and built proof, responding to a long-standing lack of sustained global visibility for the region’s practices.

Launching its first major selection cycle in 2026, the initiative brings together editors from designboom and ArchDaily to identify 99 practitioners whose work demonstrates long-term relevance, cultural depth, and intellectual rigor, setting out to build a reference framework that can endure beyond trends.

Built99 is an architectural platform and curated registry founded to reposition Indian and Global South practices within the global design conversation | all images courtesy of Built99

placing regional practices into active dialogue

At its core, Built99 was created to address a structural absence: despite decades of spatial intelligence, ethical experimentation, and contextual design, architecture from India and the Global South has often circulated without long-term critical framing. Built99 positions itself as a cultural institution rather than a promotional platform, designed to place regional practices into active dialogue with international architectural discourse. By combining editorial scrutiny with archival intent, the platform reframes visibility as something earned through clarity and defensible ideas, rather than popularity or spectacle.

The Built99 model is anchored in a rigorous documentation framework that evaluates architecture through spatial clarity, cultural context, and ethical position. Each selected studio is presented not as a portfolio snapshot but as a clearly articulated thesis, examining how ideas translate into built form over time. This approach allows Built99 to function as a long-term intellectual record, creating a body of work that can be referenced, studied, and situated within broader global narratives, while resisting the rapid churn typical of digital platforms.

conceived as a permanence-led archive rather than a directory, Built99 documents architectural work through ideas and ethics

built99 offers year-round editorial programming

A defining aspect of Built99 is its editorial collaboration with the global platforms designboom and ArchDaily, whose editors will jointly select the inaugural cohort of 99 practitioners. This curatorial process ensures international credibility while maintaining a critical lens rooted in context rather than trend. For selected studios, the platform offers year-round editorial programming, including interviews, studio films, and curated conversations that extend beyond announcement-driven exposure and into sustained cultural engagement.

The initiative culminates in the Built99 Coffee Table Book, scheduled for release in November 2026 alongside the platform’s flagship event. The publication will document the selected practices as a collective benchmark, positioning their work within a shared architectural moment while preserving individual methodologies. In parallel, each practice receives a permanent digital dossier, ensuring that their contributions remain accessible as part of an evolving archival ecosystem.

a defining aspect of Built99 is its editorial collaboration with the global platforms designboom and ArchDaily, whose editors will jointly select the inaugural cohort of 99 practitioners

While Built99 emphasizes permanence over promotion, its visibility strategy is deliberately global. Selected practitioners based in India gain dedicated exposure through Forbes India, while international visibility is driven through designboom and ArchDaily. This dual-channel approach reinforces the platform’s ambition to connect regional architectural intelligence with a wider professional and cultural audience, without diluting its editorial standards.

Built99 ultimately defines itself through restraint and clarity, setting a curated bar for architectural practice that values depth over noise. Framed by the idea that “ideas are built, then they travel,” the platform argues for architecture that can be defended intellectually and ethically over time. In doing so, Built 99 positions itself not as a momentary spotlight, but as a lasting reference point for practices shaping the future of architecture from the Global South outward.

Built99 ultimately defines itself through restraint and clarity, setting a curated bar for architectural practice that values depth over noise

Built 99 positions itself not as a momentary spotlight, but as a lasting reference point for practices shaping the future of architecture from the Global South outward

project info:

name: Built99 | @built99_

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Designed as a sanctuary for a retired couple entering a slower, more reflective phase of life, the Nani House is a private residence in India conceived as an architecture of stillness and care. Completed by Creations & Urban Saints, the project responds to the clients’ desire for a home that prioritizes comfort, accessibility, and emotional continuity over spectacle. Rooted in the idea of slow living, the house unfolds as a series of fluid, light-filled spaces that blur boundaries between inside and outside, memory and daily routine, offering a calm yet generous setting for ageing with grace.

designed as a sanctuary for a retired couple, the Nani House is a private residence in India conceived as an architecture of stillness and care | all images courtesy of Creations & Urban Saints

Creations & Urban Saints balances comfort memory and nature 

Creations & Urban Saints is a multidisciplinary architecture and interior design practice based in Central India, known for its human-centred approach and refined material sensibility. The studio represents a convergence of legacy and innovation, bringing together decades of experience with contemporary research-driven practice. Working across residential, hospitality, cultural, and large-scale commercial projects, the firm has built a reputation for spaces that balance timeless elegance with functional clarity.

