Taleem begins with the coded system of notation used in Kashmiri carpet and Kani shawl making. Passed between designer and weaver, Taleem organises making through a shared system of instruction and interpretation. Translated into architecture, this inherited language becomes something visitors can physically enter, inhabit and experience.

A craft survives not only through its objects, but through the knowledge that enables them to be made. Taleem begins with the coded system of notation used in Kashmiri carpet and Kani shawl making. Passed between designer and weaver, Taleem operates as a shared language of instructions, rhythm and repetition, translating patterns and ideas into intricate works of textile craftsmanship. Rather than simply preserving a record of craft traditions, it remains an active system through which knowledge is interpreted, practised and transmitted between generations.

Moving beyond conventional understandings of language as something spoken, written or read, the installation considers the ways knowledge is communicated through gestures, materials and systems of making. Translated into architecture, this inherited language becomes something visitors can physically enter, inhabit and experience.

Constructed from reclaimed construction timber, including previously used wooden beams and planks, the installation further develops the dialogue between material, memory and transformation. The modular architectural structure reflects an approach to design that values adaptability, continuity and the responsible use of resources.

Locally sourced, fabricated and assembled in the UAE, the installation is designed to be disassembled and reassembled beyond its initial exhibition context, extending its material life and reducing waste.

Presented as part of In Other Words, Taleem considers how architecture can become a medium of translation, transforming an inherited system of knowledge into a physical environment while exploring how traditions of making can continue to evolve through contemporary design.

About VARUSSI
Founded by Kashmiri architects Owais Asif Khan and Samreen Junaid Wani, VARUSSI is a Dubai-based architecture and design practice exploring the relationships between space, time, material and cultural context. Named after the Kashmiri word for a timber partition, the studio reflects regional architectural traditions and the material histories of the built environment.

Through research-led design, material exploration and contemporary architectural methods, VARUSSI examines how traditional knowledge and local identities can inform contemporary spatial practices. With an emphasis on sustainability, adaptability and accessibility, the studio develops spaces that connect cultural heritage with present-day design approaches.