Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: This Sprawling Vadodara Home is a Tranquil Retreat
Minimalist decor coupled with art and plenty of nature transforms this home into an ideal getaway
Architect Dipen Gada of Dipen Gada and Associates was in no rush to build his dream getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. Two and a half years in the making, he wanted to get it just right. His weekend abode has all the ingredients for the perfect tranquil retreat – a one-acre property located near a riverbank, an abundance of art and greenery for inspiration, a Zen garden, a pool and a home theatre to unwind. And of course, plenty of quality time with the family.
Vadodara is accustomed to high temperatures of up to 45° C. To combat this extreme climate, the house is designed to keep the internal temperature pleasant through the day. Acting like the spine of the house, a massive blank cavity wall runs along the southwest absorbing the harshest sunlight. “It is largely an inward facing house. Only one area, a triangular multi-purpose spot, protrudes out of the wall and connects with the outside.” says Gada. He achieves the bold minimalist aesthetic by hiding away all the spaces behind the cavity wall.
Narrow punchers on the west side of the wall act as a filter, causing the hot air to cool as it passes through the smaller oculi, while air vents on skylights at the east corner allow the hot air to escape. This effective channelling of air movements further cools down the indoors. In addition, the terrace houses an open garden to keep the structure at low-maintenance, and regulate the heat. For the sculptures, Gada says, “These figurines act as an artistic reminder to relax, unwind, meditate, and strive for a happier life.”
Inspired by the rural homes of Kutch, the entry door has three parts – a big door which also holds a smaller one for single-purpose entry, while a third allows one to survey the outside through words etched in the door, without having to open it.
These words come from the famous poem by Rabindranath Tagore, ‘Where the mind is without fear’. “The title exemplifies what we try to convey through our designs – the word is called sahaj, meaning seamless,” explains the architect. “The design of the space shouldn’t seem forced and imposing on the mind, it should feel natural, and bring ease.”
These words come from the famous poem by Rabindranath Tagore, ‘Where the mind is without fear’. “The title exemplifies what we try to convey through our designs – the word is called sahaj, meaning seamless,” explains the architect. “The design of the space shouldn’t seem forced and imposing on the mind, it should feel natural, and bring ease.”
Upon entering, one gets a glimpse of the entire linear house. The living room with a view of the pool is furnished in vibrant colours and motifs. Adjoining this space, lies the dining room and a compact kitchen. Gada follows a basic monochromatic scheme throughout the house and introduces colour through the furnishings, fixtures and art. Elevating the level of sophistication, he also fills these spaces with one-of-a-kind custom-made lamps.
To keep it low-maintenance, material usage is minimal. Jodhpur stone and IPS (Indian pattern stone) are the two main materials experimented with in the different areas. “Overall, the house offers contemporary interiors with an Indian vernacular twist,” explains Gada. “IPS is a kind of cement-based flooring from the good old days. Its ability to develop cracks is controlled by inserting glass strips at frequent intervals thus creating joint-free flooring.”
The sit-out area that runs along one of the walls in the dining is crafted entirely from Jodhpur stone. Gada notes that the whole house is painted with exterior paint without using any superficial treatments like putty. However, due to the minimalist design, reflection of sound became a major issue. He counteracts this through the use of acoustic panelling in the ceiling. “Due to the abundance of rectangular bare surfaces, an acoustic issue was discovered,” says Gada. “So we designed sound panels to fit in the ceiling, which were then clad in vibrant earthy materials. This served as a sound regulator and was aesthetically appealing to the eye.”
Gada builds some of the larger pieces of furniture into the fabric of the house. For instance, the main sit-out in the dining and one of the beds are designed as permanent fixtures. The frame is made out of Jodhpur stone, while the bed itself is constructed from brick and laid with concrete. “We then directly placed the mattress on top of the concrete slab,” says the architect.
The bathroom follows a very simple layout, with extensive use of IPS and skylights framing the shower areas. “Although IPS is an ancient technique, its use is becoming extinct. We thus tried to revive it by inviting labour from Auroville to pass on the tradition,” explains Gada. A 16-colour chart was then created and a few selected colours were used throughout. “In the living and dining room, we’ve tried a grey floor, while in the bedrooms we used blue flooring. One of the bathrooms is even clad in black,” He adds.
Large sliding doors along the home theatre room provide an uninterrupted view of the whole site and seamlessly extend the house into the outdoors.
The pool is designed as an indoor area in the north east corner. “Shaded with a glass top, it provides privacy, as well as protection from the sun. The glass allows just enough sunlight to heat the water,” says Gada.
As the north east corner is the cooler part of the plot, Gada constructs a Zen garden here. For his home, Gada says, “I wanted it to be space to unwind, and I wanted to infuse it with a meditative … an almost spiritual mood.”
Read more about holiday homes:
Houzz Tour: Red & Grey Dominate the Theme of This Mumbai Bachelor Pad
Tell us:
How would you make your holiday home more relaxing? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Read more about holiday homes:
Houzz Tour: Red & Grey Dominate the Theme of This Mumbai Bachelor Pad
Tell us:
How would you make your holiday home more relaxing? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here: A couple, their child and their parents
Location: Vadodara, Gujarat
Year built: 2015
Size: 408 square metres, two bedrooms; a home theatre; a pool
Architectural designer: Dipen Gada of Dipen Gada and Associates
Site coordinator: Rahi Construction
That’s interesting: The scultptures placed in the exterior of the house were installed to symbolise the different states of tranquility and relaxation.
Photos by Tejas Shah
“I wanted the space to surrender to nature; to create an experience that would allow us to forget the outside world and its worries,” says architect Dipen Gada. As the site is located near a riverbank, it was planned on kotar (natural curved land) and was filled to achieve the desired terrain. “As it is a holiday haven, I wanted to maximise the space and thus opted for a bold minimalist aesthetic,” explains Gada. “Apart from a few artworks, the decor is kept to a minimum.”