The practice is led by interior designer Shilpi Sonar, whose career spans more than 35 years and over 3,700 projects, alongside architect Satyadeep, founder of Urban Saints in 2018 after returning from London, and ergonomics specialist Arpita. Together, they combine expertise in spatial planning, material research, sustainability, and usability. This collaborative leadership informs the studio’s ethos, where design decisions emerge from an understanding of how spaces are lived in over time rather than how they perform visually in the moment

completed by Creations & Urban Saints, the project responds to the clients’ desire for a home that prioritizes comfort, accessibility, and emotional continuity

nani house is shaped around ageing rituals and everyday ease

At the Nani House, Creations & Urban Saints translated this philosophy into a home shaped by ease. The architects dissolved conventional hierarchies between rooms, creating seamless transitions between garden, living, and private zones. The project privileges texture over ornament, with stone, timber, and linen forming a restrained palette that allows materials to age gracefully and gather patina. Rather than commanding attention, the architecture invites presence, encouraging the occupants to inhabit the house slowly and intuitively.

The plan is deliberately fluid, allowing movement without barriers and supporting long-term comfort. Wide openings and large windows frame the surrounding garden as a living artwork, flooding interiors with diffused daylight and natural ventilation. Circulation is generous and step-free, ensuring accessibility without visual compromise, all while the garden extends into the house, softening thresholds and reinforcing a daily connection to nature as an active companion rather than a decorative backdrop.

at the Nani House, Creations & Urban Saints translated this philosophy into a home shaped by ease

Inside, warmth is built through nuance rather than novelty where neutral tones provide a calm canvas for personal artefacts, worn books, and collected objects that carry memory. Subtle details like hand-carved wood, the grain of timber, and the quiet sheen of brass reveal themselves gradually, mirroring the way stories unfold over years. Furniture is designed for ergonomic comfort and longevity, supporting the realities of ageing while maintaining a sense of understated elegance.

While the aesthetic language remains soft and timeless, practicality underpins every decision as the layered lighting reduces eye strain, textured flooring ensures grip, and thoughtfully proportioned seating and work surfaces support everyday rituals without effort. Spaces such as the kitchen, reading nook, and bedroom are conceived as places to linger, each encouraging unhurried use and reinforcing the house’s core intent: to make daily life easier and richer at once.

the project privileges texture over ornament

stone, timber, and linen form a restrained palette that allows materials to age gracefully and gather patina

rather than commanding attention, the architecture invites presence, encouraging the occupants to inhabit the house slowly and intuitively

the plan is deliberately fluid, allowing movement without barriers

furniture is designed for ergonomic comfort and longevity

supporting the realities of ageing while maintaining a sense of understated elegance

subtle details like hand-carved wood, the grain of timber, and the quiet sheen of brass reveal themselves gradually

the garden extends into the house, softening thresholds

neutral tones provide a calm canvas for personal artefacts, worn books, and collected objects

textured flooring ensures grip, and thoughtfully proportioned seating 

from left to right: Arpita Sood Sonar, Shilpi Burman Sonar, Satyadeep Sonar

spaces such as the kitchen, reading nook, and bedroom are conceived as places to linger

project info:

name: Nani House

company: Creations & Urban Saints | @creationsbyshilpisonar & @saints.urban

architecture: Satyadeep | @nothing.but.satya

design: Shilpi Sonar | @shilpisonar;  Arpita | @arpitasoodsonar

location: India

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Living on Groundwater by Aleksa Milojevic and Matthew W Wilde is a 25 sqm prefabricated dwelling that received first prize in the Kingspan-funded MICROHOME #10 competition, organized by Buildner. Developed as a response to groundwater depletion, the project reframes the microhome not as a self-contained unit but as part of a broader environmental system. Through its design, the dwelling links domestic occupation directly to water management and ecological repair.

