The stepwell aka vav, Baori has existed in India since the Indus Valley Civilisation. From being crude trenches, to examples of ingenious engineering, they played an integral part of the daily life, until their purpose was replaced by the British ‘pipe and pump system’ in the 19th Century. Stepwells served not just as primary sources of ground water for daily use and droughts, but also as spaces for festivities and rituals. These structures were designed as gender neutral public spaces, playing a vital role in facilitating safe exchanges of knowledge, ideas and traditions especially in the female community, hence becoming sacred spaces of social, cultural significance.
The Baori Cube, envisioned as a multi-sensorial and immersive installation aspires to be a catalyst, by triggering senses of sight, sound and touch when one interacts with each facet depicting different aspects of a stepwell throughout history, and thus instilling shared moments of community interaction, exploration, contemplation and reflection like a Stepwell would.
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