The design of the venue of the Annual Crafts Bazaar by Studio Lotus exemplifies a seamless synergy between architectural practices and traditional craft. This collaboration is not new—Studio Lotus and Dastkari Haat Samiti first joined forces two years ago during the design of Trilegal’s office in Gurugram. For that project, craftspeople from across India worked closely with the architects, bringing deeply rooted cultural practices into a contemporary corporate setting. The office featured walls adorned with shibori and ajrakh textiles, a cafeteria infused with elements drawn from Mughal miniature painting, and conference rooms shaped by the visual languages of Gond and Madhubani art, as well as metal craft from Bastar.

Encouraged by the success of this collaboration, Charu Verma, project head at Dastkari Haat Samiti, hopes to see more such partnerships flourish within architectural and design spaces. “While we’ve made a head start in the interiors and design world, we’re already working on several more projects, both public and private,” she shares. “This year’s edition becomes a one-stop platform for stakeholders to directly engage with craftspeople specializing in diverse techniques.”