The MICROHOME #10 competition called for an off-grid dwelling under 25 sqm, encouraging participants to explore how compact architecture can address contemporary environmental and social challenges. Free of site constraints, the competition functions as a testing ground for material strategies, spatial efficiency, and environmental performance at the scale of individual housing. Living on Groundwater engages this framework by responding to conditions in Punjab, India, where groundwater extraction supports both daily life and intensive agricultural activity.

Water functions as the primary design driver of the project. The dwelling is organized around processes of water collection, use, treatment, and return. Rainwater is captured on site, greywater is recycled, and treated surplus water is directed back into the aquifer through an injection well, allowing the building to operate as a hydro-positive system. By making these processes central to the architectural concept, the project positions domestic habitation as an active participant in long-term groundwater replenishment.

all images courtesy of Aleksa Milojevic and Matthew W Wilde

The project wins first prize in Buildner’s MICROHOME competition

Architecturally, the structure is elevated on a raised timber frame, minimizing disturbance to the ground while allowing water flow, air movement, and vegetation to pass beneath. A permeable facade system mediates light, views, and environmental conditions, responding to seasonal variation while maintaining visual connection to the surrounding landscape. Within the compact footprint, spatial organization prioritizes flexibility. A lofted sleeping area frees the ground level for living and working functions, while modular storage and adaptable surfaces allow the interior to shift throughout the day. Prefabricated wall and roof assemblies support efficient construction and suggest scalability across rural contexts facing similar environmental pressures. Rather than focusing solely on minimizing impact, Living on Groundwater proposes a model in which housing contributes to the repair of the ecological systems it depends on. Infrastructure, typically concealed below ground, is made legible through architectural form, section, and construction logic.

The jury cited the project’s clarity of system integration, technical resolution, and effective use of drawings and diagrams in communicating environmental performance and buildability. Among submissions addressing climate adaptation and modular living, Living on Groundwater was recognized for aligning spatial design with ecological process.

Aleksa Milojevic is a New York–based architectural designer, researcher, and filmmaker whose work examines urban conditions, spatial symbolism, and socio-cultural participation. Matthew W Wilde is a Brooklyn-based architectural designer working across built projects and speculative research, with a focus on social and ecological commons. Together, their collaborative practice operates at the intersection of architecture, research, and experimentation. Living on Groundwater received the first prize as part of MICROHOME #10’s broader investigation into how small-scale architecture can respond to global environmental challenges.

a linear walkway follows the irrigation canal, connecting the dwelling to surrounding fields

the main living space opens to surrounding fields through a permeable facade

the living space uses flexible furnishings and built-in storage, with cabinetry and shelving embedded in the structure

an elevated sleeping loft maximizes floor area and creates a quiet retreat above the ground plane

the bathroom integrates greywater recovery within the domestic core, with filtration systems concealed in the wet zone

operable panels extend the living space into the landscape, blurring interior and exterior

the compact form and permeable facade create a calm domestic presence embedded in the landscape

project info:

name: Living On Groundwater
designer: Aleksa Milojevic, Matthew Wilde

competition: MICROHOME #10, Buildner

location: Punjab, India

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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Tales of Saru is a residential project by Studio for Architecture and Regional Urbanism (SARU), located in Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu, India, at the foothills of the Nilgiris. Built on the site of the client’s childhood home, the 3,200-sqft house is conceived as an architectural framework shaped by memory, landscape, and lived experience rather than by a predefined stylistic approach. The design translates recollections of place into spatial sequences, organizing the house around four distinct architectural narratives, or ‘tales,’ each derived from specific experiences associated with the land.

The project responds closely to its setting, drawing from the region’s climate, vegetation, and topography. Instead of imposing a singular formal language, the design allows spatial volumes to emerge from remembered relationships between built form, movement, and landscape. The resulting house operates as a layered environment where memory informs material choice, spatial proportion, and environmental strategy.

all images courtesy of Studio for Architecture and Regional Urbanism (SARU)

