India Houzz Tour: A Home of Endless Windows and an Earthy Palette
Designed around a central courtyard, this home frames internal views and welcomes in external glimpses of nature
With a decidedly earthy palette, plentiful greenery and free-flowing spaces, this home in Bangalore, India, designed by Greyscale Design Studio, embraces modern design while paying homage to its natural surroundings. “The couple wanted their home to be inclusive, with each space capable of being a gathering point. They were keen for the home to be open to greenery and that each material [should] have a unique significance,” says Ninu Ahluwalia, one of the principal architects who worked on this project.
The facade, composed of three levels, is characterised by a combination of white and brick. A balcony, enclosed in a brick latticework screen, protrudes outward, indicating the home’s first floor, while the ground and top levels are painted white. An enclosed car park is accommodated beneath the balcony.
The main door directs visitors up a flight of stairs to the first floor, which hosts the main sections of the home.
Thinking of renovating? Find an architect on Houzz to design your dream home
Thinking of renovating? Find an architect on Houzz to design your dream home
The living room lies to the right of the first-floor entrance. Here, the seating layout – composed of a built-in bench and tangerine sofas – runs the length of two walls, channelling negative space towards the centre of the room. A television and floating console occupy the remaining wall. The cement oxide ceiling provides a rustic offset to the pared-back, white walls.
The dining room is crowned by a double-height ceiling that serves to visually augment its volume. The dining table, flanked by a rib-backed bench on one side and a pair of tufted chairs on the other, is an extension of the kitchen island. Gold-hued pendants top the setting, providing a metallic lift to the matt textures of the area.
“The palette throughout is organic, with exposed brick walls, kota stone [a type of local limestone] and cement-oxide flooring, terracotta slabs, exposed concrete roofs and handmade plaster accents playing a starring role in the aesthetic,” says Sanjay Kumar, an architect who also worked on this project.
“The palette throughout is organic, with exposed brick walls, kota stone [a type of local limestone] and cement-oxide flooring, terracotta slabs, exposed concrete roofs and handmade plaster accents playing a starring role in the aesthetic,” says Sanjay Kumar, an architect who also worked on this project.
The kitchen is an organic extension of the dining room. A slate-grey palette defines the benchtop and columns, while the cabinetry wears a timber front. A square-top chimney mirrors the linearity of the island below.
To the left of the first-floor entrance is the balcony, open to the sky, which defines the exterior of the house. A perforated brick wall filters sunlight indoors through an interplay of light and shadow.
“The lattice screen lends itself to the indoor garden, which shares a wall with the kitchen,” says Girish Mysore, an architect at Greyscale Design Studio.
“The lattice screen lends itself to the indoor garden, which shares a wall with the kitchen,” says Girish Mysore, an architect at Greyscale Design Studio.
A sitting space, also open to the sky, makes a pleasant connection between the dining and living areas. A mud plaster wall acts as the backdrop for a bijou garden. Seating takes the form of a three-seater swing that echoes the design of the dining bench.
The couple’s bedroom houses a sweeping built-in bed large enough to accommodate their children as well. The feature wall has a cement-oxide finish that extends up to the ceiling. The floor echoes the grey colour scheme. To the left, a row of louvred shuttered windows occupies most of the wall, offering a view of the courtyard below.
“The windows of all the rooms open into the central courtyard. It serves as a centre for interaction,” says Ahluwalia.
The daughters’ bedroom is divided into various zones. An activity table, stationed next to the courtyard-facing window, provides a place for study and reading. A ladder connects the room to a mezzanine level, where a large window welcomes in sunlight.
“The mezzanine level provides a playful twist to the room and keeps the girls entertained. It is suspended from the roof by three support rods,” says Kumar.
“The mezzanine level provides a playful twist to the room and keeps the girls entertained. It is suspended from the roof by three support rods,” says Kumar.
The first-floor passageway skirts the upper section of the central courtyard.
“Clad in leather-finished kota stone, the passageway is tailored for the senior members of the home. You’ll also notice an absence of curtains in the home. This is because most of the windows are inward-looking. And the windows facing the outdoors are beautifully shrouded in greenery or covered with louvred wooden windows,” says Mysore.
A staircase and winding balustrade connects the first and second floors.
Browse more striking staircase designs
Browse more striking staircase designs
The home’s signature textured brick aesthetic extends to its rear exterior.
This floor plan shows the ground-floor layout…
…The first-floor plan is indicated here…
…The second-floor layout is shown here…
…And the final top-floor plan depicts the terrace above.
Your turn
What elements of this design do you love? Share your thoughts in the Comments below. And remember to like this story and save your favourite images to an ideabook for inspiration.
More
Craving another dose of great design? If you liked this home you’ll love this USA Houzz Tour: A Make-Up Artist’s Clever New York Apartment
Your turn
What elements of this design do you love? Share your thoughts in the Comments below. And remember to like this story and save your favourite images to an ideabook for inspiration.
More
Craving another dose of great design? If you liked this home you’ll love this USA Houzz Tour: A Make-Up Artist’s Clever New York Apartment
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple, their two daughters, and the husband’s parents
Location: Bangalore, India
Year built: 2019
Size: 325 square metres with five bedrooms and six bathrooms
Design firm: Greyscale Design Studio