Houzz Tours
Ahmedabad Houzz: A 1400-Sq-M Bungalow Full of Secret Gardens
Four hidden gardens, native stone facades and indoor-outdoor spaces make this home by SPASM a breathtaking getaway
Houzz at a GlanceWho lives here: A family of four
Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Year built: 2018
Size: 1400 square metres (15,070 square feet); 4 bedrooms; 4 bathrooms; 1 powder room
Architectural designers: Sanjeev Panjabi and Sangeeta Merchant of SPASM
Photos by Umang Shah, Edmund Sumner & Phxindia | Sebastian + Ira
Perhaps the most distinctive feature of this sprawling bungalow in Ahmedabad is its monolithic Dhrangadhra stone exterior.
“This sandstone is a mainstay of classical architecture in Ahmedabad, being abundantly available in quarries nearby. Its cellular structure holds intermittent microscopic air gaps that form an insulation panel. It became the main material in our palette, being employed in such formats as large monoliths, rough cuts, honed slabs and even plaster renders,” says Sanjeev Panjabi, co-founder and principal architect of SPASM.
Adds Sangeeta Merchant, principal architect and co-founder with Panjabi, “The architectural language reflected the brief, which highlighted the need for a modern home, in close connection with nature and the seasons; a space of elegant sophistication and understated luxury.”
Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Year built: 2018
Size: 1400 square metres (15,070 square feet); 4 bedrooms; 4 bathrooms; 1 powder room
Architectural designers: Sanjeev Panjabi and Sangeeta Merchant of SPASM
Photos by Umang Shah, Edmund Sumner & Phxindia | Sebastian + Ira
Perhaps the most distinctive feature of this sprawling bungalow in Ahmedabad is its monolithic Dhrangadhra stone exterior.
“This sandstone is a mainstay of classical architecture in Ahmedabad, being abundantly available in quarries nearby. Its cellular structure holds intermittent microscopic air gaps that form an insulation panel. It became the main material in our palette, being employed in such formats as large monoliths, rough cuts, honed slabs and even plaster renders,” says Sanjeev Panjabi, co-founder and principal architect of SPASM.
Adds Sangeeta Merchant, principal architect and co-founder with Panjabi, “The architectural language reflected the brief, which highlighted the need for a modern home, in close connection with nature and the seasons; a space of elegant sophistication and understated luxury.”
“The house is equally inward- and outward-looking. Even externally, the body of the house can be surmounted via a stone staircase that leads to an elevated garden roof. The home promotes the use of external spaces, all along the edges of the cross-shaped layout,” says Panjabi.
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From paint to cladding materials, find out how to add an element of wow to the exteriors of your home
A pergola (not pictured) ushers visitors into the exterior entryway, where an antique-style brass door stands guard.
The door is situated at the centre of the cruciform arrangement, opening into a square vestibule that leads out into the four rectangular wings. Here, cobalt and deep wood tones dominate the colour scheme, while vibrant artworks punctuate the solid aesthetic.
“Some artworks are from the client’s personal collection, while others have been commissioned from local artists,” says Panjabi.
Here are 30 incredible staircase designs guaranteed to impress
“Some artworks are from the client’s personal collection, while others have been commissioned from local artists,” says Panjabi.
Here are 30 incredible staircase designs guaranteed to impress
A staircase rising to the first floor stands to the left of the foyer, underpinned by a gilt-framed open display unit that plays host to a handful of tchotchkes.
“The open spaces between four wings of the cruciform contain the four secret gardens,” says Merchant. “This permits easy cross-ventilation and a seamless connection with the outdoors.”
“The open spaces between four wings of the cruciform contain the four secret gardens,” says Merchant. “This permits easy cross-ventilation and a seamless connection with the outdoors.”
Beyond the foyer, to the right, lies the living room, walled by sweeping glass windows in wood-toned frames and roofed by a brooding, wood-panelled ceiling. A circular seating arrangement serves as the centrepiece of the setting.
“In Ahmedabad, the light can be sharp and harsh, so we decided to reduce the glare by opting for darker finishes,” says Panjabi.
Living room sofas: Giorgetti
Wondering how to get your living room layout right?
“In Ahmedabad, the light can be sharp and harsh, so we decided to reduce the glare by opting for darker finishes,” says Panjabi.
Living room sofas: Giorgetti
Wondering how to get your living room layout right?
An enclosed courtyard garden sweeps across the left and front of the living room, providing injections of green to the interior. A blue-cushioned swing offers seating for two, accented by a lantern-festooned tree growing through the overarching pergola.
“Intended as seamless extensions of the living spaces, the secret gardens were designed to mature over the years as view boxes that come alive with the moving sun,” says Merchant.
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“Intended as seamless extensions of the living spaces, the secret gardens were designed to mature over the years as view boxes that come alive with the moving sun,” says Merchant.
In love with courtyards? Here are some designs that mesmerise
To the right of the living room, is an ornamental water body that further accentuates the space.
“We commissioned a life-size sculpture in Beslana stone, depicting a pensive monk poised gingerly on the water’s surface, as if levitating. It was a fitting expression for the water body,” says Merchant.
Here’s looking at some homes made unforgettable because of the inclusion of a water body
“We commissioned a life-size sculpture in Beslana stone, depicting a pensive monk poised gingerly on the water’s surface, as if levitating. It was a fitting expression for the water body,” says Merchant.
Here’s looking at some homes made unforgettable because of the inclusion of a water body
Opposite the foyer (adjacent to the living room), Stygian tones define the dining room, lending it a subdued, intimate atmosphere. A stone backdrop acts as a foil to the sleek sable dining table, while modish chairs flank either side. Three globe pendants hang over the dining table, serving to brighten the space.
Dining table is custom-made; dining chairs: Ginger, Poltrona Frau
Dining table is custom-made; dining chairs: Ginger, Poltrona Frau
Located to the right of the foyer, is the puja room, defined by a palette of royal blue and gold. The gold-embellished door is matched by gilded lamps within, which juxtapose nicely with the navy accent wall.
Create a trendy yet reverent ambience with these puja room colour ideas
Create a trendy yet reverent ambience with these puja room colour ideas
In the master bedroom (located behind the dining room), a smorgasbord of wooden finishes — including a wood-slat back wall, a wood-panelled ceiling and wood-effect nightstands — reigns over the aesthetic.
“The interiors are embellished with rich woodwork boxes that contain wardrobes and luxurious ensuite bathrooms, sitting within a volume of ceilings and walls all rendered in lime plaster,” notes Merchant.
“The interiors are embellished with rich woodwork boxes that contain wardrobes and luxurious ensuite bathrooms, sitting within a volume of ceilings and walls all rendered in lime plaster,” notes Merchant.
The gardens and courtyards are wellsprings of sunlight and ventilation.
The stone fins and rough cuts that run perpendicular to the facade of the building cast cooling shadows and create a dynamic interplay of shadows and light.
“This aids in the passive climate control of the home,” says Panjabi. “The aim was to deliver a home that allows its occupants to live a life in the bosom of nature.”
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Tell us:
What did you like most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
This Multi-Pavilion Celebrity Home Fits Together Like a Jigsaw
Surat Houzz: Greys & Browns Come Together in a Home Like Never Before
Tell us:
What did you like most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
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