Originally reported and written in April 2023, this story has been republished as part of our archival content. 

At the intersection of ancient Hindu mythology and India’s cultural repertoire, there lies a city in Rajasthan that goes by the name Bhilwara. Legend says the town was christened by this name as homage to the tribes of Bhil who lived on the land in the mid-19th century. 

But whether it was these ancient tribal groups or the current occupants of the land, there is one tie that binds them together. Anyone who sets foot in Bhilwara is courageous for braving the heat that rises to as high as 40 degrees Celsius in the summers.

This unforgiving weather coupled with the fact that the city lies in a state known for its dry climes made it a challenge when Sanjay Puri — head of the design company Sanjay Puri Architects — was approached by a family, native to Rajasthan, with a request to build a sustainable home in Bhilwara in 2020.

After a two-year-long process that involved selecting the right material, planning out the “contextual” design, and finding a balance between the enclosed and open spaces within the home, the property was completed in May 2022.

Mirai House of Arches was ready to welcome its inhabitants, a family of three generations.

The desert sees an architectural marvel

Seeming almost like an architectural oasis in the midst of the sand-covered land, Mirai........

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