The Kulhad Pavilion is an example of architecture that embodies Wallmakers’ deep commitment to sustainable architecture shaped by context, culture, and climate. Designed for the ‘Serendipity Arts Festival 2025’in Goa, the pavilion unfolds as a sculptural form built entirely from discarded ‘Kulhads.’ They are humble terracotta cups, often associated with tea stalls and railway platforms across India. Used to hold hot tea or cool buttermilk, these everyday objects often end up discarded on beaches and tracks after use.
The pavilion was reimagined as a fluid architectural skin, composed of reused mud cups assembled into an organic, breathable form. Crafted from 18,000 terracotta kulhads collected from local communities in Dharavi, Mumbai, the pavilion transforms an everyday object into a bold spatial form. Rooted in cultural memory, the design becomes an interactive reinterpretation of the humble cup, inviting visitors to engage with architecture, texture, and tradition.
Shaped by traditional craftsmanship, local materials, and low-tech construction, the architecture emerges as a poetic expression of sustainability rooted in people and place. It unfolds as a dialogue between heritage, architecture, and innovation, where ordinary objects are reimagined as building blocks of space. The structure is formed by three compressive catenary vaults, elegantly transferring the weight of the superstructure directly into the ground.
Built from a series of unreinforced vaults, the pavilion settles gently into its surroundings, sheltered by trees along the coastal edge. Conceived as an architectural shelter, it welcomes both people and animals, expressing an inclusive approach to space. The structure unfolds as an earthen, organic form that appears to grow from the ground itself, deeply rooted in its landscape and climate.
Earthen cups are stacked and bonded to form a porous fluid skin that allows light and air to pass through while maintaining structural strength. The pavilion gently meanders along the beach edge, naturally adapting into a space for seating, shade, and even informal performance events. Visitors linger beneath the vaults to find relief from the sun, while animals instinctively seek shelter there. The project is an example of thoughtful reuse of discarded material; the architects reframe waste as a civic resource, demonstrating how thoughtful architecture can restore purpose and presence.
Kulhad Pavilion Project Details
Project name: Kulhad Pavilion for Serendipity Arts Festival 2025
Location: Goa, India
Architect: Vinu Daniel | Wallmakers
Year: 2025
Photography: Studio IKSHA
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