Houzz Tour: A Context-Sensitive Weekend Home Near Mumbai
This sprawling getaway's architecture is a response to its surroundings
Set amidst thriving verdant greenery is this vast home, located in the town of Malavli between Mumbai and Pune. The architects were originally commissioned to design a new structure after completely clearing away the existing building on site – a dilapidated 20-year-old bungalow which had extensive structural damage. “A study of the site and surroundings led us to rethink our approach,” Sangeeta Merchant, Principal Architect of Spasm, says. Instead of doing away with the existing features and landscape to level the site completely, their new approach to the project involved building the fresh structure on the rubble of the demolished bungalow, while ensuring that all the trees on the land were preserved. Christened ‘Gomati’, a touching tribute to the memory of the client’s mother, the new home is designed to withstand the heavy monsoon rains in the area, and serves as a weekend getaway and sanctuary for the family to enjoy nature.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with their three children
Location: Malavli, 35 miles from Mumbai
Year built: 2016
Size: 929 square metres (10,000 square feet)
Interior design: Sangeeta Merchant, Sagar Mehta, Divyesh Kargathra, Mansoor Ali Kudalkar and Sanjeev Panjabi of Spasm
Photos by Sebastian Zachariah and Ira Gosalia | PHX India
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with their three children
Location: Malavli, 35 miles from Mumbai
Year built: 2016
Size: 929 square metres (10,000 square feet)
Interior design: Sangeeta Merchant, Sagar Mehta, Divyesh Kargathra, Mansoor Ali Kudalkar and Sanjeev Panjabi of Spasm
Photos by Sebastian Zachariah and Ira Gosalia | PHX India
The house emerges from a mound which was formed from the debris of the original building that was demolished. “We positioned the main living areas on the upper levels to give the residents the best views of the surrounding trees and greenery,” Merchant says.
The driveway leads into the sheltered entrance to the home, protected from the weather but open to light and air. The house consists of two levels – the lower floor, which includes a casual family room, a kitchen and five bedrooms, and an upper floor which includes the formal living and dining areas as well as the terrace and swimming pool.
The family room, lined with sliding glass partitions, looks out directly on to open-to-sky courtyards on either side.
The courtyards were built around existing trees and plants from the original site which were left undisturbed. “The courtyards enhance the sense of contact with nature; one can connect with the air, the changing light and the weather,” Merchant says.
Here’s another home built around courtyards
Here’s another home built around courtyards
The positioning of the courtyards also ensures that the rooms that are partially underground receive enough light and ventilation. The five bedrooms on this lower level are sheltered from the heavy torrential rain that this region experiences. “The subterranean location also ensures that these spaces are kept naturally cool by the surrounding earth in warmer months,” Merchant says.
Blue-grey Kota stone has been used extensively throughout the home. A natural stone found in the region, this material was chosen because of its weather-proof qualities. Rugged and hardy, Kota stone is known to offer protection from the harsh humidity and heavy rains. It also lends a distinct aesthetic character to the home.
Another factor that played a role in the choice of this material was its availability in different formats, which were used throughout the home – in chips, strips, slabs and cove-cut skirtings.
“In some rooms, the stone is polished, while in others it is left rough, to add texture,” Merchant says. The stone is also used for walls and flooring in the interior.
Read about other stone flooring options suited to Indian homes
“In some rooms, the stone is polished, while in others it is left rough, to add texture,” Merchant says. The stone is also used for walls and flooring in the interior.
Read about other stone flooring options suited to Indian homes
A stairway leads to the upper storey of the home, which is at ground level. This storey includes the formal living and dining rooms. Covered walkways enhance the connect with the outdoors. “This home is all about the elements. One can sense the changes in light intensity and the mood of the rain,” Merchant says.
See more inside-outside living spaces.
See more inside-outside living spaces.
The living and dining areas on this level are ensconced within glass pavilions that look out on to the outdoor terrace. The furnishings throughout the home are kept contemporary and minimal. Brass light fixtures, hardware and an assortment of wooden furniture were custom-designed by the architects.
Strips of Kota stone are used for the flooring of the vast open terrace. This terrace includes an outdoor dining space and goes on to a swimming pool that extends all the way to the edge of the garden.
The massive boundary walls of the pool are set in green grounds that gradually slope away to the far end of the garden.
The architects retained as many trees as possible on the site, thus allowing the home to seamlessly blend into its surroundings.
“We hope we’ve created a space for this family to live a life in harmony with the elements – a place under the sky that lets them soak in the breezes, enjoy the rains, marvel at nature’s wonders and revel in the feel of cool grass beneath their feet,” Merchant concludes.
Read more:
Mumbai Houzz: Actor John Abraham’s Home is an Oasis of Calm & Style
Jaipur Houzz: A City Bungalow Dazzles With Rajasthani Accents
Tell us:
What did you like best about this house? Share in Comments below.
“We hope we’ve created a space for this family to live a life in harmony with the elements – a place under the sky that lets them soak in the breezes, enjoy the rains, marvel at nature’s wonders and revel in the feel of cool grass beneath their feet,” Merchant concludes.
Read more:
Mumbai Houzz: Actor John Abraham’s Home is an Oasis of Calm & Style
Jaipur Houzz: A City Bungalow Dazzles With Rajasthani Accents
Tell us:
What did you like best about this house? Share in Comments below.