Tucked away in the growing urban fabric of Vadodara, a modest 500 sq. ft. penthouse terrace has been quietly reimagined into a soulful retreat. For the Keralite family who lives below, the terrace was once an underused, leaking slab burdened with structural limitations. But with the right design intervention, it has transformed into a vibrant social space—part lounge, part garden, and all heart.
The client’s brief was simple yet deeply personal: a place to host loved ones, connect with their cultural roots, and unwind at the end of a long day. The design process began with intensive site analysis, revealing several constraints—including waterproofing issues and limited structural load capacity. But instead of viewing these as roadblocks, our studio used them as creative prompts, approaching the design with sensitivity and care.
The layout is crafted as a sequence of experiences—semi-covered spaces transition gently into open zones, each with its own identity but seamlessly connected. Warm wooden tile decking stitches the areas together underfoot, offering texture and tactility. The Pergolas are sandwiched with toughened glass on the top and a custom reverse vaulted fabric ceiling on the bottom with cavities filtering daylight and softening the intense western sun. This gesture, both functional and poetic, sets the tone for a space that feels airy yet sheltered.
At one end, a lush vertical garden—designed in collaboration with Livingscapes —conceals service lines behind a vibrant curtain of green. It becomes the backdrop for a more formal seating arrangement, furnished with durable yet elegant outdoor pieces from Ritzlane, Vadodara. Removable Conwood panels from Bariki International aided in concealing the rest of service lines. Here, the family often gathers for evening chai or welcomes guests under the gently glowing jute-textured ceiling.
The heart of the terrace, however, lies in its meditative waterbody. A cantilevered platform cradles a Buddha sculpture, from which water trickles down into a quiet pool. This serene focal point is accompanied by an informal built-in bench, where sculptural champas sourced from Incredible Garden Art with natural stone merge into a tranquil pause point. It's not just a design element—it’s a place to breathe.
A custom-designed L-shaped bench weaves along one edge of the terrace, featuring carved-out planters and earthen textures that encourage both solitude and conversation. The lighting strategy, subtle by day and magical by night, relies on low, warm glows and fairy lights that twinkle like fireflies. The overall atmosphere is one of quiet celebration—a space that doesn’t scream for attention but invites you in, slowly.
Every decision—from the selection of weather-resistant finishes to the handling of scale and proportion—was guided by the family’s lifestyle and emotional connection to place. There’s a gentle nod to Kerala in the plant choices, material palette, and spatial fluidity, lending the terrace a grounded identity amidst the cityscape.
In the end, this isn’t just a terrace renovation—it’s a story of reclaiming space. A story where architecture becomes a bridge between memories and modernity, between structure and spirit. Today, the terrace stands as the family's favourite space—a setting for festive gatherings, afternoon naps, or simply moments of stillness under an open sky.
