Siddhartha Das Studio draws from Odisha’s temple architecture and stepwells in modern design
Designer and curator Siddhartha Das is inspired by third spaces in ancient India. An exhibition in New Delhi showcases craft, memory and material in his practise
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Context
The article discusses how New Delhi-based Siddhartha Das Studio integrates ancient Indian spatial designs—specifically Odisha's temple architecture and traditional stepwells—into modern interior decor and museum spaces. This highlights the continuous relevance of classical Indian architectural mathematics and indigenous craftsmanship in contemporary aesthetics. It demonstrates how traditional heritage can be dynamically preserved by adapting it for modern utility rather than merely archiving it.
UPSC Perspectives
Cultural & Architectural
The article highlights the inspiration modern designers draw from Odisha's distinct temple architecture, which belongs to the style, a prominent sub-school of the broader Nagara style of North India. These temples are characterized by their mathematically precise proportions and unique structural components, primarily the Rekha Deula (curvilinear sanctum tower) and the Pidha Deula (pyramidal assembly hall). The spatial mathematics and geometry used in ancient structures like the allowed for highly specialized acoustic and lighting environments. Modern designers are actively studying these ancient spatial calculations to create well-proportioned, culturally rooted contemporary spaces such as museums and galleries. For UPSC aspirants, understanding how traditional building principles dictated the flow of human movement and community engagement is essential for GS Paper 1. Such architectural integration demonstrates the continuous, living nature of Indian heritage in modern urban planning.
Geographical & Environmental
The reference to traditional stepwells (historically known as baolis or vavs) brings attention to India's ancient mastery over water architecture and subterranean spatial design. Historically, elaborate stepwells such as in Gujarat or in Rajasthan were far more than mere utilitarian water-harvesting structures designed for arid climates. They served as vital 'third spaces'—vibrant community gathering spots situated between the private home and the public workplace. Furthermore, these structures acted as ancient climate-control mechanisms, offering cool microclimates during harsh summers through evaporative cooling. Today, modern architects study the geometric detailing of these stepwells to design climate-responsive architecture (buildings that adapt to local weather patterns without relying on excessive artificial energy). UPSC mains frequently test knowledge on how these traditional water conservation systems can offer sustainable, passive-cooling solutions to modern urban heat and water scarcity.
Socio-Economic
The integration of traditional art forms and local textiles from states like Odisha into modern industrial design is crucial for the socio-economic survival of the handicraft sector. Ancient regional crafts like (traditional cloth-based scroll painting) and intricate silver filigree work increasingly face existential threats from cheap, mass-produced industrial goods. When modern design studios adapt these heritage techniques for contemporary interior décor, they create a lucrative new market that provides essential livelihood support to rural artisan clusters. This deliberate intersection of modern utility and traditional aesthetics actively promotes a creative economy that directly aligns with decentralized development goals. Such market linkages heavily complement government initiatives like the , which aims to boost regional economies through indigenous crafts. From a UPSC perspective, the economic empowerment of traditional artisans forms a core component of inclusive growth, rural employment, and the preservation of intangible cultural heritage.