Brick by brick: The innumerous design possibilities hidden in a wall

The idea of breathable walls is a practical style that is perfectly suited for a hot tropical country such as India

Hidden rooms

One of the most discussed displays at “When is Space?”, a recent exhibition on contemporary architecture in India at the Jawahar Kala Kendra in Jaipur, was A Wall as a Room by Samira Rathod Design Atelier. Rathod had redefined the notion of a wall as a container of space as opposed to a divider of space. Whether a kitchen, a bedroom, a television set or sofas, the architect had accommodated them all within three-feet-thick walls, demonstrating how space can be used optimally. She had also covered the top of the wall with vegetation, turning it into a thermally-insulated,