Author: Shruti Sitaraman
Shruti Sitaraman
Shruti Sitaraman is an emerging architect who explores design through writing and understanding spaces that in turn have an impact on the way we live. Her curiosity and creativity allows her to uncover the layered relationships between the unbuilt and built environment. She believes that a space isn't just what is seen, but it's about how sensory interaction creates a memory, and design is built on narratives driven by these very concepts. To her, writing serves as a powerful tool for exploration and expression.
In this rapidly evolving era of modernization, architecture, as the primary vessel for human activity, conveys significance far beyond mere functionality or aesthetics. Serving as a living archive of history and cultural memory, each enduring structure records the prevailing societal values and building technologies of its time, silently narrating the community’s story. Architects act as both the creators and the stewards of these vital, ongoing narratives. “Architecture should be a continuous conversation, rather than a conflict between the old and the new.” This philosophy guides Bai’s design practice. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design who also worked…
The Crosslight Wedding Chapel, also known as the Fluid Chapel, is a 500-square-meter parametric masterpiece designed by the Chinese architecture firm Ideorealm Design. Built in the tranquil coastal city of Qidong, Jiangsu Province. The design reimagines the space as a contemporary sanctuary. Rooted in the form of a blossoming white camellia, the chapel captures the essence of purity. At the heart of this project lies a fluid, curving geometry brought to life through parametric design. With overlapping white walls that mimic petals unfurling in sunlight, the building stands as a poetic response to its environment, functioning in accordance with the…
Surrounded by the wooded hills of Museum SAN in Wonju, South Korea, architect Tadao Ando has finished Drawing of Space, a meditative, concrete dome which will serve as a permanent residence to British artist Antony Gormley’s “Expansion Field” installation. Buried in the ground, this spherical, underground museum provides a minimalist but holy spatial experience that takes into account silence, light, mass, and the elusiveness of space. The new building is one of a two-decade collaboration between Museum SAN and Ando, who originally designed and opened it in 2013. This underground expansion is the latest milestone in the long history of…
The LEGO Group, in collaboration with Studio CEBRA, has designed a 50,000-square-meter workspace campus. Slated for completion in 2027, the campus creates a vibrant ecosystem of creativity, technology, and human-centric design. The project reimagines a standard headquarters, fostering innovation with sustainable practices. With architecture that reflects LEGO’s playful spirit and forward-thinking values, the Innovation Campus marks a transformative milestone in the company’s journey. A Vision Modelled in Bricks and Built for People What makes the LEGO Innovation Campus unique is that it was built by the same people who would eventually be calling the building home. In addition to the…
EarthScape Studio’s new project, Into the Wild, is built along the landscape of Mettupalayam in India. The structure emerges as a 1,450 sq ft solid ferrocement shell, blending into the natural backdrop of the site. Built without traditional beams and columns, the structure is seamlessly integrated with its natural surroundings. The negative spaces become just as important as the built spaces, acting together to create a cohesive built-up that merges into the background. A Vision Rooted in Stillness The design brief was to construct without disturbing the earth, trees, wildlife, and foliage as they stand. Earthscape Studio’s process was profoundly…
The iconic landmark of Malaysia, Shah Alam’s redevelopment has been reimagined as the Shah Alam Sports Complex (Kompleks Sukan Shah Alam or KSSA). This award-winning masterplan for regeneration revives the stadium to its former glory whilst unlocking a multi-faceted leisure and cultural complex. Having been designed by international sports architecture firm Populous in collaboration with Malaysian HIJJAS Architects + Planners, the challenge presents a brand new, trendy structure. Transformation of an Iconic Stadium The Shah Alam Stadium has been synonymous with Malaysian football and national pride. After many decades of use, it has reached the end of its operational timeline.…
Sydney’s iconic waterfront is about to be transformed as Snøhetta and Hassell Studio have joined forces on the Harbourside Redevelopment Project to reshape the city’s Darling Harbour, reimagining the waterfront at Tumbalong. Builder Mirvac commissioned the project to rework the Harbourside Shopping Centre into an active mixed-use precinct including parametric design, indigenous knowledge systems, sustainability practice, and a sense of place. Reimagining Darling Harbour Apart from a new city skyline addition, the Harbourside Redevelopment is a fusion of computational design strategies with planning for communities to reclaim people back to the water’s edge and is seen as ecologically and culturally…
From science fiction dreams to scientific proposals, the prospect of life in space is no longer a distant dream. One question eclipses the rest as missions to Mars and the Moon are on the horizon: How will our homes exist beyond Earth? The production of intelligent, responsive materials is transforming the construction, design, and habitation of extraterrestrial dwellings since human beings are preparing to create a permanent habitat on the Moon, Mars, and elsewhere. What are Smart Materials? Smart Materials are designed to react to the environment in a specific manner. They alter shape, colour, or strength as a response…
Biophilic space is a fresh way of engaging with the already constructed environment. Biophilic design is the ideal response for architects and designers who want to reconnect with nature’s beauty, sustainability, and essence because of urbanization and life orientation. What is biophilic interior design? Biophilic design differs from traditional interior design as it engages factors such as trees, plants, and sunlight consciously to provide experiential experiences. This nature-centered approach enhances well-being by integrating organic elements like natural light, greenery, and raw materials into indoor spaces. Biophilic interiors not only promote sustainability but also foster a calming, sensory-rich environment that connects…
Analemma Tower is a project that conceptualises a building suspended beneath an orbiting asteroid. Looking beyond skyscrapers, it stands as a space-moored building that transcends both planetary and orbital boundaries. This is the idea behind this groundbreaking typology, designed by Clouds AO, an interdisciplinary architecture firm. It’s a speculative design in space architecture. A New Foundation Traditional megastructures rely on massive foundations, Analemma Tower hangs from space rather than pushing up from the ground. UOSS is a stable structure with integrity. It is anchored to an asteroid in geosynchronous orbit with duct tape, securing the tower onto the Earth’s surface.…