Houzz Tour: A Panoramic Retreat at the Foothills of the Sahyadris
Sustainable materials, skylights and wide windows define the architecture of this home by Khosla Associates
Rashmi Haralalka
5 November 2020
Houzz India Contributor. I am a blogger who's passionate about writing, especially interior design, home decor, and home improvement. I believe that details are not just details... they make the design. Connect with me on:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/rashmi-sharda-b79b8119
Email: rashmiharalalka@gmail.com
Houzz India Contributor. I am a blogger who's passionate about writing, especially... More
The homeowners asked Sandeep Khosla and Amaresh Anand, principal architects and partners at Khosla Associates, to build a home that was modest and minimally invasive to the topography. “The family of four wanted a two-bedroom, single-level pavilion weekend home to escape the frenetic pace of Mumbai life and to reinvigorate the senses. Our primary objective was to engage with the natural surroundings – embracing the panoramic view of the lake with the imposing mountain ranges in its backdrop,” says Khosla.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four
Location: Western Ghats, Maharasthra
Year built: 2017
Size: 195 square metres (2100 square feet); 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Architect and design firm: Khosla Associates
Photos by Shamanth Patil Photography
Perched on a slope in the picturesque Western Ghats, this house serves as an ideal weekend getaway for the homeowners. Black basalt stone dominates the material palette; it was mostly sourced from the two-acre site and its vicinity.
Who lives here: A family of four
Location: Western Ghats, Maharasthra
Year built: 2017
Size: 195 square metres (2100 square feet); 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Architect and design firm: Khosla Associates
Photos by Shamanth Patil Photography
Perched on a slope in the picturesque Western Ghats, this house serves as an ideal weekend getaway for the homeowners. Black basalt stone dominates the material palette; it was mostly sourced from the two-acre site and its vicinity.
The exterior and interior walls (except a few Corten ones) are stone-clad or rendered in polished cement, which eliminates the need for paint and lowers the home’s carbon footprint.
“We used materials that would age gracefully and require minimum upkeep. This house is climate-sensitive and the large profile of the pavilion roof overhang protects it from the harsh sun and the heavy monsoon rain,” says Anand. “The landscape around the pavilion stays away from the notion of a manicured garden. Small rocks from the land strewn about, with low shrubbery and carefully planted fruit trees, all reinforce the existing terrain bringing the built form closer to nature.”
Find an architect on Houzz
“We used materials that would age gracefully and require minimum upkeep. This house is climate-sensitive and the large profile of the pavilion roof overhang protects it from the harsh sun and the heavy monsoon rain,” says Anand. “The landscape around the pavilion stays away from the notion of a manicured garden. Small rocks from the land strewn about, with low shrubbery and carefully planted fruit trees, all reinforce the existing terrain bringing the built form closer to nature.”
Find an architect on Houzz
Black basalt walls with dry pack stone cladding define the facade. Considering the site is contoured and on a slope, the architects designed a retaining wall enclosure with a ramp alongside that leads to the main entrance which is 3 feet 6 inches below.
Check out the stones and tiles available on Houzz
Check out the stones and tiles available on Houzz
A skylit foyer clad in natural-patterned plywood bathes the entryway with natural light and juxtaposes the earthiness of the river-finished Kota stone and polished cement walls. Apart from the foyer, four angular skylights in the house – one each in the living room, kitchen and two bathrooms – mimic the surrounding mountainscape and illuminate the house throughout the day.
On the left side are the common areas comprising the living and dining areas, and an open kitchen. The muted decor across the house is in harmony with the architectural narrative and environment. On the right side of the living room, a wooden trestle-table style console with brass and copper vessels stands against a Corten steel wall.
Brass and copper vessels: BIDRIWARE
Brass and copper vessels: BIDRIWARE
Customised suspended light fixtures echo the skewed angles of the skylights in the living room. A sisal rug anchors the seating arrangement consisting of an L-shaped sofa, a chair and square coffee table. Folding vertical panelled windows bring in the views along with light and ventilation.
An interesting architectural feature is that all the walls stop 6 inches below the ceiling. Khosla Associates inserted a mesh into the gap to facilitate ventilation and prevent mustiness because of the humid weather.
An interesting architectural feature is that all the walls stop 6 inches below the ceiling. Khosla Associates inserted a mesh into the gap to facilitate ventilation and prevent mustiness because of the humid weather.
“The passageway leads to the west, culminating in a Corten steel wall that is the outer shell of the kitchen. All the windows were crafted out of sustainable wood,” Khosla says.
“The open-plan kitchen, flanked by the living area to its left and the dining to its right, forms the hub of the house. It is used by the family to cook, congregate and interact. Owing to its central location, its connection with the views are constant. The highlight of this space is a skylight filtering natural light on its surfaces and a slab of oak wood suspended between two columns that acts as a bar counter,” says Khosla.
How to Weave Magic With Skylights
How to Weave Magic With Skylights
Expansive sliding and folding doors give uninterrupted views of the deck and pool. Vertical mullions in the doors offset the strong horizontal element of the pavilion roof overhang and create the illusion of height.
The customised oak dining table has a bench on one side and chairs on the other.
Dining tables and chairs: custom designed by Khosla Associates and manufactured by SFA Works.
Dining tables and chairs: custom designed by Khosla Associates and manufactured by SFA Works.
On the right side of the entrance foyer is the private zone, which has the bedrooms. In the master bedroom, a customised oak-wood bed, an earthy sisal rug and a cupboard with oak and banana fibre matting come together to create a cohesive interior. Handmade paper lampshades sourced from Sotohaus, Goa, adorn the side tables.
Look for carpets and flooring options on Houzz
Look for carpets and flooring options on Houzz
The material palette from the bedroom continues in the master bathroom. An accent stone wall serves as a backdrop for the wooden vanity, sink and mirror. The skylight illuminates the free-standing bathtub.
Chrome-plated fittings: Grohe IN
Chrome-plated fittings: Grohe IN
The kitchen and dining areas open into a large deck with sunken seating and an infinity pool.
Browse through ideas for swimming pools on Houzz photos
Browse through ideas for swimming pools on Houzz photos
Shielded by the pavilion roof overhang, this bed is a great spot to enjoy the outdoors or have a siesta.
The infinity pool offers panoramic views of the mountains and creates an illusion of the edge merging with the lake beyond.
6 Ways to Make the Most of Your Swimming Pool
6 Ways to Make the Most of Your Swimming Pool
Read more:
Houzz Tour: A Contemporary Pool House Nestled in Rural Bengal
Before & After Houzz: Concrete & Glass Create a Warm Ahmedabad Home
Tell us:
What did you like most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
Houzz Tour: A Contemporary Pool House Nestled in Rural Bengal
Before & After Houzz: Concrete & Glass Create a Warm Ahmedabad Home
Tell us:
What did you like most about this home? Tell us in Comments below.
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This is just beautiful!!!
Loved the concept and the design of the house.
The materials used for the house and the interiors both are very eco-friendly and excellent.
The simplistic yet modern design is very refreshing and cool.
The light & ventilation is really good as well.
This is one of the best designs I have seen. A fabulous symmetry of structure inside and outside with the nature surrounding it. Beautiful usage of stone and wood ...simple, yet not lacking grace and any of the amenities of modern living. It was an absolute pleasure to view the photos of this project.
The placement of the pool adjoining the lake and the sunken seating so as to not spoil the view are fantastic ideas!