Indian architecture

“Aaranya” an agriculture farmstay is located in rural settings at the edge of Sasan Gir Lion Sanctuary, Gujarat; and was designed by Ahmadabad based architect Himanshu Patel from “d6thD” design studio with overt principle of vernacular architecture in mind.   Design Philosophy: The Mother Earth has enough for everyone’s needs, but not everyone’s greed. This simple statement remains the greatest insight into the ecology of this planet. The concern for climate as well as economical and cultural sustainability has been looked at to incorporate without which sustainability may not work in the Indian context. Rather spending millions on the best technology to create the greenest of green building when... More

Situated within a 32-acre university campus, the main administration offices along with an auditorium, seminar halls, library & cafeteria form the functions of this building.   As opposed to creating an imposing edifice, the building gradually steps up from the approach direction belying its 20 metre height.   Stepped up from the northern direction, the entire terrace of the five level building is accessible to the students and faculty of the university transforming it into an open auditorium amidst landscape.   The multiple  functional spaces within are interspersed with naturally lit landscaped courtyards allowing indirect light to infuse the internal volumes at each level.   The north lighting & c... More

The building is designed to impart strong timeless characteristic to the building, with the pattern taking inspiration from deep cultural roots. The Fusion of traditional Indian architecture and contemporary office space cum residential space acts as a barrier for harsh west sun and reduces heat gain but also ensuring no artificial light is required during the day. The clients brief of cultural connect, inspired us to translate a traditional Indian façade pattern to create a responsive built form. This traditional Jali screen creates culturally a sense of belonging. The Jali facade is made of Glass Reinforced Concrete panels. In terms of construction tolerances, a system has been adopted whereby through cnc milling, a mould... More

Lucknow city in India has a rich heritage with numerous buildings dating back to the 18th century. The site for this house lies along a busy arterial road and is on the peripheral edge of an extensive plotted development for private homes.   The house is planned alluding to the traditional Indian courtyard house in response to the climate of the location. Temperatures in the lengthy summer months are in excess of 35° C, with the sun in the southern hemisphere.   The extensive requirements of the 6 bedroom house are interspersed with sheltered open terraces and landscaped gardens around a 2 floor high naturally ventilated courtyard.   Patterned screens derived from traditional Indian architecture and the famous Lucknow 'chikan' embroidery sh... More

Nestled in a quiet residential neighborhood, this 3,600 sq.ft. site hosted a 25-year-old single storey house. Unfortunately, we decided to bring down this structure as it was in a dilapidated state, its interiors were gloomy & also, it wasn’t a vaastushastra (traditional Hindu science of architecture) compliant house – which was the client’s main requirement.   Study of the site surroundings & the existing structure showed that the main reasons for the existing house being dull & dark were the parking+3 storey bungalow on the east side of the site that was cutting off the morning sun & small opening sizes which didn’t allow enough light to penetrate into the house. In order to cater to this issue, we decided to anchor all th... More

Renesa Architecture Design Interiors Studio took cues from the original deconstructive architecture to create a spatial experience filled with volumetric galleries and partitioned masses.  Located at the newly renovated 32nd avenue, the space plays host to a restaurant and an escape room unlocking a variable experience that includes the visitor from the very start. The restaurant is accessed through a door fronted with simple glass panels hinting at the hues of spaces that follow inside.  Upon entering, the visitor is instantly transported to an uncertain realm, characterized by geometric shapes that reflect a modern intake on traditional Indian architecture. The consistency in applying successive regular geometries on diff... More

Traditional Indian architecture is typically associated with ornamental detailing, and more specifically in Rajasthan, the architecture connotes the forts and palaces through techniques that are resonant of the wealth and culture of the region. Typically,people engage with tradition in a superficial manner in ways that are ordered, orthogonal and more often than not,a contemporary take on Indo-Saracenic architecture. Architectural experience is about creating memories, and often, in an attempt to insinuate traditional architecture in order to create a lasting image while adopting a universal aesthetic, intervention ends up being kitschyand pastiche. Techniques, Technology and methods of construction that draw from the region and are ‘of the... More

