Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: A Sun-Soaked House Maximises on Its Green Surroundings
Vernacular architecture and modern design aesthetics effortlessly come together in this sprawling Bangalore villa
The 1485-square-metre (16,000-square-foot) site is peppered with many mature trees, so this Bangalore home was conceptualised in harmony with its natural surroundings. Designed in a U shape around a central courtyard, the villa seamlessly blends vernacular architecture with international design aesthetics in its interiors. The home features sloped Mangalore tiled roofs, rough-cut sira stone (grey granite) cladding that contrasts with the kota (a fine-grained variety of limestone) floors and teak joinery. “We envisioned a relatively low-slung structure that was contextual in its materiality and accommodated its green surroundings,” architect Sandeep Khosla of Khosla Associates says.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: The Krishan family comprising five members
Location: Bangalore
Built-up size: 1000 square metres; 5 bedrooms; 6 bathrooms
Architectural designers: Sandeep Khosla and Amaresh Anand of Khosla Associates
Design team: Sandeep Khosla, Amaresh Anand, Bijeta Bachaspati and Moiz Faizulla
Civil contractors: Hi Tech Constructions Pvt. Ltd.
Structural engineer: S & S Associates
Photos by Shamanth Patil J
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: The Krishan family comprising five members
Location: Bangalore
Built-up size: 1000 square metres; 5 bedrooms; 6 bathrooms
Architectural designers: Sandeep Khosla and Amaresh Anand of Khosla Associates
Design team: Sandeep Khosla, Amaresh Anand, Bijeta Bachaspati and Moiz Faizulla
Civil contractors: Hi Tech Constructions Pvt. Ltd.
Structural engineer: S & S Associates
Photos by Shamanth Patil J
“Through the louvres in the foyer you get a glimpse of the water body and the courtyard,” says Khosla. “Each timber louvre is curved in a biconvex shape and supported by steel spacers attached to the floor and ceiling.” The louvres are the focus of the foyer, which has a floor clad in local flame-finished sadharhalli stone (grey granite) and a ceiling of polished cement.
The foyer leads off to the study on one side and the main living spaces on the other.
The foyer leads off to the study on one side and the main living spaces on the other.
The living room, 25 feet in height, is characterised by the two opposite sections of sloped roof separated by a clerestory window – a long window set high up in a wall to provide light. “[The room’s] verticality is emphasised by large floor-to-ceiling windows with sheer linen blinds that provide soft light in the mornings from the northeast,” Khosla says. “Large overhangs on the southwest side mitigate the light and heat from the harsh afternoon sun, while horizontal timber louvres provide natural cooling via a stack effect and act as sun breakers.” Stack effect ventilation uses openings at the top and bottom levels of a house to bring in cooler outside air from below as warmer, lighter air escapes through vents above.
The central feature of the living space is a burnt-orange spiral staircase sculpted out of a shell of mild steel, set with timber treads. Khosla says, “Unlike most spiral staircases that are usually created to be a space-saving element, this one was intended as a prominent sculptural piece. Individual treads in solid teak were sandwiched between sheets of steel, eliminating the need for risers and giving the form a feeling of lightness.”
The central feature of the living space is a burnt-orange spiral staircase sculpted out of a shell of mild steel, set with timber treads. Khosla says, “Unlike most spiral staircases that are usually created to be a space-saving element, this one was intended as a prominent sculptural piece. Individual treads in solid teak were sandwiched between sheets of steel, eliminating the need for risers and giving the form a feeling of lightness.”
The neutral grey and earthy brown tones of the room are juxtaposed with vibrant soft furnishings and accessories in turquoise, violet, red and mustard. “For instance, the bold Ikat-patterned carpet provides a lively base on which pieces by Moroso, Minotti (the red armchairs), Riva (the main sofa) and Poliform sit alongside other furniture designed by us,” he says.
Fabric pendant lamps: by Mori, sourced from design house Rich Brilliant Willing; lights: Tom Dixon and Isamu Noguchi; butterfly sculpture: Sunil Gawde’s Secret Garden; paintings: Shivkumar and Suresh Kumar; handwoven Ikat carpet: Le Mill
Fabric pendant lamps: by Mori, sourced from design house Rich Brilliant Willing; lights: Tom Dixon and Isamu Noguchi; butterfly sculpture: Sunil Gawde’s Secret Garden; paintings: Shivkumar and Suresh Kumar; handwoven Ikat carpet: Le Mill
The main living area opens onto the wooden deck of a verandah that wraps round a lush green internal courtyard garden on three sides. The sloped roof extends to provide ample shelter for outdoor seating.
