hand-carved red sandstone clads jewelry store's facade by studio lotus in jaipur

Museum of Meenakari Celebrates traditional Indian craft

Studio Lotus presents a new archetype in retail design with the Museum of Meenakari, a flagship store for Sunita Shekhawat in Jaipur. Renowned for its contemporary take on the traditional Indian craft of meenakari, Shekhawat’s brand merges heritage with modern aesthetics. Studio Lotus honors the brand’s vision by creating a space that bridges cultural preservation and contemporary design. Instead of demolishing the existing structure, Studio Lotus opted to adapt and preserve the original building, minimizing the project’s carbon footprint while promoting sustainability in design. A key feature of the store is a dedicated meenakari gallery, which elevates the retail experience by offering visitors an opportunity to explore the craft’s history and significance. The gallery, the first of its kind, provides an educational journey for all who visit.

all images by Ishita Sitwala

Studio Lotus preserves hand-carved red sandstone facade

The concept by design practice Studio Lotus draws on a blend of Rajputana, Mughal, and Art Deco influences, creating a balanced fusion of historical elements. The facade is clad in hand-carved Jodhpur red sandstone, reflecting both the heritage of the craft and the client’s background. On the lower level, private interaction pods feature semi-vaulted ceilings adorned with frescoes depicting regional architectural motifs, flora, and fauna. Crafted by twelve artisans over several months, these frescoes combine traditional techniques with luxury design elements, further enhancing the space’s cultural and artistic value.

Studio Lotus conceives Museum of Meenakari, a flagship store in Jaipur for Sunita Shekhawat

the store merges heritage with contemporary design, reflecting her modern approach to traditional meenakari

the project preserves and adapts an existing structure, minimizing its carbon footprint

a hand-carved Jodhpur red sandstone facade pays homage to the brand’s roots and heritage

inspired by Rajputana, Mughal, and Art Deco influences, the design is a fusion of distinct historical references

Museum of Meenakari blends cultural preservation with modern design, offering a new retail experience

Studio Lotus incorporates a dedicated meenakari gallery, offering an educational and cultural experience

the lower level of the store features private pods, enhancing one-on-one client interactions

semi-vaulted ceilings in the private pods create an intimate setting for client engagement

frescoes in the interaction pods illustrate local architectural elements, regional flora, and fauna

1/26

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

project info: 

name: Museum of Meenakari Heritage & Flagship Store for Sunita Shekhawat

architect: Studio Lotus | @studio_lotus

design team: Ambrish Arora, Pankuri Goel, Shoaib Kamili, Mubashri Meraj

client: Sunita Shekhawat | @sunita_shekhawat_jaipur

area: 8,000 sqft

location: Jaipur, India

photography: Ishita Sitwala | @ishifishy