The house 1_A Home of Layers and Light

A Home of Layers and Light
An exploration in flow, volume, and materiality
Designed for a family of four, this residence was envisioned as a home that flows—inside, outside,
and within. Sitting above a rental space on the ground floor, the primary dwelling is a duplex that
allows for a sense of disconnection and privacy, even in a vertical stack. At the core of the project lies
a material narrative—playful, expressive, and deeply tactile—gradually unfolding as one moves
through the space.
Approached via a corridor laid with inlaid terrazzo flooring, the journey begins beneath a ceiling of
inverted clay pots embedded in the filler slab. This passage, flanked by sculpted greens, draws one
towards the main entrance. At this threshold, a grand staircase immediately opens up to a generous
volume, setting the tone for the architectural drama that follows. It is here that the home hints at its
spatial generosity, inviting one into its layered realms.
Following the Indian ritual of removing one’s shoes before entering, the act becomes an experiential
pause. As the foot touches the cool, textured surface of the black Madras stone, the first moment of
sensory delight is registered—an introduction to the richly curated material palette that lies ahead.
Ascending the first flight, the landing marks the formal entry into the home. From here, subsequent
stairways rise from within. A wide glass door opens into the drawing room, which is further layered
with another set of sliding glass panels opposite—revealing a lush, green terrace. This space is one of
the project’s defining double-height volumes, alive with dynamic movement: a ramp intersects from
above on one end, while a slit-paneled glass window brings in sculpted daylight from the upper
reaches on the other.
A northeast-facing lush terrace forms the heart of the home’s outdoor life, designed for morning
rituals and quiet reflection. Overflowing with flowering plants and creepers, it is both a sensory oasis
and a living testament to the client’s passion for gardening.
The drawing room’s interiors blend contrasting materials - raw and refined, rustic and elegant.
Furniture and decor act in tandem, harmonizing textures and tones to craft a visual and tactile
dialogue. The material inspiration draws from the rugged vastness of the Aravalli range, echoing its
geological richness, chromatic variety, and the region’s enduring artisanal legacy. The finishes
throughout the home evoke this landscape - layered, grounded, and timeless.
The first floor houses the primary living spaces. Moving past the drawing room, the dining area opens
out to the kitchen on one side and the living room on the other, again choreographing a play of
volumes. The kitchen stretches horizontally, adorned with veined green stone that spills into views of
the landscape beyond. In contrast, the living room ascends vertically, its height accentuated by narrow
slit windows that draw in shifting light. This space becomes a quiet shrine of solitude - anchored in
silence, grounded in its stillness.
As one journeys from kitchen to living, the materiality subtly evolves - from robust, expressive stone
to warmer wooden surfaces, finally softening into the gentle embrace of fabrics in the living room.
The palette transitions seamlessly, crafting an emotional rhythm across spaces. Indirect light filters
through vertical apertures, tinting walls with ever-changing tones and imbuing the rooms with a sense
of calm and domestic familiarity, a moment of pause, of coming home.
The vertical expanse of the living room visually links to the upper-level pathways, bringing light from
clerestory windows above. These architectural moments feel like conversations between light and
volume, between structure and inhabitation, each space speaking to the next.
From the far end of the living room, a discreet passage leads to the private bedrooms, ensuring
complete spatial separation. Another stairway leads upward, heightening the spatial drama. On the top
floor, the architectural choreography culminates. The staircases, drawing room, and living volumes
intersect, each retaining its distinct quality of light and scale, yet unified in movement and material.
The upper level becomes more than a connector; it is an experience in itself. A large study anchors
this space, with expansive windows that open onto a terrace overlooking the one below. This layered
outdoor connection blurs boundaries, encouraging exploration and dialogue between levels, between
inside and out.
Ultimately, the house is not a static object, but a lived experience, one where materiality, light, and
landscape are in constant interplay. It is a home that invites you to pause, to touch, to explore and to
feel the gentle rhythm of space unfolding around you.