Houzz Tours
A Luxurious Multigenerational Bungalow in a Gujarat Village
This expansive bungalow by Hiren Patel Architects is a contemporary cocoon with a village-style spirit
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple, their two kids, and the husband’s mother
Location: Gota, Gujarat
Year built: 2014
Size: 743 square metres (8000 square feet); 5 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, 1 yoga studio
Interior designer and architect: Hiren Patel of Hiren Patel Architects
Photos by Sebastian Zachariah
The brief for this home came to Hiren Patel, co-founder of Hiren Patel Architects, and it called for the creation of a luxurious, multigenerational home in the heart of Gota, one of the villages on the fringes of Ahmedabad. “The client wanted a house that boasted the best features and facilities, yet also melded with the spirit of the village. He gave us a free hand over the creative process, with the only consideration being to tailor the bungalow to three different generations. We decided to give the home a contemporary aesthetic with a traditional flair, to marry two worlds into one,” recalls Patel.
Who lives here: A couple, their two kids, and the husband’s mother
Location: Gota, Gujarat
Year built: 2014
Size: 743 square metres (8000 square feet); 5 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, 1 yoga studio
Interior designer and architect: Hiren Patel of Hiren Patel Architects
Photos by Sebastian Zachariah
The brief for this home came to Hiren Patel, co-founder of Hiren Patel Architects, and it called for the creation of a luxurious, multigenerational home in the heart of Gota, one of the villages on the fringes of Ahmedabad. “The client wanted a house that boasted the best features and facilities, yet also melded with the spirit of the village. He gave us a free hand over the creative process, with the only consideration being to tailor the bungalow to three different generations. We decided to give the home a contemporary aesthetic with a traditional flair, to marry two worlds into one,” recalls Patel.
The façade of the bungalow is designed to meld into the architectural fabric of the village. “We wanted it to reflect the style of other houses in the area, yet still hold its own as a larger-than-life, modern home,” notes Patel.
The structure of the house allows it to be bathed in sunlight throughout the day. “The foundation is of brick, plaster and concrete slabs, but the lightweight wooden roof does a great job of welcoming sunlight indoors,” Patel says.
The courtyard garden models a lush, tropical look, with date palms, ficus trees, green shrubs and seasonal flowers creating an aesthetic interplay. It is peppered with eclectic furniture. “We acquired some furniture from overseas, but the raw wood benches were specially bought from local craftsmen,” says Patel.
Outdoor furniture: Waylin (Gujarat), local craftsmen
Outdoor furniture: Waylin (Gujarat), local craftsmen
A walkway, overarched by a glass-top pergola, splits the garden evenly into two halves, linking the driveway to the front door. “A long lily pond borders the walkway. I completed the landscaping of the home in consultation with UK-based landscape designer John Brookes,” says Patel.
The home’s main entrance opens into an elephant-grey foyer, enlivened by a cluster of pop art pictures and a pair of eye-catching floral-print-upholstered armchairs.
The living room is a sunlit harbour, characterised by a raised roof and generous skylights along three walls. “The skylights mirror the windows below, doubling the light in the room. All the windows overlook the garden outside, allowing for a picturesque view from any side,” Patel says. The floor is clad in cream-coloured marble and the doors and windows are crafted of teak wood.
Paint: Asian Paints
The living room is a sunlit harbour, characterised by a raised roof and generous skylights along three walls. “The skylights mirror the windows below, doubling the light in the room. All the windows overlook the garden outside, allowing for a picturesque view from any side,” Patel says. The floor is clad in cream-coloured marble and the doors and windows are crafted of teak wood.
Paint: Asian Paints
A little distance away, another section of the ground floor serves as a cosy family lounge. The zone is outfitted in soft grey, with bright scatter cushions providing pops of colour and bringing cheeriness into the space.
The dining room is a picture of contemporary elegance. The dining table is stone-topped, and its petrified-wood look has a strong organic appeal. A piece of colourful artwork infuses vivacity into the space.
Dining table: imported from Bali; dining chairs are custom-made
Dining table: imported from Bali; dining chairs are custom-made
The home’s freestanding staircase, which connects the ground floor and the first floor, acts as an arresting design statement, giving the home an artistic flair. The white chaise below the stairs and the white pictures above them, balance and complement the dark staircase and wall.
The lobby on the first floor opens to a sprawling double-height lounge with sweeping floor-to-ceiling windows of cathedral-like grandeur.
Wondering how to style a double-height living room or lounge?
Wondering how to style a double-height living room or lounge?
The home’s dominant grey palette is carried forward in the master bedroom. Dove-hued bed covers and an ash-grey sofa give the room a subdued vibe, while scatter cushions add splashes of colour to the neutral cocoon. A luxe camel-hued recliner sits under an arc lamp, rounding off the room with a polished look.
The master bathroom is a light-filled retreat, thanks to its elevated ceiling and wraparound skylight. Golden floral medallions act as statement accessories against the moody charcoal walls, lending the space a glam edge.
The son’s bedroom is a spacious white shell featuring bursts of indigo. A freestanding bed, stationed away from the walls, serves as the centrepiece of the room. The ethnic motifs on the bed linen ooze traditional charm, while the graphic prints on the wall counterbalance the classic vibe with a dose of modernity. A window alcove just behind the bed is styled as a bijou sunroom-inspired space, while a sitting area towards the front of the room serves as a pared-back coffee nook.
Bedroom furnishings: Good Earth
Bedroom furnishings: Good Earth
The guest bedroom is decorated in understated tones of blush pink and soft grey. The room is also furnished with a grey sofa and a study table.
Here are five essentials your guest room must have
Here are five essentials your guest room must have
The home theatre is a relaxing getaway, decorated in hushed grey. Floor seating, arranged lengthwise and pointed towards the screen, gives the room a luxe, movie theatre-esque feel.
The top floor hosts a gazebo-style yoga room, enclosed on all four sides by louvred wooden windows.
“The room gets the best light throughout the day, and offers a great view of the village. It’s also blessed with a lovely breeze, and is ideal as a space for solo reflection and relaxation,” says Patel.
“The room gets the best light throughout the day, and offers a great view of the village. It’s also blessed with a lovely breeze, and is ideal as a space for solo reflection and relaxation,” says Patel.
Read more:
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Tell us:
What did you like most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
Mumbai Houzz Before & After: Warm Tones, Clean Lines Transform a Flat
Mumbai Houzz: A Flat Gets Its Sheen Under a Tight Deadline
Tell us:
What did you like most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.