Future → Built Creatively
“Kath Kuni” is a project by Kanak Kataria, a BSc Interior Design and Decoration 2023 batch student at JD School of Design, powered by JD Institute of Fashion Technology, Bengaluru. Inspired by the traditional Kath Kuni construction technique of the Himalayan region, the project explores the theme of vernacular luxury through layered spatial experiences and material storytelling. It aims to create a boutique hotel integrated with a curated retail store, while responding to the growing need for immersive hospitality spaces that are culturally rooted and experientially rich.
The project is designed for travellers, design-conscious guests, and craft enthusiasts, keeping comfort, sensory engagement, and cultural connection at the core of the design process. The space encourages users to experience hospitality and artisanal retail as interconnected journeys rather than separate functions.The design approach focuses on layering, interlocking systems, and material balance, ensuring that the outcome is both refined and contextually grounded. Through research into Kath Kuni architecture ,
vernacular Himalayan construction methods, and contemporary hospitality design, the project identifies the potential of traditional tectonic principles in shaping modern luxury interiors. Materials such as wood, stone, natural finishes, glass, and textured surfaces were combined with interlocking details, layered spatial planning, and subtle lighting strategies to achieve warmth, depth, and tactile richness.Visually, the project is defined by earthy tones, rhythmic layering, natural textures, and refined material contrasts that reflect the balance of solidity and warmth found in Kath Kuni architecture. The final outcome, a luxury boutique hotel with an integrated retail experience, embodies quiet luxury, cultural continuity, and immersive storytelling while creating a seamless connection between craft, hospitality, and contemporary living.Through this project, the designer aims to highlight how vernacular intelligence can inform modern luxury design, positioning design as a tool for cultural preservation, sensory experience, and innovation. Ultimately, “Kath Kuni” stands as a reflection of how traditional architectural philosophies can evolve into contemporary spatial narratives, creating environments that are timeless, experiential, and deeply rooted in craft.
