Nirvana, true to its Sanskrit meaning of inner peace, is envisioned as a sanctuary of Indian stones, where architecture transcends physical boundaries, becoming one with nature’s whispering rhythms. Conceived as an antidote to urban life, this 12,000 sq. ft. dwelling transforms shelter into a meditative yet plush inhabitance through a material palette deeply rooted in India’s soil.
Perched 750m above MSL, on a picturesque forested cliff in Aamby Valley, the home rests like a quiet sentinel. Surrounded by a soothing skyline of Sahyadri hills, the home frames Korigadh Fort and the shimmering Aamby Lake, as though in a timeless conversation with the earth, water and sky. Enveloped primarily in stripped basalt stone, the house seems to rise from the very geological strata of Sahyadris – the basalt. Carefully negotiating the contoured terrain, it cascades gently across three measured realms — the living, the poolside, and recreation — each unfolding like a stanza in a longer verse.
At first, Nirvana withholds itself. The entrance offers mystery rather than revelation. One passes between two robust curvaceous basalt walls, and a sculptural door to the inner sanctum — only to be greeted by a sudden expanse of lake, mountains and sky. The living space, wrapped almost entirely in glass, becomes a linear threshold in itself. A long wooden deck stretches outward, shielding the southern sun while inviting twilight rituals — when mountains soften and the lake mirrors the fading gold of dusk.
Beside the living, is the double-height study, extending sightlines toward the Aamby golf course and a serene seasonal waterfall. Bare brick wall and a warm wooden floor cradle the study, which gently descends to the poolside lounge via a light wooden stair that doubles as a quiet library.
Four southern bedrooms emerge as staggered stone cuboids, each with its own private deck, impeccably framing the lake through a stone portal, while retaining their privacy. Sandwiched in-between is a descending basalt-and-shahbad stair, modestly lit by circular skylights choreographing a play of light and shade.
The house is in constant dialogue with its surrounds. From the living, a series of stepping stones gradually descend through a rear courtyard layered in tropical greens, leading to the poolside. At dusk, when distant landscapes dissolve into darkness, this courtyard becomes the luminous heart — a softly lit green soul that anchors the night.
Nirvana is, in essence, a tapestry of Indian stones — basalt, shahbad, kota, grey slate, green marble, carnival grey, black granite — each one tested in texture, pattern, and form. The exterior shell, encased in resilient basalt and shahbad, is a curated stratification with occasional protrusions, allowing light to poetically animate its surfaces through the day. Internally the home is layered in IPS, terrazzo, and wood, alongside the various Indian stones which together weave warmth into every room. Each bedroom and bath, voices its own quiet narrative, striking a delicate balance between luxury and rawness, revealed fully only once inhabited.
Respectful of its tropical setting, elevation and prevailing monsoons, it’s the transient spaces - the verandahs, balconies, and decks which shield the habitable. Naturally lit, cross-ventilated indoors address the rainy dampness, allowing the home to breathe with the seasons rather than resist them.
Nature is not just framed as a distant spectacle but invited inward through curated green encounters. Green inserts intersperse as courts of varying sizes and purposes, softening edges and opening perspectives. Each season leaves its own imprint — mist-laden monsoons, crisp winter light, leisurely summer evenings — each rewriting the experience of home to be dwelled atop the Sahyadris.
The home aspires self-sufficiency. A 20 kW photovoltaic system rests quietly, unseen on the roof. Paired with passive solar strategies, Nirvana draws gently from the earth and gives back in quiet gratitude.
Nirvana is not merely built.
It is unearthed, unfolded, and finally — felt.
Team:
Architecture Design Firm: unTAG Architecture and Interiors, Mumbai
Principal Architects: Gauri Satam, Tejesh Patil
Design Team: Gauri Satam, Tejesh Patil, Nikita Patil, Yash Prabhu
Structural Consultant: M. R. Patil Consulting Engineers Pvt. Ltd.
Landscape Consultant: Enviroscape
Project Management: Convurt Engineering Services Pvt. Ltd
MEP Consultant: Varun hydrotech consultants pvt.ltd.
Lighting Consultant: Lighting Dimensions studio
Pool Consultant: Niren Pimenta
Contractor Details:
Civil Contractor: Vikas Construction
Finishes Contractor: Sanrekha Corporation LLP
Carpentry Contractor: Om Gopal Furniture
Fabrication contractor: JDJ Engineering
Landscape Contractor: Shailesh Kapadia
Photography: Pranit Bora Studio
Materials Used:
Stone Grava
Sanitary Fittings Kohler
Windows Elite Windows
Doors VCAN
Veneer Euro Veneers
Wooden Flooring Jalaram Timber
Special Wall Finishes Limocoat
Brick Tiles Magalogue
Elevator Schindler
Air-conditioning Diakin
Solar Panel Treflik
Loose Furniture Dtale Modern, Gulmohar Lane
Outdoor Furniture Loomcraft
Furnishings Bharat Furnishings
Lights Ivytech, IKEA, Jainsons
Hardware Mantara