Four Spatial Tales organize the house’s program

The first spatial sequence interprets childhood experiences of movement through garden paths, grass trails, and shaded thresholds. This memory is translated into a linear courtyard defined by high enclosing walls and layered planting. The narrow proportions and vertical enclosure replicate the sensation of moving through tall grass, while filtered daylight produces a subdued, dappled light condition. The courtyard functions as both a climatic moderator and a connective space, allowing seasonal changes to be perceived throughout the house. Fixed, built-in seating elements replace movable furniture, reinforcing a direct relationship between body and structure. The second narrative centers on the kitchen as the social and sensory core of the house. Referencing earlier domestic rituals associated with cooking, water, and shade, the design places the kitchen at the center of daily activity. A partially shaded dip pool recalls a former water tank, while an elevated seating element introduces vertical variation and visual connection. Landscaping elements, including a palm canopy, generate filtered light and reinforce the kitchen’s role as a focal point. Spatial organization emphasizes proximity, movement, and sensory engagement rather than formal separation.

The third tale reinterprets a former garden pavilion that functioned as both a retreat and a shared activity space. In the new configuration, the pavilion is located on the upper level, creating physical separation from the ground plane. The design employs the principle of borrowed landscape (Shakkei), framing a wide view of surrounding coconut palms to extend the perceived spatial boundary. A roof garden and lotus pond soften the transition between built and natural elements. Interior spaces vary in height and enclosure, allowing a progression from quiet, low-ceilinged zones to more open, social areas. The final narrative by Studio for Architecture and Regional Urbanism (SARU) addresses a concealed viewing point once formed between roof and ledge. Due to height restrictions, this condition is reinterpreted through compact projecting volumes integrated into the private bedrooms. These projections frame a specific view toward the Nilgiris while also functioning as passive environmental devices. Their elevated position facilitates cross-ventilation, capturing prevailing breezes and allowing warm air to escape through higher ceiling zones, reducing reliance on mechanical cooling.

the 3,200-sqft house is built on the site of the client’s former childhood home

A Material Language Grounded in Context

Material selection is closely tied to site conditions and local availability. Reclaimed bricks from an existing boundary wall and soil excavated on site are combined with lime plaster to create breathable wall surfaces that support thermal regulation. The resulting earthen finish reflects light softly and reinforces continuity between interior and exterior spaces. Reclaimed Burmese teak from dismantled regional structures is reused for doors, windows, and structural elements, minimizing new material use while maintaining durability. A final plaster layer incorporates black oxide and crushed plant seeds, referencing earlier site markings and integrating subtle traces of past use into the building fabric.

Through its spatial sequencing, material reuse, and environmental responsiveness, Tales of Saru presents a residential architecture rooted in place and memory. The project demonstrates how personal narratives, when translated through architectural logic, can generate spaces that are both contextually grounded and adaptable over time.

Tales of Saru is shaped by memory, landscape, and lived experience rather than a fixed stylistic language

the linear courtyard filters light, allowing soft, dappled illumination

the courtyard translates memories of garden paths and shaded trails into architectural form

climate, vegetation, and topography directly inform the project’s spatial organization

the house is organized around four architectural narratives derived from site-specific experiences

high enclosing walls and layered planting create narrow, vertically oriented outdoor spaces

reclaimed brick, site soil, and lime plaster form breathable wall surfaces

the garden and planting soften transitions between built and natural elements

spatial volumes emerge from relationships between movement, built form, and landscape

reused materials and layered finishes reinforce continuity and long-term adaptability

a modest roof garden blurs boundaries and employs the principle of borrowed landscape

a partially shaded dip pool references a former water tank on the site

project info:

name: Tales of Saru
architect: Studio for Architecture and Regional Urbanism – SARU

location: Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu, India

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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Designed by Habitat Architects, the Solan Hill House is a private residence embedded into a sloping site in Himachal Pradesh, conceived as an architecture that grows out of its terrain rather than resting on it. Completed as a response to complex gradients, access conditions, and visual exposure, the project uses the landscape itself as a generator of form, structure, and spatial sequence. By organizing living spaces across stepped levels that follow the natural contours, the house minimizes excavation while maximizing views, privacy, and environmental performance. The design prioritizes long-term adaptability, material intelligence, and a quiet dialogue between built form and topography.

designed by Habitat Architects, the Solan Hill House is a private residence embedded into a sloping site in Himachal Pradesh | all images courtesy of Habitat Architects

the sloping site is treated as a framework

Co-founded by Monika Choudhary and Zafar Choudhary, Habitat Architects is a multidisciplinary architecture practice based in India. Zafar Choudhary, Principal Architect and CEO, leads the studio’s architectural vision with an emphasis on spatial logic, proportion, and construction systems, while Monika Choudhary, Co-Founder and Chief Development Officer, steers strategic development, narrative direction, and collaborations. The studio is known for its restraint-led approach, grounding design decisions in material performance, contextual sensitivity, and durability across residential, hospitality, and civic projects.

