STO.M.P on the architecture studio's work, love of craftmanship and 'the cinematic details'
We zoom into Indian architects STO.M.P from Madurai, exploring their growing portfolio and cinematic sensibility

Husband-and-wife architect duo Vignesh Sekar and Shamini Vignesh love to relax with a good movie, but their weekly routine doesn’t always involve a Coke apiece and a giant tub of popcorn. ‘We love to lean into the cinematic details—the camera angles, the quality of light, the artistic sensibility,’ says Vignesh.
Western Valley House façade
We profile STO.M.P: Studio for Modernism & Practical Aesthetics
The founders and principals of STO.M.P (short for Studio for Modernism & Practical Aesthetics), based in the southern Indian city of Madurai, approach a site in much the same way a cinematographer would a set, meticulously framing spaces, playing with light and shadow, and ensuring every element tells a story. ‘Like in films, it’s all about creating an experience,’ adds Shamini.
Western Valley House interior layers
The pair, who met at university and established their architecture practice after graduating in 2016, don’t see themselves as architects. ‘We’re facilitators,’ Vignesh says. ‘We craft environments that are deeply functional, profoundly personal, and sensitive to the cultural context; we are merely mediums between the earth and the built environment.’
Western Valley House western façade
This explains why each of their projects has an artisanal quality, embodied by thoughtful craftsmanship, timeless materials, and unexpected moments of wonder. ‘It’s a process,’ Shamini concedes, ‘one that wouldn’t be possible without collaboration with other studios and artisans.’
House of Two Realities interior
STO.M.P’s work is driven by a student-like curiosity and backed by the experience of seasoned craftsmen, meaning no project — no matter how complex — is off-limits. They set the bar high with their first residential contract in 2018, in Tirupattur, India, designing a climate-responsive home with a façade of terracotta jali, skylights, and light-wells. Materials, including marble plaster and Athangudi tiles, were sourced from within a 50-kilometre radius.
Billy O' Tea House exterior
Vignesh and Shamini regard architecture and interior design as two sides of the same coin. ‘The two grow out of each other, and we don’t really treat them separately,’ Vignesh explains, referencing the ship-shaped dwelling the studio designed in Thoothukudi, India, in 2023. The home features a hull-inspired amphitheatre, seashell motifs on the roof, and various marine-inspired treatments—a tribute to the town’s rich history as a port city.
Billy O' Tea House amphitheater
Recently, STO.M.P has embarked on a new journey, working with the Indian Railways to reimagine three stations in South India. ‘This project serves as a foundation for our broader aspirations, which now extend to multi-family residences, homesteads, and boutique hotels,’ Shamini explains.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
House of Two Realities exterior at night
‘Each endeavour reflects our commitment to creating spaces that resonate with their surroundings while catering to the diverse needs of the community.’
STO.M.P's Western Valley House at night
-
What’s new in the wearable world of smart glasses, and extended and augmented reality
Are you ready for AR? Meta, Google, Snap and more are gearing up to compete with Apple and deliver frames-based communications devices – complete with AI integration
-
Italian-Japanese fusion’s a joy at east London’s Osteria Angelina
A Victorian warehouse in Spitalfields has been given a slick modern makeover to house a unique Italian-Japanese restaurant
-
Meet the Palestinian artist putting a candy-coloured twist on traditional glassmaking
With her company Ornamental by Lameice, designer Lameice Abu Aker is bringing joy and optimism to a time-honoured craft
-
A night at Pierre Jeanneret’s house, Chandigarh’s best-kept secret
Pierre Jeanneret’s house in Chandigarh is a modernist monument, an important museum of architectural history, and a gem hidden in plain sight; architect, photographer and writer Nipun Prabhakar spent the night and reported back
-
This Ahmedabad house is enclosed within a curved concrete shell
This Ahmedabad house by Achyutam Designs is a homage to concrete and a celebration of the curve, a family house designed to flow into its surroundings
-
In New Delhi, a home designed to embrace light and landscape
A New Delhi house, Architecture Discipline’s Lighthouse, arranges a generous family residence and pool house around an expansive garden
-
Shalini Misra’s Delhi home is a seasonal sanctuary ‘made in India’
Interior designer Shalini Misra’s retreat in the Indian capital champions modernist influences, Islamic ancestry and local craftsmanship
-
A triplex Mumbai penthouse contains sculptural staircases and expansive terraces
Enso House is a multigenerational Mumbai penthouse by S+PS Architects that combines a reorganised interior programme with bespoke finishes and crafts
-
This ‘architourism’ trip explores India’s architectural history, from Mughal to modernism
Architourian is offering travellers a seven-night exploration of northern India’s architectural marvels, including Chandigarh, the city designed by Le Corbusier
-
At the Institute of Indology, a humble new addition makes all the difference
Continuing the late Balkrishna V Doshi’s legacy, Sangath studio design a new take on the toilet in Gujarat
-
Pretty in pink: Mumbai's new residential tower shakes up the cityscape
'Satguru’s Rendezvous' in Mumbai houses luxury apartments behind its elegant fluted concrete skin. We take a tour.