Indie Unseen

Indie Unseen •Unseen but heard, loud and clear.
•The art of protesting, for social change.

Part two of our walk through Indore’s old markets.The deeper we looked, the more we realised these hand-painted signboar...
30/08/2025

Part two of our walk through Indore’s old markets.
The deeper we looked, the more we realised these hand-painted signboards aren’t just signage, they’re storytelling. Every brushstroke carries the personality of the artist, every letter feels alive in a way no machine-cut font can ever match.

What’s wild is how many of these boards are still standing strong after decades, while newer, printed ones fade in months. Proof that art with heart lasts longer than shortcuts.

We’re sharing these not just because they look beautiful, but because they remind us of the craft and culture that built the streets we walk today. And maybe, just maybe, they’ll spark someone to carry this art forward.

That’s why at .unseen, we’re here to notice the overlooked, to document what still speaks, and to keep alive the stories hidden in plain sight.

Mhow, Madhya PradeshBuilt roughly 150–200 years ago.This home carries the same late 19th to early 20th century vernacula...
26/08/2025

Mhow, Madhya Pradesh
Built roughly 150–200 years ago.

This home carries the same late 19th to early 20th century vernacular style carved wooden columns, arches, and delicate lattice work that balanced ventilation, privacy, and ornamentation. But what makes this facade unique is its extended veranda, an open yet sheltered space that once connected inside life with the street outside. A social corner as much as an architectural one.

And then, the colour. Unlike the mossy green we documented earlier, this house wears a softer mint green hue. fresh yet aged, bold yet softened by time. It stands out on the lane not because it’s loud, but because it has survived long enough to still be noticed.

People often think homes like this are impossible to recreate today. But again, it’s less about cost and more about intention. These weren’t just walls and railings; they were built with a vision that architecture should age with grace and carry stories forward.

At .unseen we keep returning to places like this. because they remind us that beauty doesn’t always fade, sometimes it just shifts shade.

We’ve been chasing old architecture across Indore’s lanes, and this time we stumbled upon something special: Bohra-style...
24/08/2025

We’ve been chasing old architecture across Indore’s lanes, and this time we stumbled upon something special: Bohra-style houses rare, ornate structures that blend craftsmanship, culture, and history.

What Makes Bohra Homes Unique?
•Architectural Fusion
Influenced by Islamic, Indian, and European styles think Indo-Islamic layout with sufisticated facades and subtle neoclassical details.

Purposeful Layouts
•These homes are built around concepts like otla, deli, ordo, andrani/parsal, designed to balance privacy, ventilation, and social life true vertical and horizontal hierarchy.

Elaborate Facades
•Rich wood carvings, lattice (jali) work, and decorative balconies on the exteriors crafted by skilled local artisans with an eye for detail.

Identity & Space
•Bohra neighborhoods, known as “Bohravads,” were tightly-knit communities with shared mosques and communal buildings reflecting both cultural unity and urban planning.

Rare & Overlooked
•While most documented examples hail from Sidhpur, Gujarat “Bohravads” with pastel façades and engraved family crests this discovery in Indore confirms the Bohra architectural presence here too. Sadly, many of these homes are fading into obscurity.

How We Found This

While exploring Indore’s backstreets, we noticed these distinctive houses that looked familiar yet unexpected. After talking to locals and even a homeowner, we learned they reflected a Bohra architectural heritage rare in Indore now, but still standing, sometimes lived in, often ignored.

These homes quiet, unseen, and packed with history remind us how architectural beauty survives when we pause to notice.

At .unseen we bring these hidden gems into the light. Because architecture isn’t just about buildings, it’s about memory, culture, and the stories that survive through wood, stone, and time.

India Post isn’t just a service it’s a part of our country’s emotional history. Founded in 1854, it grew into the large...
22/08/2025

India Post isn’t just a service it’s a part of our country’s emotional history. Founded in 1854, it grew into the largest postal network in the world, reaching the most remote villages, deserts, and Himalayan valleys. Long before internet and smartphones, these red letterboxes carried more than letters — they carried love, news, dreams, and even revolutions.

Through the decades, India Post has adapted:
• Money orders kept families connected when banks weren’t accessible.
• Postcards & inland letters became the voice of everyday India.
• Speed Post in the 1980s changed how quickly we could send important documents.
• Today, India Post delivers not just letters, but also parcels, e-commerce orders, and digital services.

But the truth is in a world of instant messages and emails, these red boxes have become quieter. The challenge for New India is to revive them with purpose.

