The architecture of South Asia is deeply rooted in the specificities of its local context. As the nations of South Asia - India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives grapple with these multifaceted challenges, its architectural landscape emerges as a tangible reflection of the region's transitions. While certain questions transcend political boundaries, the physical implications and manifestations of architecture are intricately tied to the diverse locales within South Asia. The architectural discipline is firmly grounded and fixed in response to the contingencies and nuances of each locality, prompting an exploration of the similarities and differences that arise from this diverse context. By examining the architectural expressions within South Asia, we see how architecture negotiates the complexities of this region. Architects are tasked with navigating the intricate balance between preserving traditional elements and embracing the imperatives of modernity. They address the socio-economic disparities that exist within the region, responding to the unique challenges presented by extreme conditions and ongoing transitions. The exploration of these local architectural manifestations unveils the shared principles and distinct characteristics that shape the built environment of South Asia, potentially offering a deeper understanding of the architectural pluralism prevalent in the region and more critically, how we can grapple with the transitions. 

Our transitionary condition in South Asia demands that architects consider temporality critically along with notions of material life cycles, notions of circular economies, and of course that all-encompassing rubric of climate change and the many possibilities of reimagining the world triggered by the recent pandemic. One way to frame this question of transitions is to think instrumentally as designers through the notion of transitions versus absolutes – how we may think differently about transitionary solutions versus our design interventions being absolute in their proposition and approach. Naturally, we need to have clear visions of what we want to transition toward. Transitional design acknowledges that we are living in transitional times. It takes as its central premise the need for societal transitions to more sustainable futures and argues that design has a key role to play in these transitions. Whether considered in terms of everyday social practices at a community scale or at the level of global challenges, designing for transitions brings together considerations of temporality.   

Often, architecture tends to gravitate toward providing absolute solutions, leading us to ponder: What are the differences and what are the similarities across the region that propel these forms of absolute solutions?  How can architecture remain relevant amidst pervasive uncertainty and unpredictability of climate and dynamic political and social settings? What characterizes the architectures of transition? In such conditions, how does an architect intervene in a meaningful manner? How do we engage with the design of transitions and what is the role of architecture in grappling with transitions? What are the new forms of patronage for Architecture emerging across South Asia? These are just a few of the many questions that the broader project on the State of Architecture in South Asia aims to explore. Specifically, the project focuses on architecture in the public realm and the public agency of architecture. By delving into these inquiries, we hope to initiate a comprehensive examination of the challenges and possibilities that arise in the context of architecture in South Asia and this condition of transition that the region is experiencing.