Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: An Ahmedabad House With an Inside-Outside Connection
This sprawling home has been designed to make the most of nature
The homeowners wanted a tranquil home that exuded a timeless quality. The entrepreneur couple, with two young kids, had seen previous works of Hiren Patel Architects. They loved the way the landscape had been incorporated in all aspects of the firm’s designs. And this was why the firm was brought on board for this project. Making the most of the landscape was the main brief and focal point for the home’s planning.
“We adhered to the need of the clients rather than imposing our own design ideas,” says Hiren Patel, principal architect and founder of the firm. His approach was based on simplicity in design, a contemporary take on traditional designs. He conceptualised a modern space that keeps telltale signs of a cultural heritage.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two small kids
Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Size: Four bedrooms and five bathrooms
Year built: 2012
Architectural designers: Hiren Patel and team
That’s interesting: The design of the house is an introverted one, which makes the water pool and garden visible and accessible from all sides.
Photos by: PHX India
“We adhered to the need of the clients rather than imposing our own design ideas,” says Hiren Patel, principal architect and founder of the firm. His approach was based on simplicity in design, a contemporary take on traditional designs. He conceptualised a modern space that keeps telltale signs of a cultural heritage.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two small kids
Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Size: Four bedrooms and five bathrooms
Year built: 2012
Architectural designers: Hiren Patel and team
That’s interesting: The design of the house is an introverted one, which makes the water pool and garden visible and accessible from all sides.
Photos by: PHX India
A driveway and wooden deck lead in from the entrance to the house and set the close-to-nature theme of the home. On one side of the passage is a rustic wooden bench. Both wood and stone have been used on the floors to bring about a fusion of modern and traditional design.
The entrance passage leads into the living room on one side. On the other, a staircase with glass balustrades leads to the upper floor areas.
With an unobstructed view and access to the garden, this living room maintains its connection to the outdoors. A slit runs along another wall, bringing in the outdoor view from a different vantage point.
The decor is unobtrusive yet elegant. “We wanted functional and minimal pieces to break the flow,” says Patel. The coffee table in a rough wood-and-straw finish effectively displays this idea with its homespun charm. Placed in the corner is an opulent cylindrical table lamp. The couches exude contrasting tones of red and subtle nudes, which complement the bright and cheerful mood of the room.
With an unobstructed view and access to the garden, this living room maintains its connection to the outdoors. A slit runs along another wall, bringing in the outdoor view from a different vantage point.
The decor is unobtrusive yet elegant. “We wanted functional and minimal pieces to break the flow,” says Patel. The coffee table in a rough wood-and-straw finish effectively displays this idea with its homespun charm. Placed in the corner is an opulent cylindrical table lamp. The couches exude contrasting tones of red and subtle nudes, which complement the bright and cheerful mood of the room.
Open on three sides, this casual living room has lots of warmth and ample natural light. The glass sliding doors create a seamless connection between the indoors and the outdoors. One wall of glass looks out on the reflection pool and the other opens the room to a panorama of the garden. “This area is one of the most used spaces in the house. It has a big verandah on all three sides,” says Hiren. Again the furniture is minimalistic, yet high on comfort.
The verandah forms a 3 metre wide passage that runs along the side of the central courtyard and the reflection pool. These rustic, colossal clay pots are examples of the many earthy and local accessories that the architect has brought in to dot the home. Patel’s hand drawing shows how essential these accessories were at the time of conceptualising the design of the house.
The house has expansive doorways as well as skylights to allow ample daylight into the house all day long. Screens and deep verandahs across the breadth of the house protect these openings from the harsh heat of the Sun. This is a crucial aspect, considering the severity of the Ahmedabad climate.
Another shaded verandah doubles as a relaxing outdoor seating space. The use of pebbled floors, wicker and other weather-friendly furniture pieces gives the whole verandah a comfortable, cosy feel. The wooden ceiling provides natural insulation, though fans are also installed for the days the mercury peaks.
For afternoons and evenings that are cooler, an outdoor dining area stands ready near the lawn, also surrounded by ornamental clay urns and pots.
For afternoons and evenings that are cooler, an outdoor dining area stands ready near the lawn, also surrounded by ornamental clay urns and pots.
“The house uses an RCC roof structure lined with wood in the verandah as well as here in the upper rooms,” says Patel. Glass panels connect the wooden ceiling and the wall along the length of this bedroom and let in natural light without increasing the indoor temperature.
This upper floor is the private area of the house, and the focus remains on clean and minimal design. The bedroom is done up in contrasting hues of dark and light wood. The modish bed has a wooden slatted headboard and neat edges. Though the central theme of the room is contemporary, it is juxtaposed with some ethnic touches in a few places, such as digital-print cushions inspired by local art.
This upper floor is the private area of the house, and the focus remains on clean and minimal design. The bedroom is done up in contrasting hues of dark and light wood. The modish bed has a wooden slatted headboard and neat edges. Though the central theme of the room is contemporary, it is juxtaposed with some ethnic touches in a few places, such as digital-print cushions inspired by local art.
The other bedroom also incorporates contemporary elements with traditional twists. Here a four-poster bed sits next to a louvred window. The open spaces and clean-lined furniture are given a pop of colour with a vibrant bedspread and the fresh flowers on the footrest.
The home has five bathrooms. This one uses natural marble stone – an onyx-vase-shaped basin stands here with a backlight, bringing in a touch of drama.
As the temperatures go down in the evening, the courtyard pool sparkles with the reflections of the lights from throughout the house. The clever placement of accessories and lights across the open, landscaped spaces creates an ambience of softness and warmth.
“My clients love the peace of mind they get here and we were happy that the young kids started using the garden and playing in it,” says Patel.
See more pictures of this house
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Tell us:
What did you like most about this home? Share in Comments.
“My clients love the peace of mind they get here and we were happy that the young kids started using the garden and playing in it,” says Patel.
See more pictures of this house
Read more:
This Actor’s Getaway is Anything But Conventional
Two Apartments Merge Into One Eclectic Home
Tell us:
What did you like most about this home? Share in Comments.
“The Courtyard House is designed with a grid of seven feet by seven feet. It has been designed in such a way that all the living spaces and the passage face open spaces and a garden, which was also the main design concept. This created a central courtyard. This courtyard holds the reflection pool, which is a major design element,” explains Patel.