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Meenakari, or the craft of enamelling, is the foundation for the work of well-known Indian jewellery designer Sunita Shekhawat. Her brand lends a fresh spin to the age-old tradition with timeless yet contemporary jewellery. The design for the brand’s flagship store and museum-gallery in Jaipur pays homage to this approach. The original brief outlined retail on the ground floor, offices and workshops in the basement, and leasing out the remaining floors. The studio proposed the introduction of a museum-gallery at the ground level as a storytelling space on the art of enamelling—a fitting way of giving back to the arts and cultural heritage of Jaipur. This addition not only serves as the fulcrum of the experience but also elevates the brand from a jewellery label to a custodian of the craft.
The building’s identity is shaped by Jaipur’s multiple historical influences—Rajputana, Mughal, and Art Deco—to create a unique composite. The intricate latticework and jharokhas (window projecting from the wall face) establish a dialogue with Jaipur's streetscape, asserting a unique identity while paying homage to the city's past. Clad in hand-carved Jodhpur red sandstone, the facade harks to the client’s roots in Jodhpur yet fits seamlessly into the pink palette synonymous with Jaipur’s urban fabric. Fittingly, it is also reflective of the client’s own design approach to her jewellery which, while rooted in tradition, crosses over seamlessly into European and other contemporary styles.
An existing concrete shell had already been erected when the team was brought on board—given carte blanche to pull the structure down. The architects decided to work with the existing concrete structure, in effect saving approximately 1.17 million kgs CO₂ equivalent (kg CO₂e). In response to Jaipur's hot semi-arid climate, the design prioritises minimising heat ingress by the jaalis (lattice screens), and 300mm block walls, an air cavity and dry cladding system add to the insulation. Beyond environmental considerations, cultural sustainability is imbued through material, skill localisation and craft. The facade is hand-carved by artisanal stone carvers, and the frescoes in the interiors are developed by miniature artists.
Working with the existing concrete shell, this oddly shaped footprint was externally articulated by bevelling the balconies and subsequently devising a form that intricately layers patterns and details that draw from different periods, woven together into one cohesive image. This new vocabulary mirrors the client’s own design approach to her jewellery, which, while rooted in tradition, crosses over seamlessly into European and other contemporary iterations. A striking sculptural staircase serves as the focal point, unifying the client’s three floors internally. The lower ground floor caters to an exclusive, bespoke retail experience, with private pods for personalised client interactions. The pods are clad in an off-white ‘araish’ lime stucco, their semi-vaulted ceilings embellished with frescoes by artists specialising in miniature painting. Developed over several months in-situ by 12 artisans, the frescoes depict vignettes of the region’s architecture and flora and fauna. The outcome—a jewel-like expression of hand-crafted luxury that celebrates the brand’s ethos—is a testament to the skills of the artisans, who’ve interpreted them on an unfamiliar scale and medium. The remaining surfaces are monochromatic, so as to have no distractions at eye-level from the intricately-crafted jewellery on display.
“This museum was my long-time dream, which has now come true. It is an expression of my vision and love for the art of Meenakari. This place is not just a museum but is like an experience centre, where people can see the rich art of Meenakari as well as get to learn about it. That is the reason we have kept it open for all the visitors. The special thing about this museum is that all the materials used are procured from Rajasthan only. This museum is dedicated to Jaipur’s art and artists."
Studio Lotus is multi-disciplinary design practice founded in 2002—22 years on, it is one of the most path-breaking architectural firms in India. Fostered with a culture of learning and intra-preneurship, the work of the practice is grounded on the principles of Conscious Design, an approach that celebrates local resources, cultural influences, an inclusive process and a keen attention to detail. The design process looks at sustainability through the multiple lenses of cultural, social and environmental impact. It is underpinned by an active engagement in integrating localised skills and resources with state-of-the-art materials and technologies.
Globally awarded for their work, including 4 WAF awards, and an Aga Khan Award nomination, the practice's most significant works include RAAS Jodhpur, Krushi Bhawan, RAAS Chhatrasagar, Baradari at City Palace Jaipur, and adaptive reuse projects at Godrej Trees, Mumbai.