At their Hill House project, the sloping site is not treated as a constraint but as a framework that defines planning and movement. The architecture unfolds across a series of stepped plates that follow the natural gradient, reducing the need for heavy cut-and-fill operations. This approach preserves the integrity of the terrain while allowing the building to sit low and embedded within the landscape. Each level negotiates elevation change through calibrated shifts rather than abrupt transitions, reinforcing the idea of a house that emerges from the hill itself.

Hill House is conceived as an architecture that grows out of its terrain rather than resting on it

Spatial organization follows a gradual, processional logic

Instead of a single, centralized circulation axis, movement through Hill House is conceived as a sequence of moments that reveal themselves progressively. Programmatic zones are distributed across levels to balance openness and privacy, with interiors oriented to frame long views while remaining visually protected from their surroundings. This layered planning strategy creates a continuous dialogue between interior spaces and the landscape, where movement becomes an experiential tool rather than a purely functional one.

Regionally sourced stone forms retaining walls and base structures, visually and structurally anchoring the house to the hillside while contributing thermal mass. Concrete is used with precision to achieve structural clarity, enabling extended cantilevers and generous terraces. Inside, timber and textured finishes introduce warmth and tactility, softening the rigor of the structural system and creating a balanced material palette that feels both grounded and refined.

the project uses the landscape itself as a generator of form, structure, and spatial sequence

Environmental strategies are embedded directly into the architectural framework rather than applied as add-ons. The stepped configuration promotes natural ventilation and facilitates self-shading, reducing solar heat gain across levels. Landscaped roof terraces and planted edges act as thermal buffers, while carefully calibrated openings modulate daylight without sacrificing views. Together, these passive measures enhance comfort and reduce energy demand, reinforcing the project’s long-term environmental performance.

Concrete plays a key structural role in Hill House, allowing for controlled spans, cantilevers, and terraces that extend toward the landscape. Its selective use ensures structural efficiency while maintaining visual lightness. The interplay between heavy stone bases and precise concrete elements establishes a clear tectonic hierarchy, where each material expresses its function.

spaces are distributed across levels to balance openness and privacy, with interiors oriented to frame long views

inside, timber and textured finishes introduce warmth and tactility

at Hill House, movement becomes an experiential tool rather than a purely functional one

the layered planning strategy creates a continuous dialogue between interior spaces and the landscape

carefully calibrated openings modulate daylight without sacrificing views

the interplay between heavy stone bases and precise concrete elements establishes a clear tectonic hierarchy

instead of a single, centralized circulation axis, movement through Hill House is conceived as a sequence of moments

Habitat Architects: Monika Choudhary and Zafar Choudhary

project info:

name: Hill House

architect: Habitat Architects | @zafar.habitat

built up: 22,000 sq.ft

location: Solan, Himachal Pradesh

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Circle of Life Park, also known as Chakrajeevan Udyaan in Ahmedabad, India, is a public landscape project by HSC Designs developed through site-specific analysis of climate, movement patterns, and user behavior. Early observations revealed that women, children, and senior citizens were underrepresented users of the park, primarily due to concerns around safety and accessibility. The design responds by prioritizing clarity of movement, visibility, and inclusive access as core spatial principles.

