Christopher Charles Benninger is an architect whose work embodies a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity, deeply rooted in cultural and environmental contexts. With a career spanning over five decades, Benninger has left an incredible mark on the architectural landscape, particularly in India, where he has played a pivotal role in shaping the urban environment.

The quintessential Indian ideology of ‘atithi devo bhava’- which means ‘treat a guest like God’ is embodied in the soul of almost every Gujarati home. In this Gujarat-special issue, then, the top spot of Insite Story was automatically grabbed by some gorgeous Gujarati homes in Gujarat, designed by Gujarati-led design firms! Whilst we were spoilt for choice with the astounding array we scanned, we hand-picked these five for the cover story.

Any work of architecture can be sublime, sacred, and spiritually uplifting – even if it is not meant to be a place of worship. This is a less understood, and a much lesser discussed aspect of Sanjay Puri’s architecture. A contemporary architect widely known for his abstractions and modulations of traditional typologies Sanjay also shares ideas for sacred spaces from his portfolio. This photo-essay includes images that showcase transcendental spaces from the smorgasbord of the architect’s projects.