Choosing Materials that Resonate with Kashmir
In Kashmir, architecture has always been a conversation with the climate — a quiet, enduring dialogue between snow-laden roofs, intricate wooden lattices, and earth-toned walls. Every stone set, every colour chosen, carries meaning. While the materials we build with today have evolved, the spirit of mindful construction remains at the heart of the Kashmiri home. […]
Papier-Mâché Ceilings
Papier-mâché ceilings, known locally as Kar-e-Qalamdani, were once hallmarks of nobility across Kashmir. Crafted through a meticulous process – layering handmade paper over carved wooden panels, sealing with starch, and painting with natural dyes and gold leaf — each ceiling is a singular masterpiece. Once gracing shrines, palace halls, and drawing rooms of the elite, […]
Boore’s Sustainable Revival
At Design Ethos, we believe material is memory. Whether it is the soft grain of a walnut stair rail or the cool press of stone underfoot, the choices we make shape not just how a house looks, but how it feels – for generations. We don’t just build structures. We build experiences that endure. Used […]
Kashmiri Culture Shapes Our Designs
At Design Ethos, we believe architecture goes beyond walls and roofs. It’s about how a space makes you feel. In Kashmir, where culture weaves through daily life, this feeling takes tangible form – in floor plans, courtyards, carved wood, and the soft play of light. Kashmiri homes are not simply inspired by the land – […]
Reimagining the Verandah
In a world rushing to seal doors and thicken walls, verandahs are making a quiet return – and nowhere is this revival more poignant than in Kashmir. At Design Ethos, we see more and more homeowners rediscovering the value of outdoor living – not as nostalgia, but as a conscious, contemporary choice. A choice rooted […]
Kashmir’s Legacy of Sustainable Design
Long before green buildings were certified, before ‘net-zero’ became a movement, and well before solar panels crowned rooftops, Kashmir was already building sustainably – quietly, intuitively, and in profound harmony with nature. Rooted in the rhythms of climate and shaped by centuries of craft, Kashmiri architecture wasn’t just a style; it was a way of […]
Pinjrakari
Pinjrakari is Kashmir’s hand-carved living latticework. It is delicate and breathes through the windows and walls of traditional Kashmiri homes. Pinjrakari is a language spoken in Deodar and walnut wood, in centuries-old techniques, and in the subtle play of light and shadow. It’s a dialogue between material and meaning, between function and form. To call […]
Dajji Dewari
Architecture is more than construction. It tells us about culture, adaptation, and quiet resilience. It echoes with heritage. Every stone has a story. Every piece of timber gives insight into craftsmanship. Every beam endures wisdom. Among Kashmir’s most enduring contributions to sustainable design is the Dajji Dewari system. It is a traditional construction method that […]
The Taak
Taak, the deep-set wall niches and recessed windows, often lined with wood or stone, are not just ornamental. They are light-bearers and the gentle curators of space. The Taak system is one of the most understated yet powerful elements of traditional Kashmiri design. While the rest of the world moved to sleek walls and plain […]
Living Big in Small Homes
In Kashmir, the idea of home has always meant more than shelter. It’s a memory etched in wood, bricks and stone, it’s warmth that lingers long. It is this legacy that we need to preserve and evolve. We at Design Ethos believe that tradition and technology aren’t contradictory. These can be woven together to create […]