A continuous, gently winding pathway forms the primary organizational spine of the park. This loop connects a series of clearly defined activity zones while maintaining visual continuity across the site. Children’s play areas and senior citizen zones are positioned in close proximity, supported by frequent seating pockets that accommodate caregivers and other users. Open sightlines across central spaces allow for constant visual connection between family members, reducing reliance on signage or surveillance. The layout avoids blind corners and concealed areas, with soft edges and explicit transitions supporting intuitive navigation and informal oversight.

all images courtesy of HSC Designs

Designing Sustainability Through Reuse and Repair

Sustainability is embedded in the project through extensive material reuse and regeneration. More than 30,000 sqft of materials, including concrete, fired tiles, mild steel rods, bricks, tires, and timber, were reclaimed and repurposed within the park. This approach reduced the need for new material extraction and resulted in an estimated avoidance of approximately 36 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Reused concrete elements are integrated as play structures and spatial thresholds, while salvaged steel rods form trellises and lightweight frameworks. Reclaimed tiles are reassembled into durable walking surfaces, and repurposed tires and wood are used for seating and informal gathering elements.

HSC Designs Studio’s material selection emphasizes durability, repairability, and local construction logic. Concrete surfaces reveal casting textures, steel develops a controlled patina, and timber elements are detailed to accommodate wear over time. Assemblies are modular and accessible, allowing components to be repaired or replaced in place. Seating heights, handholds, and circulation widths are calibrated to support children, elderly users, wheelchairs, and strollers. Shaded seating areas are positioned through solar analysis to improve thermal comfort, while non-slip surfaces ensure safe movement throughout the park.

Circle of Life Park in Ahmedabad is a public landscape project by HSC Designs

Planting, Visibility, and Flexible Public Use

Landscape and planting are used to soften boundaries without obstructing visibility, reinforcing safety through openness rather than enclosure. The spatial configuration supports varied daily use, from walking and informal play to resting and social gathering. Vendors and community activities are accommodated through flexible clearings and circulation zones without requiring temporary modifications.

Circle of Life Park is conceived as a resilient civic landscape where spatial organization, material reuse, and long-term maintenance strategies operate together. By aligning safety, accessibility, and environmental responsibility, the project demonstrates how public parks can support social well-being while extending the life cycle of locally available materials.

the park is shaped through analysis of climate, movement, and user behavior

reused concrete elements function as play structures and thresholds

material detailing emphasizes durability and long-term repairability

children’s play areas and senior zones are positioned in close proximity

salvaged steel rods form trellises and lightweight frameworks

reclaimed tiles create durable and textured walking surfaces

over 30,000 sqft of materials were reclaimed and repurposed

dimensions and circulation support children, seniors, and mobility access

repurposed colorful tiles decorate the children’s play structures

planting softens edges while preserving visibility across spaces

the park operates as a resilient civic landscape supporting everyday use

project info:

name: Circle of Life park – Chakrajeevan Udyaan
designer: HSC Designs | @hsc_designs
location: Ahmedabad, India

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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Set beneath a dense canopy of trees in India’s Ashoka University, The Hungry Caterpillar by Lyth Design rethinks the idea of a food street as a place of shelter, curiosity, and ecological responsibility. Designed by architect Apoorva Shroff, the project moves beyond the logic of fast consumption, proposing a child-friendly environment shaped by nature-inspired form, low-impact construction, and material efficiency.

The concept takes shape through the simple yet evocative image of a caterpillar feeding calmly within its habitat, protected by foliage and form. From this initial intuition, the bamboo structure evolves into a cocoon-like street structure that invites lingering.

Sustainability is embedded into Ashoka University’s canteen at multiple scales, beginning with its kitchens. Inspired by food trucks, the modular cooking units are 3D printed in concrete and assembled on-site. Produced by Micob Pvt. Ltd. in Ahmedabad, the printing process uses an additive method that deposits material only where needed, reducing construction waste compared to conventional building techniques. The automated fabrication shortens construction time and lowers energy demand, while the cavity between the printed walls acts as thermal insulation, limiting heat transfer and improving energy performance.

all images courtesy of Lyth Design

bamboo gridshell by Lyth Design shields the project in India

Overhead, Mumbai-based practice Lyth Design unifies the food street by a distinctive bamboo gridshell that gives the project its caterpillar-like identity. Drawing from natural geometries, the shading structure curves in two directions, achieving strength through form rather than mass. Like a leaf that folds efficiently toward sunlight, the bamboo shells use minimal material while spanning large distances. The longest gridshell extends 19 meters and is composed of four layers of bamboo poles, each measuring 30 to 50 millimeters in diameter and laid at 45-degree angles. A crushed bamboo mat completes the surface, reinforcing the structure while maintaining a low environmental footprint.

