The site lies in the middle of Old Delhi, a city established by the mughal emperor Shah Jahan and later built further by the English during their rule over India. The plot lies very near the Fatehpur Masjid, one of the oldest islamic buildings in that area. Old Delhi is a maze of streets focused on specific trades. Our site lies on the Katra Bariyan which is a street focused on the spectacles trade. And hence the mall is named ChashMall as ‘Chashma’ is the hindi word for ‘ spectacles’. One finds both islamic and colonial archtecture all across old delhi. The design response takes cue from this deeply rooted cultural medley and responds to create something post modern. The façade mixes the colonial arch with the islamic screen patterns while using modern material such as laminated screen printed glass. It pays respect to both the present and history through all ages.