Zooongash

Artist. Architect. Urban Planner. These labels fairly skim the surface of Ar. Zoya Khan’s vast professional landscape. Yet, the truest distinction she wears is that of a proud Kashmiri. Deeply influenced by the seasons, the towering mountains, and, most profoundly, the people of her homeland, her affectionate soliloquies to Downtown Srinagar translated to sojourns across the alleys of the old town where she gathered the intricate fragments that make Kashmir a land of infinite layers. Her learnings have coalesced into her sanctuary, Zooongash (meaning moonlight), a studio where the very soul of Kashmir is translated into architecture, poetry, and art. Every stroke of paint, every brick laid, and every story archived is deeply rooted in the noble idea of resurrecting dying skills and honoring the last of the real ones. The very heart of Zooongash reflects the textured soul of Downtown Srinagar—a chaotic yet harmonious mosaic of history, culture, and craftsmanship. Here, the walls, floors, and ceilings are not mere structures; they are a living collage, a brilliant mood board of Kashmir’s myriad hues. Every corner hums with the echoes of the valley, from the revival of dying crafts to the honoring of traditions that still breathe through the hands of artisans.