Architecture & Design
Dubai will soon open the world's tallest wellness retreat, priced at $545 million
It will be the world’s tallest wellness retreat and home to the largest indoor botanical garden.
Why Charles Correa’s thoughts on architecture and urbanism remain relevant, six decades on
Inclusive, culturally rooted, and climatically appropriate—The Z-Axis Conference, held recently in Mumbai and organised by Panjim-based Charles Correa Foundation, critically reviewed the late architect’s thought and practice.
49 famous architectural marvels to see before you die (including three in India)
From the Taj Mahal to Fallingwater, how many of these stunning buildings have you seen?
Trending Stories
2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia: Inside 15 stadiums that will host the games
The kingdom’s flair for attention-grabbing, futuristic projects will be on full display with no less than 11 new stadiums being planned.
11 most anticipated museum openings of 2025
From the new Fondation Cartier in Paris to the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the cultural year ahead is filled with new works from some of the world’s most celebrated architects.
Manik Bagh in Indore is an ode to the spirit of Modernism and Bauhaus
MAP curates an exhibition of 50 rare images of Manik Bagh that represent the early dialogue between India and Germany in the field of design and architecture.
Architecture
Design
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Architecture & Design
Explore the AD Design Show 2024 | AD India
The AD Design Show 2024 brought the design community together at Dome SVP Stadium, Worli, Mumbai, for three days of creativity and craftsmanship. Komal Sharma, Head of Editorial Content at AD India, inaugurated the event with an inspiring speech, followed by the unveiling of Assemblage n.51, a stunning central installation by Eugenio Rossi and Yaazd Contractor of The Back Studio, produced by Splendour Living. The installation highlighted the aesthetic and functional beauty of hardware against Mumbai’s evolving skyline. Key highlights included AD Discoveries, a curated showcase of over 40 exceptional brands, the unveiling of the AD List, and Power Talks by design leaders like Abha Narain Lambah and Chitra Vishwanath. Guided walkthroughs, exclusive gatherings at the AD Lounge, and the presentation of the AD X JSW Prize for Contemporary Craftsmanship to Priyanka Narula of The Wicker Story added to the vibrant atmosphere. With partners like Artize, Bombay Sapphire Creative Lab, JSW, and BMW India, the event celebrated innovation and Indian craftsmanship at its finest.Inside the Balasaheb Thackeray National Memorial | AD Visits
In front of Mumbai’s historic Mayor’s Bungalow, a subterranean memorial has quietly taken shape—bridging past and present through architecture that respects both history and the land. Every tree has been preserved, including an ancient one that rises through the Bangalore-tiled roof of the administration offices, seamlessly blending nature with design. Conceptualised and designed by AD100 Abha Narain Lambah, this space honours Balasaheb Thackeray’s artistic legacy while creating room for reflection and community. AD presents an exclusive first look, led by none other than Aditya Thackeray.Inside Sonam Kapoor’s Stunning Mumbai Home | AD India
Sonam Kapoor’s Mumbai home is a magnificent layering of Tanjore paintings, Naga panels, Rajasthani jalis, zardozi embroideries and beyond. Along with AD100 designer Kavita Singh, she composes a love song to the decorative arts of India. Director/Editor: Piya Pahwa DOP: Chirag Sadhnani Producer: Harshita Nayyar Styling: Nikhil Mansata Creative Direction: Dhun Cordo and Nikhil Mansata Interior Styling: Samir Wadekar Fashion Assistant: Roshni Sukhlecha Hair: Hiral Bhatia Make-up: Namrata Soni Florals: Manisha PamnaniHushnohana: winner of AD x JSW Prize for Contemporary Craftsmanship 2023
Hushnohana: winner of AD x JSW Prize for Contemporary Craftsmanship 2023Actor Jaaved Jaaferi’s Mediterranean Inspired Mumbai Home
Jaaved's recent move to Bandra is inspired by sentimental reverence, not just for the coastal suburb but also for his two elder children, Meezaan and Alaviaa. He says, “Earlier my problem with Bandra was that, with the amount of construction everywhere, buildings are situated amusingly close together where you can open the door and ask for a cup of sugar. But when I saw this place I just fell in love’’. After hours of discussion and brainstorming, his succinct brief to Kush Bhayani of KULx Studio was to create a space with minimal sophistication. “Warm, natural, eclectic.’’ And so, Kush designed a home that hangs heavy with history…a mature, expansive twin of his family home with Mediterranean design ethos. Directed by: Piya Pahwa Produced by: Talib Chitalwala and Nidhi Panicker Videography: Rohit Mendiratta (@thematterstudio_) Words: Harleen KalsiExplore the AD Design Show 2023 | AD India
The AD Design Show 2023 opened with a bang as patrons of the art and design community gathered at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. Komal Sharma, the head of editorial content at AD, regaled everyone with a welcome speech, and inaugurated the AD Design Show 2023 with the unveiling of Shankha. This brass installation by artist Shilo Shiv Suleman was a feminine take on the otherwise masculine architectural structures, and showcased a cowrie shell in all its glory. Followed by a garment presentation ‘AGAMA’ by Sanjay Garg, founder of Raw Mango. Paying an ode to India’s textile heritage, especially kantha, the collection showcased sarees, jackets, skirts and more in mashru. The periphery of the AD Lounge became a makeshift ramp as models strutted away wearing these regal apparels. A key highlight of the event was the reimagined Lal Dera, or red tent, designed with a contemporary perspective by Sameep Padora of the architectural firm sP+a. Here’s a recap of those three fabulous days.Exclusive: AD visits the world of Heeramandi, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's biggest set production
