CATEGORIES

ΤΗΕ KIRAN NADAR MUSEUM OF ART

ON 18 MAY, AT THE PREVIEW OF LA BIENNALE DI VENEZIA, GHANAIAN BRITISH ARCHITECT SIR DAVID ADJAYE SAT DOWN WITH AD AT AN OUTDOOR CAFÉ AT THE ARSENALE IN VENICE-HIS TEMPORARY TIMBER INSTALLATION OF KWAEE TOWERING IN THE DISTANCE. GRACIOUS, ATTENTIVE, AND GENEROUS WITH HIS TIME, HE SPOKE FONDLY OF THE MODERNISTS OF INDIA, AND WITH ABSOLUTE REVERENCE FOR THE ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE OF THE SUBCONTINENT. INSIDE, IN ONE OF THE PAVILIONS, THE MODEL OF THE UPCOMING KIRAN NADAR MUSEUM OF ART (KNMA)-DESIGNED BY ADJAYE ASSOCIATES AND SLATED TO OPEN IN DELHI IN 2026-SAT UNDER A SPOTLIGHT, STATELY AND EXQUISITE, AS IF WAITING PATIENTLY TO BE BUILT ON GROUND. THIS IS KNMA'S GIFT BACK TO THE PEOPLE AND TO THE PRACTICE OF ART ITSELF.

Gothic Revival

Mumbai's David Sassoon Library gets a life-changing restoration and the people, a fabulous reading room.

A Night at the Lipstick House

The irreverent, fantastical world of Toiletpaper magazine can now be experienced as it opened the doors to its new rentable apartment in Milan.

A Subterranean Sanctuary

Like caves out of the earth, architect Avinash Ankalge's design for a cultural community space in Karnataka's Kaggalipura village, truly responds to its site.

Top 30 at Loewe

As this year's Loewe Foundation Craft Prize ceremony takes place in New York's Noguchi Museum, Malika Verma writes about Maina Devi from Rajasthan, the only India entry that made the shortlist.

Magic Carpet

AD visits designer Arati Rao's Brooklyn studio and discovers the transatlantic journey of her label Tantuvi's handwoven rugs-all made in India.

The Second Act

New Delhi-based design studio Project 810's second furniture line \"810/Two\" is a study in materiality and craftsmanship.

Volare!

The flair and finesse that is typical of Visionnaire's living, kitchen, bedrooms is now seen in this super fun gym line.

Pillars of Life

Ashiesh Shah's series of totemic sculptures spotlights Indian craftsmanship at Kala Bhoomi in Bhubaneswar

The Magical Majorelle Blue

Baxter's latest collection, presented in a palette of rich hues, takes a dip in the nostalgia of the '70s.

Ajanta in Paris

Mumbai-based gallery Æquo bags the award for the best contemporary design at PAD Paris for their Ajanta daybed designed by Valériane Lazard.

Past Perfect

London-based Indian architect Madhav Kidao's installation at the Venice Biennale reflects on the transience of both life and architecture.

The Curator AMIN JAFFER

From the Jai Vilas palace built in a Renaissance style by Maharaja Jayajirao Scindia of Gwalior to the palace of Kapurthala, commissioned by the Francophile Maharaja Jagatjit Singh, curator Amin Jaffer draws out historic instances of aesthetic dialogue between India’s royalty and France.

A Cultural Nexus

A space created to inspire a sense of connection and community, IF.BE has since become a sanctuary for talent.

VINCENZO DE COTIIS

THE GRAND OPULENCE CONTRASTED WITH AN INTRIGUING PATINA, VENETIAN THE ICONIC ITALIAN ARTIST-ARCHITECT BRINGS HIS SIGNATURE TO ΗΟ ΜΕ OF THE HISTORIC PALAZZO GIUSTINIAN LOLIN, HIS NEW HOME ON THE VIVCΕΝΖΟ BANKS OF VENICE’S GRAND CANAL. DE COTTIS

DEMURO DAS

TUCKED AWAY AMONG THE MAJESTIC TREES OF DELHI'S JOR BAGH, DESIGNED WITH THEIR SIGNATURE FLAIR FOR MATERIAL AND FORM, A SHARP NEW YORK AESTHETIC YET INDIAN IN ITS BONES, PLUS A DASH OF WIT AND CHARM - AD100 DUO PURU DAS AND BRIAN DEMURO'S HOME IS A PERFECT COCKTAIL OF THEIR PRACTICE AND THEIR LIVES TOGETHER.

