WHERE DESIGN MET CRAFT, CULTURE, AND CLIMATE IN 2025

Guwahati Airport Terminal 2, Assam Few infrastructure projects in 2025 captured the global imagination quite like Guwahati Airport’s Terminal 2. Designed by architect Nuru Karim of Mumbai-based NU.DE, the terminal won the International Architectural Award 2025 in the Transport category, placing Assam firmly on the global design map. Named The Bamboo Orchids, the terminal draws from the resilience of indigenous bamboo and the delicate elegance of Assam’s iconic kopou phool or foxtail orchid. Over 140 metric tonnes of locally sourced bamboo, including Bholuka bamboo from Assam and Apatani bamboo from Arunachal Pradesh, were used in the interiors. A green roof, solar energy systems, and lush indoor gardens reinforce its sustainability credentials, while the structure functions as a contemporary yet culturally grounded gateway to Northeast India.

Raj Sabhagruh, Dharampur, Gujarat Set atop a crescent-shaped hill in Dharampur, Raj Sabhagruh is both monumental and meditative. Designed by Serie Architects, the Jainism complex forms the nucleus of a 100-hectare monastery masterplan for the Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram. 2 The building’s exterior is cloaked in nearly 800,000 hand cut bricks made from white marble off-cuts, painstakingly installed over two years across 36 elevations. Inside, the 40-metre-tall structure houses a 5,000-seater auditorium, a museum, classrooms, discourse spaces, and a meditation hall. Inspired by traditional Jain temple architecture, the building uses texture, shadow, and material restraint to create an atmosphere of quiet intensity rather than overt grandeur.

The Earthy House, Indore At first glance, this 8,000 sq. ft penthouse in Indore feels like the lobby of a colonial-era hotel. Look closer, and it reveals itself as an intimate, deeply personal home. Designed by interior deisgners Poonam and Akash Mehta, The Earthy House channels the romance of travel, history, and timeless design. Natural materials define the space: exposed brick, warm wood, timber rafters, and a glowing stone fireplace. Vaulted arches, a curved wooden staircase, a cigar lounge, and a bohemian bedroom create moments of nostalgia without t ipping into excess. The result is a home that balances rustic charm with modern comfort, designed to age gracefully rather than impress loudly.

In 2025, architecture in India felt calmer and more assured. The year’s most compelling buildings did not chase attention through size or spectacle, but through thoughtfulness and restraint. Designers turned to local materials, regional traditions, and climate-aware planning, letting places shape buildings instead of the other way around. Airports, temples, public institutions, and private homes all reflected this shift. Innovation was present, but grounded in craft and context. Technology played a supporting role, improving comfort and sustainability. What emerged was architecture built to last, shaped by place, people, and purpose.

Ganga Leheri Temple, Raichak, West Bengal Perched near the tidal edge of the Ganges, Ganga Leheri Temple by Abin Design Studio is as much a community space as it is a spiritual one. Designed by Abin Chaudhuri, the temple responds directly to its flood-prone site through an elevated plinth and bridge that lead visitors toward the mandapa. Built entirely from locally sourced brick and stone, the temple avoids steel and concrete in adherence to religious custom. Its corbelled brick shikhara nods to nearby brick kilns, while the name “Leheri” reflects the river’s ebb and flow. The result is a structure that feels rooted, resilient, and deeply attuned to its landscape.

Into The Wild House, Coimbatore In Mettupalayam, near Coimbatore, Earthscape Studio’s Into The Wild House reimagines the farmhouse as a self-sustaining, cave like retreat. Designed by architect Petchimuthu Kennedy, the 2BHK home uses fold architecture through a ferrocement shell just 4.5 inches thick, with no columns or beams. Mud plaster interiors, lime-finished floors, passive cooling, and a central courtyard create a comfortable microclimate, reducing indoor temperatures by nearly three degrees. Verdant landscaping hugs the structure, acting both as 5 insulation and structural support. Curved walls, vented openings, and filtered light create a sensory experience that feels immersive, primal, and quietly luxurious.

Craft, Culture, and Climat In 2025, architecture turned toward local materials, regional traditions, and climate-aware design. Buildings became more about experience and context than mere size or show.