Design Highlights:
● A glass-lined walkway seamlessly links the two villas while preserving their structural individuality.
● The living room features a striking bar-cum-self-cooking counter, glazed walls opening to the pool deck, and backlit columns as sculptural elements.
● Terrazzo flooring, concrete finishes, stone panelling, and oak wood cladding create a calm, earthy, and Zen-inspired atmosphere.
● Eight bedrooms and convertible family lounges with Murphy beds ensure adaptability for hosting large gatherings.
Concept:
In the lush hill station of Khandala, two adjoining villas have been transformed into a single expansive weekend retreat that balances functionality with a calm, organic spirit. Aptly titled “Under the Jamun Tree”, a nod to the large tree that presides over the garden, the residence embodies tranquility, nature, and understated luxury. The project reflects a seamless integration of architecture and interiors, where spatial connectivity was the client’s foremost requirement and a natural, Zen-inspired design language became the guiding principle.
The clients envisioned a retreat that would act as a sanctuary away from their urban lives. They wanted a space that felt connected despite the structural restriction of not being able to break walls, as the villas were part of a gated community. Functionally, the brief required multiple bedrooms to accommodate frequent guests, while emotionally, the home had to radiate calm, relaxation, and a connection to nature. The designers responded by weaving together the two villas through thoughtful spatial planning, ensuring that the connection felt fluid and intuitive rather than forced.
The design narrative draws from Zen philosophies of calmness and balance, layered with wabi-sabi aesthetics that embrace imperfection and natural beauty. Every design move, from textures to tones, celebrates organic living. The villas are grounded in earthy palettes of stone, terrazzo, and oak, with furniture and forms echoing fluid, nature-inspired lines. Neutral tones soften the spaces, while curated imperfections lend authenticity, much like the landscape that surrounds the retreat. The entryway sets the tone, opening into an expansive living room bathed in natural light from glazed walls that blur boundaries between indoors and out. A striking highlight here is the multifunctional bar-cum-self-cooking counter that is perfect for the clients’ love of entertaining. The living space flows out to a pool deck framed in glass panels, ensuring uninterrupted views of greenery and sky. A glazed walkway forms the bridge between the two villas, creating a sense of connectivity without structural alteration. On one side lies the dining area, the main kitchen, and a glass conservatory that immerses residents in the outdoors even during Khandala’s long monsoons. On the upper levels, each villa houses four bedrooms along with family lounges designed for games, movies, and intimate bonding.
Special design touches add character throughout: backlit monochrome columns that double as sculptural features, distressed terrazzo floors with a natural stone aesthetic, and concrete-finished walls that establish a calm Zen energy from the very entrance foyer. Yet what gives the house its most distinctive personality is the collaboration with Indian artists and craftsmen. Every light fixture, artifact, artwork, and piece of furniture has been custom-crafted by local hands, transforming the home into a living gallery of contemporary Indian design. From the bespoke bar counter to the organic silhouettes of the furniture, from the play of handmade textures in lighting to the curated art pieces that punctuate the interiors, the villa reflects a celebration of indigenous creativity. This integration elevates the project beyond a holiday home, making it a cultural statement as much as a design one.
With eight bedrooms and two additional family lounges, the villa offers unmatched functionality for weekend gatherings. Clever interventions like Murphy beds ensure that family lounges can transform into guest bedrooms as needed, offering adaptability without crowding the layout. The glazed conservatory and terraces extend usability across seasons, particularly in the heavy rains of Khandala, making every corner of the house functional year-round. The project’s biggest challenge was the extended monsoon, which made exterior work nearly impossible for large stretches of time. The design team pivoted by prioritizing interiors during monsoon months, ensuring the project timeline remained intact. Materials were chosen for their durability and resilience, balancing the need for longevity with aesthetic appeal.
Instead of layering a multitude of colours, the designers emphasized materials for their natural textures and tactile appeal. Terrazzo floors, oak wood cladding, stone panelling, and concrete finishes combine to create a light, open, and airy environment. This marriage of materials underscores the villa’s organic and earthy ethos, bringing warmth and timelessness to every space. The studio’s design language is defined as timeless and understated, resisting the temptation of overcrowding spaces with unnecessary elements. Instead, the focus is always on expansiveness, punctuated with thoughtful highlights. The project celebrates fluidic design, where forms, furniture, and circulation patterns feel organic rather than rigid. Warm neutral shells are a consistent backdrop, enriched with Indian art that grounds the villa in cultural authenticity. Wabi-sabi, the acceptance of imperfection, emerges not only as a trend but as a philosophy, allowing the house to mirror the unpredictability and beauty of nature.
Under the Jamun Tree is more than a weekend retreat; it is a carefully orchestrated dialogue between architecture, interiors, and landscape. By unifying two villas without erasing their individuality, the designers created a sanctuary that celebrates openness, adaptability, and tranquillity. Every space, from the bar counter in the living room to the glazed conservatory, invites its occupants to pause, breathe, and reconnect with the organic rhythms of nature.
Under the Jamun Tree by A&K Design Studio
Project Fact File:
Name of Project: Under the Jamun tree
Name of Design Firm: A&K Design Studio
Location: Khandala, Maharashtra
Typology: Residential, Villa / outhouse
Area: 11,000 sq.ft
Date of Completion: February 2025
Principal Architect/Designer: Aarti Somani & Kruti Sheth
Photography Credits: Kuber Shah
Design Team: Yatish Thoke
Stylist: StyLabs by A&K