WALLMAKERS

VINU DANIEL OF WALLMAKERS SOUGHT THE EARTH'S COUNSEL TO BUILD CHUZHI - A MALAYALAM WORD THAT TRANSLATES TO \"SPIRAL\". A HOUSE SUNK INTO A ROCKY BED AND COVERED BY A CANOPY OF TAMARIND TREES, IT IS A SINCERE STATEMENT OF SUSTAINABILITY AND STAYING TRUE TO THE ORIGIN OF THE SITE ON WHICH IT STANDS.

VILLA UMA

SURROUNDED BY WILD GRASSES, BUILT IN LOCAL BLACK BASALT AND BURNT-ROSE PLASTER, DESIGNED BY AD100 FIRM CASE DESIGN, AND NAMED AFTER THE FAMILY'S MATRIARCH-THIS HOME IN ALIBAG IS A STUDY IN GRAND YET SLOW, SUSTAINABLE LIVING.

Dior at Gateway: PORTFOLIO TWO

On the night of 30 March, Mumbai adorned herself in Dior. On one hand, the majestic Gateway of India was bathed in a warm yellow light, while across from it stood the magnificent Taj Mahal Palace, glittering. In between, leading the way to a grand celebration, was a runway lined with thousands of marigolds. A monumental toran -a traditional Indian door hanging used to decorate the main entrance of a home greeted everyone who entered. Nearly 46 feet long, in the shadow of the Gateway and complementing its outline, it was handcrafted by the master artisans and women of the Chanakya School of Craft in intricate embroidery and mirror. work. It was a dream made real by Maria Grazia Chiuri, the visionary creative director of Dior, and Karishma Swali, the artistic soul of Chanakya School of Craft-cross-cultural friends and collaborators for over three decades.

Hermes at La Pelota - PORTFOLIO ONE

Harmony was a word that surfaced quite often in the conversation about this year's presentation of Hermès at its iconic location, La Pelota in Milan. As abstract as the idea of harmony is and as tricky to articulate, it is easily and instantly felt. It has a natural sincerity that cannot be contrived.

The Reign of Sabyasachi

The designer's newest store near Horniman Circle in Mumbai is his grandest yet.

A Louboutin Experience

Vermelho Melides, named for the word red in Portuguese, is a bespoke hotel south of Lisbon, designed by Christian Louboutin, with hints of naturally-the colour red.

Up on the Highlands

AD travels to the heart of Scotland to visit an avant-garde distillery and its unique architecture that’s equal parts poetry and sculpture.

A Heart Full of Bangladesh

An exhibition in Munich spotlights Marina Tabassum's journey in architecture.

A Man of the Mountains

Architect Rahul Bhushan's practice in the foothills of the Himalayas revives vernacular teatre to support the maile ecosystem

Look Who's at Nilufar

Vikram Goyal becomes the first Indian designer to debut at Nina Yashar’s famed gallery in Milan.

The Beauty of Sisal

Neytt, a rug-maker from Alleppey-which also crafted the red carpet for the Met Gala-finds for its newest collection inspiration in Kerala's iconic boating festival.

A Thousand Splendid Suns

A school in a village in Andhra Pradesh, designed by AD100 firm Collective Project, is a beautiful consequence of intent and sustainability.

Polished to Perfection

Humberto Campana gussies up two Louis Vuitton hits as art objects.

From Chandigarh, With Love

Modernist architect Aditya Prakash designed a group of chairs for his family home in the 1960s and '70s. Now Phantom Hands is releasing a collection of furniture based on Prakash's original creations.