His ideas on housing evolved gradually before culminating at Aranya, 6km outside what used to be the centre of Indore and is now an indivisible part of its urban jumble. The question of ownership is fundamental to the Indian architect, who believes ‘building homes is about creating a sense of belonging, about participatory involvement and about the expression of aspirations, relationships and desires’. After dipping her hands in, she presses her vermilion palms onto the walls of the family home: it is from this point on that ‘she belongs to the house, and the house belongs to her’, concludes Balkrishna Doshi.
In the Gujarati tradition, Indian newlyweds head to the groom’s parents’ house after the marriage ceremony, where a thali plate containing a little water mixed with kumkum (a brilliant red pigment) awaits the bride outside the front door. If you enjoy reading the AR online, why not consider subscribing to the print edition?
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