South Asia has undergone notable transformations across economic, political, social, and various other spheres. Mirroring these patterns of societal change are the architectural practices across this region. The modern nation-states of South Asia – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka – share similar histories and a future characterized by rapid economic development and urbanization. However, each region exhibits distinct nuances concerning the present and potential state of architectural praxis, informed by their socio-cultural contexts and emerging political climates.
The architectural history of the South Asian region is commonly bifurcated into two distinct eras by practitioners – the pre-independence and post-independence periods. This form of discourse remains prevalent due to the stark distinctions observed between the two eras. Pre-independence South Asia witnessed an architectural landscape driven by vernacular principles and a regional understanding of context. In contrast, the post-independence era is characterized by innovative vision, however with strong cultural preservation.
