KESAR: A Saffron-Colored Habitat Born from the Chabutra Tradition of Ahmedabad

3 days ago
2 min read

In Ahmedabad, KESAR , realized in collaboration with the LX-S Foundation 's school for young girls, draws inspiration from a tradition unique to India's urban fabric: chabutras. Designed by Muro Atelier and Local x Society , this painted metal sculpture transforms small, local structures dedicated to the care of urban animals into a contemporary public object.

Chabutra: The Silent Contract the City Made with Living Things

In India's urban landscape, chabutras appear as small structures designed to feed birds and other urban animals. But they are not merely architectural objects; they also reflect a daily relationship between the city and the living world. Instead of simply replicating this tradition, KESAR chooses to expand upon the way of life it embodies.

A building that gains its identity through the color saffron.

The project's name, "Kesar," means saffron in Hindi and refers to the color that gives the installation its identity. The 1.7-meter-high, 1.2-meter-diameter structure combines painted metal, a bell, and vegetation. Conceived as both a functional sculpture and a shared habitat, KESAR reinterprets the principles of the chabutra tradition in a contemporary context.

Can architecture be a framework for living together?

This is where KESAR's core idea comes into play: that architecture can be a framework for interaction between humans, birds, and other living beings. The structure transforms into a constantly changing ecosystem, gaining meaning as it is used and inhabited. This collaboration with a school for young girls seems to reinforce this idea, as KESAR also becomes a learning tool for the younger generation, demonstrating how care, sharing, and co-existence can be expressed through the language of architecture.