Software campus design inspired by the important role courtyards play in traditional Indian architectureTata Consultancy Services’ new software development campus encompasses 2.1 million SF of space housing more than 16,000 employees. Spread across a 40-acre site, the design of the campus was inspired by the important role courtyards play in traditional Indian architecture, specifically the role they play in fostering community interactions. As such, the entire site - including the buildings themselves - is filled with courtyards, dynamic building scales framing the courtyards, and a diverse sequence of landscaped spaces.“This is a transformative building that engages India’s rich history to guide its future,” says Mehrdad Yazdani, Design P... More

"Vanvaso means to dwell within nature and the design bullseye's the name. Situated in Vav village of district Surat, Vanvaso is a place of refreshment away from the city, and into the countryside surrounded by lush green patches of woods and farmlands. Vanvaso provides a peaceful environment, unlike that offered by a thriving city like Surat. It is a retreat from the routine hustle, a second home, yet one that makes the liver feel more relaxed and 'at home'. The house has an urban touch to its exterior, with contemporary luxuries of the the modern day, yet it beautifully amalgamates the traditional spaces within. It comprises of typical Indian features like chowk, wall arts and murals, courtyards and connection to nature, an inseparable par... More

Begins from a request of a client from India in Thopputhurai village, our architect team tries to answer their desire to build good and innovative mosques in their villages. Architects began to explore the concept of the conditions and circumstances surrounding the Site which seen through photos. The Mosque’s mass shape made from the basic box shape that represent as a philosophical of Kabah itself, and symbolic confidence in God and the Muhammad SAW as the last messenger described by coupling a mass form earlier. In front of the Mihrab, we created a kind of green barrier in order to block the dust that come from outside of ​​the mosque area because of the site conditions in a dusty area. Around the mihrab there’s a pond as an air cooler,... More

The symphony corporate project is located nearby S G Highway, Ahmedabad, India. Intended by the owner, to bring all activity and people of this company under one roof, the design also supports this intent with all spaces opening into a central courtyard. The concern was to connect all working areas through this open court which is an archetypal space of Indian architecture and thereby create a visual continuity of spaces and a sense of commune. The courtyard itself opens through a slit into the direction of the rising sun, allowing modulations of natural light along the day. It also allows the north and south bay to have cross ventilation and ample natural light in both the bays. The western edge has the service bay and becomes a buffer tha... More

Vellore House is part of an integrated network of architectures for the Indian NGO Terre des Hommes Core to benefit needy local people. The overall program follows children from early childhood and beyond in education and training. The innovation of this program lies in creating systems of interventions, as a kind of urban acupuncture. In this way, projects can be better managed by communities ensuring sense of ownership and strengthening local identity. The perforated bricks wall refers to the indian jaali technique: a perforated stone or latticed screen, usually with an ornamental pattern, used as decoration in Indian architecture. We use jaalis as ventilation chimneys and decorative elements. Restoration and revitalization of traditio... More

Different houses , have different stories. Located in a small village Munavali, proximal to Alibaug, a favorite getaway, for affluent Bombay citizens as a place to build their dream country home. The allotment (3 acres) was partly a grove of Tamarind and Mango trees , with the odd , Champa, Vad tree. Part of the plot was four feet lower and was, an unkempt paddy field . The front of the property is a not so busy asphalt road. When driving around the Raigad district , one often chances to see local brick stacks being baked on the green lots that surround them – some remain and are also abandoned …. These form a peculiar feature of the landscape in Maharashtra. We, wondered what it would be like to hollow out and inhabit these almost... More

Shri Madan Mohan Trust Haveli is a Vaishnav Temple (Haveli) dedicated to Lord Shrinathji. It is located in Balasinor in Gujarat. It was designed by me in the year 2006.Its construction was completed in March 2008. As a part of the design process, I made a detailed computerized 3D model, based on which the actual structure was built. This Vaishnav Haveli (temple) is made in RCC, but stone decoration of the Traditional Indian style makes it look like a palace (Haveli). Therefore it is a combination of the Traditional and Modern style and materials. This temple is an example of how the principles of Traditional Indian Architecture can be used in the Contemporary General Architecture, like in residential or commercial buildings or hotels. More