How Sacred Spaces Remind Us to Build with Purpose

My journey through the Indian Subcontinent offered no shortage of beautiful sites, from historic palaces and ancient temples to royal forts and sacred spaces. But the architecture we had the honor of touring was just as functional as it was beautiful. Many of the structures we encountered were built to solve real problems. And as I learned more about the spaces around me, I pondered how like good architecture, good business is thoughtful, deliberate and serves a purpose.

Design for Utility, Not Applause

Across the Subcontinent, the spaces that left the strongest impression weren’t always the grandest, but they were the most intentional. Amer Palace in Jaipur was complete with elaborate cooling screens designed to waft luxurious fragrances through lounging rooms for both comfort and elegance amid the desert heat. The palace is surrounded by a high-walled military fort that once bordered the entire town, built to keep the palace and Jaipur’s residents safe. In Delhi, we explored an ancient step well that provided a reservoir of water during the dry part of the year. At several stories deep adorned by rock walls, people could sit in the shade near the water to cool down. These details were never just show, they were solutions designed to withstand the elements and serve a greater purpose.

In business, the strongest brands and organizations aren’t built around noise and false promises, they’re built around fulfilling needs and solving problems. Thoughtful structure, whether in how a team collaborates or how a customer engages, creates trust that no marketing campaign can replace. Just as sacred spaces were built to serve and last, businesses built with purpose will withstand the test of time.

Business Architecture Built to Last

Leaders don’t need to travel thousands of miles to get a grasp on building a business with purpose. Today’s business leaders face many of the same questions ancient architects did like how will this support people? Will it last and can it adapt? Consider the following three takeaways for business leaders to learn from purposeful architecture:

• Solve for use over optics: Clients may be drawn to sleek design and flashy promises, but what matters in the end is how a business relationship can function and evolve. Business leaders should prioritize solving problems or fulfilling needs, ensuring the promises they make are based on real expectations.

• Embed meaning into the structure. The sacred spaces we visited were not just beautiful, they reflected the Indian culture’s values. Business leaders who build their company culture, services and offerings around the business’s values rather than just what they sell will be well-positioned for success.

• Let legacy guide innovation. Many ancient solutions from cooling screens to step wells still work today. Business leaders should avoid reinventing every wheel, start with what has worked well and build from there.

The most memorable structures I encountered on my journey did not rely on smoke and mirrors to earn attention but rather existed with purpose and functionality. Business leaders can take a lesson from that. Rather than chasing trends, they should build organizations, cultures and strategies designed for durability. When done well, the client experience will feel effortless, and the business architecture will fade into the background. Not because it doesn’t matter, but because it works so well that customers forget it’s even there.