How India Post can grow in today’s India:
• Become the backbone of rural e-commerce, delivering goods where no courier reaches.
• Offer last-mile digital banking through India Post Payments Bank.
• Rebrand post offices as community hubs for government + citizen services.
• Preserve old post office buildings as heritage spaces blending culture with modern use.

India Post doesn’t need to compete with WhatsApp. Its strength is different trust, reach, and history. If reimagined smartly, it can be one of India’s most powerful networks for the future.

Because in the end letters may fade, but connections never should.

Through .unseen we uncover the stories hidden in everyday India. its culture, spaces, food, and memories. A lens on what we often pass by, but rarely pause to see.

Mhow, Madhya PradeshBuilt roughly 150–200 years ago, this structure is a strong example of late 19th to early 20th centu...
16/08/2025

Mhow, Madhya Pradesh
Built roughly 150–200 years ago, this structure is a strong example of late 19th to early 20th century Indian vernacular architecture. It features carved wooden columns with floral and geometric motifs, colonial-era detailing, and lattice (jali) work that balances ventilation, light, and privacy.

The craftsmanship here is classic late 19th to early 20th century Indian vernacular architecture carved wooden columns with floral and geometric motifs, a design vocabulary influenced by both local artisanship and colonial-era detailing. The lattice (jali) work allowed air and light while keeping privacy intact, a perfect blend of beauty and utility.

And then there’s that colour. what was once a verdigris green (a shade often achieved from copper-based pigments) has now aged into a weathered, almost mossy patina. Even in its fading, it commands attention. You can tell it wasn’t just painted, it was intended to be seen.

Many people assume homes like this can’t be built today because they’re too expensive or artisans charge too much. But from what we’ve observed, it’s not always a matter of cost. the expense of new minimal designs and these timeless maximalist designs can often be comparable. The difference is in the mindset. These older styles were built to last, to age beautifully, and to give you a feeling every single day that no plain wall or generic facade can.

At .unseen we document places like this because they’re more than just structures. they’re living proof that design, detail, and culture can coexist without compromise.

When identity is built, not spoken, it stands for centuries.In the heart of Mhow (M.P.), tucked between shuttered market...
31/07/2025

When identity is built, not spoken, it stands for centuries.
In the heart of Mhow (M.P.), tucked between shuttered markets and narrow lanes, stand the fading remnants of Bohra heritage, homes and masjids that once held the community’s rhythm, now holding onto memory.

The Dawoodi Bohra community, known for its precision, discipline, and deep cultural ties, brought that same character into its architecture. Their buildings from private homes to community mosques are detailed, ornate, and thoughtfully constructed.
Influenced by Islamic, colonial, and even local Gujarati styles.

From detailed verandahs to hand-carved jharokhas, these structures are a reflection of a design philosophy rooted in culture, purpose, and pride. Look closely. the pigeon feeding slots, the tiny ledges for lamps, the ornamental arches. every feature was placed with intention.

Across India, architectural styles shift with communities. Each has a visual language of its own. In Bohra homes and masjids, it’s intricate, maximalist, and deeply expressive.

But slowly, these walls are fading, not just physically, but in memory.

At .unseen, we document spaces that are at risk of being forgotten not monuments, but lived spaces that speak of identity, emotion, and craft.
This is one such story of a community that built more than homes, it built legacy.

Somewhere between the silence of old streets and the shadow of fading walls — we found stories carved in wood, iron, and...
14/07/2025

Somewhere between the silence of old streets and the shadow of fading walls — we found stories carved in wood, iron, and stone.

These aren’t just balconies. Not just jharokas or verandas.
They’re pieces of lived history. They speak of a time when homes weren’t built to match trends — they were built to reflect people. Built with pride, not speed.

In Indore’s older neighborhoods, every turn holds a surprise.
No two homes look alike. Each design feels personal. You see carvings passed down through generations, railings with a local flair, arches inspired by heritage, and colors that tell you more than a blueprint ever could.

This is where maximalism lived — not as a style, but as a way of building.
A philosophy where more was more — more thought, more detail, more culture.
Everything had a place. Nothing was “just enough.”
Unlike the minimal templates of today’s buildings, these homes celebrated uniqueness. They didn’t apologize for boldness. They wore their identity with pride — loud, layered, and local.

And maybe that’s what’s missing now.
The idea that a home could have a soul.
That architecture could feel like art, not just real estate.

We walked through Indore’s forgotten lanes and looked up — to witness what’s still holding on.
This series is a quiet reminder that some things are worth noticing. And remembering.

At Indie Unseen, we document the unnoticed, the raw beauty in everyday spaces, and the soul of street-level storytelling.
If your art or lens captures this spirit — let’s connect.

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