The structural system was developed by Atelier One in London, with architectural detailing by Jurian Sustainability, and construction carried out by Jans Bamboo. The use of slender bamboo sections enables the complex double curvature, resulting in a lightweight yet expressive canopy that balances craftsmanship, engineering precision, and ecological sensitivity.

Seating elements, developed by Placyle, are made from recycled plastic waste, transforming discarded material into weather-resistant pieces suited for outdoor use. Rather than treating sustainability as an abstract principle, the furniture translates it into a tangible, everyday interaction, where reuse and longevity become part of the user’s physical experience of the space.

a bamboo gridshell canopy arches over the food street

a shaded public space beneath the tree canopy

the double-curved bamboo structure frames views across the campus

woven bamboo members create a lightweight gridshell that spans the food street without heavy supports

the bamboo gridshell bends and narrows

emphasizing the caterpillar-like form that inspired the project

3D-printed concrete kitchen units sit beneath the bamboo canopy

organized as modular food stalls

outdoor seating is arranged along the shaded walkway between kitchen units

recycled plastic tables and chairs provide durable seating for everyday campus use

the bamboo canopy rests lightly on the ground

project info:

name: The Hungry Caterpillar

architect: Lyth Design | @lythdesign

location: Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana, India

lead architect: Apoorva Shroff

structural engineering: Atelier One, London

architectural detailing: Jurian Sustainability

bamboo construction: Jans Bamboo

fabrication: Micob Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad

furniture: Placyle

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Cut Bend Fold Play House by Matharoo Associates stands within the dense urban fabric of Chennai, India, designed for a businessperson, his wife, and their three daughters. Set on a narrow plot that opens only at a single corner onto a cul-de-sac, the concrete dwelling addresses heavy adjacency on three sides and the presence of a tall apartment block along its longer edge.

The home‘s design is driven by the desire for privacy, sunlight, and natural ventilation, along with the client’s requirements that prescribe fixed orientations for rooms, entrances, and daily routines.

the house occupies a narrow corner site within dense urban Chennai | image © Edmund Sumner

a concrete plane wraps the ‘Cut Fold Bend Play House’

The Matharoo Associates-designed Cut Fold Bend Play House occupies three edges of the residential plot. The architects note that this site extends usable area while absorbing residual margins into the interiors. A continuous concrete plane wraps the perimeter and forms a dense outer shell to buffer the house from its surroundings. The shell further establishes a singular, monolithic presence within the street.

Crossing the threshold alters this reading. The concrete plane shifts inward and opens toward a hollowed interior, where space deepens and daylight enters from above and within. This transition marks a clear separation between the compressed urban exterior and the inward-facing living areas.

a continuous concrete shell extends wall to wall along three edges | image © Bharath Ramamrutham

Matharoo Associates’ carved Courtyards

Drawing from the typology of the Indian courtyard, Matharoo Associates carves a series of voids into the mass of the house. The largest court occupies the center and extends directly into the ground floor, shaping an open living plate that supports daily life with flexibility and ease. This space mediates between formal and private areas on either side, operating as a shared core where family activity converges.

Additional courts align along both axes of the central void, establishing long visual connections across the full depth and width of the site. Upper-level bedrooms and private spaces engage with these smaller courts and with carefully placed openings that frame fragments of the surrounding context while maintaining distance and discretion.

interior courtyards bring daylight, air, and greenery into the plan | image © Bharath Ramamrutham

the central courtyard forms the social heart of the home | image © Bharath Ramamrutham

living spaces flow around an open ground level plate | image © Bharath Ramamrutham

private rooms rise above and open toward secondary courts | image © Bharath Ramamrutham

the structure suspends space through slabs walls and stair | image © Edmund Sumner

concrete planes cut, bend, and fold to shape movement | image © Bharath Ramamrutham

project info:

name: Cut Bend Fold Play House

architect: Matharoo Associates | @matharooassociates

location: Chennai, India

photography: © Edmund Sumner | @edmundsumner © Bharath Ramamrutham | @grafimaging © Yash Jain | @_yashrjain

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Spanning over 14,000 sq. ft. in the Civil Lines development in New Delhi, India, Urbanscape Architects design a sanctuarious home for a family of ten. Through cohesive materiality, forms, and architectural planning, the building intensifies the intangible psychological experience of being in a space, especially a home. The physical and the psychological combine to take occupants and visitors on a spatial journey, from the site’s green oasis to the highly personalized light-filled interiors, interconnected volumes, and transformative Mediterranean basement.