Sanjay Leela Bhansali's new Netflix series Heeramandi's spectacular set interprets a magnificent world where dance, poetry, fine arts, weaving, and jewellery-making are nurtured and a time when great artists moved freely, without any barriers. Bhansali’s earlier films Devdas (2002), Bajirao Mastani (2015) and Padmaavat (2018) were all grand, but Heeramandi is grander. It’s a brilliant spectacle, which beats them all in not just scale but also art and architecture. For seven months straight, 700 craftsmen worked at Mumbai’s Film City to erect the set on about 60,000 wooden planks and metal frames. DOP: Mahesh Limaye Visuals editor: Harshita Nayyar Edited by: Shiv KhandelwalInside Virat Kohli’s Spacious Nature Inspired Holiday Home | AD India
Virat Kohli unwinds at his wellness-chic and tech-savvy holiday home in Alibag, brought to life by globally acclaimed architects at SAOTA, led by Phillippe Fouché. Although this conscious preacher of wellness and slow living didn’t just choose any property to call home in the coastal town, he handpicked Avās Living, a community centered around a holistic luxury lifestyle, started by founder and CEO Aditya Kilachand. While being outdoors and within the vicinity of nature soothes Virat, it’s the Avās app integrated with wellness technology features such as circadian lighting, gas leak detectors, and advanced air and water filtration, among others, that truly makes him happy. “One thing that makes spending time here easy is the Avās app, which more or less organises everything for me. It gives me a customised dashboard of all the things I need while I’m here. My favourite feature is home automation.’’ That’s understandable.Inside Ananya Panday's First Home in Mumbai Designed by Gauri Khan | AD India
With plenty of natural light, indoor plants and a controlled colour palette, Ananya Panday’s 1,100-square-foot apartment has been designed by Gauri Khan as a light and breezy space— one that feels very calming!Step inside this Mumbai home designed by Ashiesh Shah | AD India
The apartment, the home of a self-made billionaire and his wife, is located in a new building on Altamount Road, aptly known as Mumbai’s Billionaires’ Row. Inside, quiet luxury rules. The various wall treatments that Shah has employed throughout the space, which include parchment, embroidery, marble and wood, are part of his mission to bring warmth and character to what was essentially a vast and featureless empty shell, with full-height metal-framed windows, sharp corners and a rectangular floor plan. He countered this by creating a series of curved walls and screens, to “break free from the boxiness of the rooms”; a device which not only brings much-needed softness and flow, but also serves to subtly separate the rooms and delineate the public areas from the private spaces beyond.
Craftmanship
Why do we love ruins? Experts dissect the appeal of lost cities like Hampi
Is it that we just love decay and destruction, or do architectural ruins like Hampi teach us more than we realise?
8 most beautiful churches from the Arab world, from Cairo to Abu Dhabi
From the believed birthplace of Jesus Christ in Palestine, to a minimalist marvel in Abu Dhabi, these houses of worship are testament to the Middle East's unbroken links to the origins of Christianity.
This 54,000-square-foot confectionery workshop in Jammu & Kashmir is timeless and tranquil
Designed by Windows to Vernacular, the buildings of Prem Sweets' workshop in Jammu & Kashmir are shining examples of regional design.
This Mumbai skyscraper by Malik Architecture lends a human touch to apartment living
The building reworks mashrabiya screens, verandas and courtyards to give residents the perfect balance of openness and privacy.
Ahmedabad University’s new Student Centre is designed to spur social interactions
AD100 architect Vishal K Dar writes about Ahmedabad University’s new Student Centre—designed by Delhi-based Stephane Paumier Architects—winning the prestigious RIBA last year.
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Japan is now home to the world’s most beautiful museum
Located in Hiroshima, Japan, the institution was recently crowned as the most stunning at the 2024 Prix Versailles awards.
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This bunker in Norway could be key to humanity's survival
Close to the North Pole, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault is the world’s largest seed reserve. It’s ready to help restore agriculture around the world following an apocalypse.
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12 years in the making, a new Jain meditation complex by Serie Architects opens in Gujarat
Serie Architects' first sacral building project, the Raj Sabhagruh in Dharampur, Gujarat, is a fine exploration in the architecture of spirituality.
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The Makers' Trail brings Bengaluru’s top design minds under one roof
Curated by Manju Sara Rajan, The Makers' Trail opens private studios and spaces across Bengaluru, offering rare insights into the city’s leading design and architecture.
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A tribute to the legacy of Christopher Charles Benninger
Christopher Charles Benninger (1942-2024) created an exemplary body of work as an architect, urban planner, academician, educator and writer with his unique ability to bridge cultures through architecture.