Studio Lotus’ work is rooted in a keen awareness of the environment and local context. For them, the concerns of a building’s ecological impact, its contextual and climatic suitability, and stakeholder empowerment apply to every project. These concerns are rooted in their principles of Conscious Design, an approach that celebrates local resources, cultural influences, and an inclusive process, with keen attention to detail.

This is illustrated through a series of projects, where they will examine the role and significance of context in driving architecture that is adaptive, sustainable, and resilient.


The design concept behind mountain villas under construction on the steep hills of Kumaon and their response to the site’s fragile ecology.


At the Mehrangarh Fort Visitor Centre in Jodhpur - a proposal to develop a new architectural vocabulary which is adaptive and modular in construction.

Stacked House in New Delhi - from the lens of urban density, which subverts the archetype of poorly-lit row-houses characteristic of dense neighbourhoods by proposing an alternative morphology for residential developments.

About the speakers

Sidhartha Talwar

Principal, Studio Lotus

Sidhartha Talwar is co-founder of and Principal at Studio Lotus, a New Delhi-based multi-disciplinary design practice. Spanning the domains of Master Planning, Architecture & Interior Design, the work of the award-winning practice is grounded on the principles of Conscious Design – an inclusive approach that focuses on a rigorous process as much as the end result. Sidhartha leads the Architecture & Master Planning initiatives for the practice, working extensively on large-scale developments for a diverse clientele. He is also an active member of the Indian architectural fraternity, regularly participating at trade events and conferences, and represents the practice on a global stage. Sidhartha often serves as visiting faculty and juror at numerous schools of design and national competitions of note.

Anusha Pulapaka

Team Lead, Studio Lotus

Before joining Studio Lotus in 2016, Anusha Pulapaka worked with SJK Architects. Her approach takes into account the spatial experience of the user before delving into the details. She practises the philosophy of less is more, and firmly believes that design is a collaborative effort. Pulapaka has led design teams at Studio Lotus on two of its most significant recent projects — the Mehrangarh Fort Visitor Centre currently underway in Jodhpur, and the Stacked House, a row house in a dense urban locality in New Delhi. She is also leading the design development for an upcoming eco-resort on the shores of Morjim, Goa.

Ansel Colaco

Team Lead, Studio Lotus

Before joining Studio Lotus in 2016, Ansel Colaco worked with Bengaluru-based Edgar DeMello Architecture. Design, to Colaco, is the art of making a meaningful whole that is experiential and functional, through a process of inquiry and discovery. He believes every project is an opportunity to explore new, context-specific building materials and techniques. Colaco has led the team on the design for the Knowledge Centre in Jodhpur's Mehrangarh Fort precinct. He has also overseen the development of mountain villas on the steep hills of Kumaon that employ a custom-designed modular construction system using a pre-engineered kit of parts to avoid damaging the surrounding ecology. He’s currently leading the design development for a farmhouse in New Delhi as well as a hospitality project in the city of Amritsar.