Situated on the sloping face of a valley, the site abuts an expanse of paddy fields. Sheltered beneath a canopy of coconut trees, the house rests at the base of this serene valley, along a gently flowing creek.
The approach is designed as a sequence of thresholds, each intensifying the sense of entry. A timber-clad gate marks the main threshold, leading under a covered patio. Beyond, an antique door offers a second layer of security while heightening the sense of anticipation. From here, the axis extends toward the natural landscape, framed along a shallow water feature that cascades over a stone spout.
This entry patio is more than a transitional space forming a narrow “neck” between two distinct wings of the home. To the north lies the formal living pavilion, a space conceived almost as an extension to the landscape. Its floor edge merges seamlessly into the pool, blurring the line between indoors and outdoors, and making the pavilion appear to float over water. Large fenestrations and A-frame roof soars above on this space. In the evenings, concealed lighting woven into the truss structure adds a warm glow, enhancing both the volume and the texture of the timber.
The southern wing holds the more intimate functions with informal living areas and the grand master suite. The ground floor comprises of informal living spaces, and the grand master bedroom occupies the ground level, with guest rooms positioned above. The master bathroom is an indulgent retreat, with a lofty ceiling that capture daylight while maintaining privacy. A continuous green courtyard wraps around it, dense with tropical plants creating a living veil of foliage. Above, guest rooms look out over treetops and water, offering visitors a sense of seclusion without detachment.
At the pool’s northern edge, a timber-decked gazebo nestles under mature trees, offering shade and uninterrupted views across the water. Diagonally across the site, another gazebo is linked to the master suite via a stepping stone path through plantation. This second pavilion serves as a part outdoor living room.
The home’s design language is an articulation of India Modern; a dialogue between contemporary minimalism and regional craft traditions. Slim-profile aluminum windows integrate with steeply pitched vernacular rooflines. Timber louvers shade the upper glazing of the living pavilion, scattering light into intricate patterns that change with the sun’s movement. Carefully positioned timber columns anchor the structure to the landscape, while stone walls lend an enduring quality.
The material palette is deliberately restrained to grey concrete floors and white plastered walls that form a neutral canvas for a curated mix of art and sculpture collected by the homeowner.
Lighting is not merely functional; it forms an integral layer of architecture. Bespoke cane-woven light fixtures, crafted to size, hang like floating sculptures in the formal living pavilion. Exterior lighting is equally deliberate, concealed and understated emphasizing pathways, textures, and plantation.
The vocabulary house balances between openness and shelter, modern precision and vernacular warmth, architecture and the landscape. It is a dwelling rooted in its context, designed to be experienced gradually.
Team:
Architects: DADA & PARTNERS
Interiors: Vikram Singh, DADA
Landscape Design: DADA & Partners
Building Contractor: Celeste properties LLP
Project Management: DADA
Lead Architect: SUMIT ARORA
Team: Deepu Vidyadharan, Jaivindra Singh
Photo credits: Ranjan Sharma : LIGHTZONE
Materials Used:
Facade cladding: Aluminium, Steel, Hardwood cladding Windows Art
Flooring: Tiles, Marble, Sandstone & Granite Nexion
Doors: Wooden doors, Flush doors - Veneer Greenlam
HVAC: Royson Afonso Mitsubishi
Roofing: Wood , Concrete
Interior lighting: LED, Cob, Spot lights Merish
Exterior Door window: Aluminium Alcoi
Steel Fabrication: Mild Steel, Stainless Steel Manohar Steel works
Sanitaryware : Grohe, Kohler
