Inhabiting Infrastructures: Indian Stepwells

The stepwells (the earliest date to 600 AD) are generally storage and irrigation tanks in which sets of steps must be descended in order to reach for water and maintain the well itself. These structures are mostly common in western India and in arid regions of South Asia where they provide regular supply in regions affected by heavy seasonal fluctuations in water availability.  Over 3,000 were built and no two are exactly alike.  Socks-Studio has more on these unique forms of architecture.