Urbanscape Architects design a sanctuarious home inside the Civil Lines development in New Delhi, India

All images courtesy of Urbanscape Architects, photography by Andre Fanthome

honest philosophy guides urbanscape architects

Established in 2008 by Ar. Dinesh Panwar, Urbanscape Architects approaches design with an intent rooted in honesty and authenticity, aiming for outcomes that are functionally harmonious and sustainably integrated. The residence at Civil Lines holds special significance, having been commissioned by the next generation of their very first client from 2008, symbolizing the enduring trust the studio builds through design. They create highly functional, expressive buildings by coherently following guiding configurations like grids or layers. This ultimately results in humane environments that demonstrate a commitment to sensitive, effective design.

visitors are welcomed by a grand, double-height entry, crowned with a Metronome lamp by Tim Van Steenbergen

designing the experience of being in a space

The entry to the Urbanscape Architects-designed residence at Civil Lines is meticulously designed to set a grand tone. Visitors are welcomed by a double-height patio, crowned with a Metronome lamp, created by fashion designer Tim Van Steenbergen. This element is visually anchored by a Bijolia grey Indian stone wall cladding and a contrasting zinc ceiling. The main entrance, clad in ocean black stone, opens into a foyer overlooking a central courtyard. Here, a sculptural cotton steel staircase ascends in harmony with the surrounding landscape. The courtyard wall itself becomes an abstract artwork, interpreting the site’s verdant surroundings. All these architectural details combine to not only express the firm’s design philosophy but also deliver an enriching, personalized experience for inhabitants.

Bijolia grey Indian stone wall cladding and a contrasting zinc ceiling anchors the space

The home is expertly planned for the family’s multi-generational lifestyle. The family room occupies the heart of the home, overlooking the sunken courtyard complete with a water body and lush landscaping. This space is zoned into an everyday viewing area and a more intimate nook anchored by a striking double-height cotton steel fireplace, measuring six feet in diameter. The upper floors cater specifically to the occupants: the first floor houses four children’s bedrooms and a common study lounge, while the second floor is dedicated to the master suites, complete with a private gym and spa. Throughout the shared and private spaces, eclectic art and curated collectibles narrate the owners’ deep appreciation for creativity.

the physical and psychological design elements combine to take occupants on a spatial journey through the home

The basement of the residence deliberately diverges in character, serving as the family’s primary entertainment and party space. Descending into this level feels like a transition into a Mediterranean retreat. In contrast to the crisp, geometric lines that define the upper floors, the basement employs arches to create an atmosphere of escape and indulgence. While designed for vibrant celebrations, its most surprising feature is its relationship with light. Carefully planned openings ensure sunlight streams generously, challenging the typical subterranean experience. This grants the basement the same natural brightness as the upper floors, making it a space of comfort and delight at any hour.

throughout the spaces, eclectic art and curated collectibles narrate the owners’ deep appreciation for creativity

the first floor houses four children’s bedrooms and a common study lounge

the family room occupies the heart of the home, overlooking the sunken courtyard’s lush landscaping and water

the second floor is dedicated to the master suites, complete with a private gym and spa

the basement deliberately diverges in character, serving as the family’s primary entertainment space

portrait of Ar. Dinesh Panwar, Founder and Principal at Urbanscape Architects

portrait of Ar. Manisha Hakim, Principal at Urbanscape Archiects

project info:

project name: Civil Lines

project size: 14,000 sq. ft.

location: New Delhi, India

design studio: Urbanscape Architects

design team: Dinesh Panwar, Manisha Hakim, Soni Rawat, Sameeksha Jain, Vikas Aggarwal, Shagun Aggarwal photography: Andre Fanthome

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