Isn’t the space shown on the cover beautiful? You know the fascinating part? It’s not a real place in time. Yet, it’s quiet, strong and lucid within its context. Without a wrinkle. As all good architecture needs to be. The more we speak to creators of extraordinary spaces, the more we realise how imperative it is that architecture be a response to its surroundings. As Manish Gulati, our guest columnist this month says, the purpose of architecture should be to “continuously re-mould itself to adapt itself as per the evolving human patterns”. And why stop with humans, he asks. Things should grow out of that architecture; life needs to take over where one stops building. And Christopher Charles Benninger goes further to elucidate another point in the interview inside. He emphasises that architecture should be structure, light, space and an envelope, a culmination of all coming together as one holistic concept. How inspiring is the field of design, and so much power it holds - to be able to change an inert space, to mould cities and dwellings, to create environments and ambiences where people can think, live and grow. We also speak to Kiran Nadar this month, and she talks to me about her quest and journey towards building another such environment for posterity. Do read the interview on page 34. The rest of the pages are equally fascinating. Our signature TRENDS features include homes and commercial spaces by Hiren Patel, We Design Studio amongst others. Do take a look at the newly-opened Jamie’s Italian cafe in New Delhi co-designed by Studio Lotus and the art gallery in Auckland by architect Julian Mitchell. Happy reading.