The site’s context and climatic conditions inspired most of the design. The architects have used local materials to highlight the project’s sustainability quotient. For instance, they used Mangalore tiles and a central courtyard to keep the interiors naturally cool and overhangs on the southwest side to protect against the harsh sunlight and the rain.
9 Stunning Courtyards That Soak Up the Sun
9 Stunning Courtyards That Soak Up the Sun
A large pebbled fishpond flanks the verandah. Its length extends from the study to the living room. Here, a venerable tree seems to emerge from the water and is visible from the study, living room and foyer.
Ottawa chairs in the study: Karim Rashid for Bo Concept
Ottawa chairs in the study: Karim Rashid for Bo Concept
Back inside, on the other side of the living room lies the kitchen-cum-dining area. The open kitchen, in shades of brown and honey, forms the backdrop to the dining area. The embroidered Uzbek Kilim rug that frames the table has been custom designed by the architects and manufactured by Virasp Batliwala. The whole room is brought together by a cluster of cell pendant lights.
Dining chairs: Ayush Kasliwal; rug: The Carpet Cellar; cell pendant lights: Tom Dixon
Dining chairs: Ayush Kasliwal; rug: The Carpet Cellar; cell pendant lights: Tom Dixon
The powder room on the ground floor takes on a darker palette with the only colour coming from a red-and-blue painting by Ravikumar Kashi. The counter is custom-made by Khosla Associates in wood and Corian.
Faucets: Grohe; tulip basin: FCML
Style Up Your Powder Room in 5 Easy Ways
Faucets: Grohe; tulip basin: FCML
Style Up Your Powder Room in 5 Easy Ways
The spatial flow of the house takes into consideration the homeowner’s need to segregate public and private spaces. Thus, the upper level houses the family’s bedrooms, a meditation space and a separate family room.
The informal family room offers more privacy yet retains the open airy vibe of the ground floor. Colour is brought into this room through the use of soft furnishings and other decorative elements.
The informal family room offers more privacy yet retains the open airy vibe of the ground floor. Colour is brought into this room through the use of soft furnishings and other decorative elements.
In the master bedroom, the tailormade four-poster bed has a pared-back design and is covered by bedspreads and cushions that add a touch of richness. The space is primarily left in neutral shades with a touch of warm colours coming from the Kilim rug and the painting by Nitish Bhattacharjee.
Bedspreads and cushions: Sarita Handa; table lamps: Crate and Barrel; painting: Nitish Bhattacharjee; armchair: Fritz Hansen; Shiraz Kilim rug: The Carpet Cellar; oak flooring: Malsa Global
Bedspreads and cushions: Sarita Handa; table lamps: Crate and Barrel; painting: Nitish Bhattacharjee; armchair: Fritz Hansen; Shiraz Kilim rug: The Carpet Cellar; oak flooring: Malsa Global
“Our clients are firmly rooted to their traditions but they are also global travellers and were equally open to an eclectic design aesthetic. This has been reflected in the interiors,” the architect says.
In the master bathroom a standalone bathtub sits across a wooden deck, giving the space a contemporary yet rustic appeal. The skylight creates another dimension in the room, accentuating the rugged look of the pots.
In the master bathroom a standalone bathtub sits across a wooden deck, giving the space a contemporary yet rustic appeal. The skylight creates another dimension in the room, accentuating the rugged look of the pots.
As most bedrooms in the house, this bedroom, too, has a wall taken uo by full-length glass windows to bring in an inside-outside feel. “Almost all the spaces on the ground and upper levels are designed to visually flow into the courtyard,” Khosla says.
“The house has a meditative feel that strikes you the moment you enter,” Khosla says. “There is harmony between the built form and the natural environment surrounding it. As the homeowners are spiritual and calm people, we needed the house to echo these personality traits.”
Read more:
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Tell us:
What do you like most about this Bangalore villa? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below.
Read more:
Houzz Tour: Powder-Puff Colours Make This a Dreamlike Home
Houzz Tour: Unusual Colours, Lush Textures Define This Hyderabad Home
Tell us:
What do you like most about this Bangalore villa? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below.
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Ground floor: double-height living room, study, dining room, puja room, home theatre, two kitchens, two guest bedrooms; upper floor: three family bedrooms, yoga and meditation spaces, family room.
The home has a tropical feel to it with lots of natural light flooding in and good cross-ventilation. One enters through the porch into a semi-open foyer. Here, a series of vertical ribbed timber louvres act as dividers between the threshold of the house and the garden beyond.