Amaltash House

This G+2 structure includes a thoughtfully laid-out foyer, vestibule, drawing room, living area, two kitchens, five bedrooms, a multipurpose room, a second-floor lounge, and a courtyard with a patio.

In a time of visual consumption, we believe in guiding our clients through a journey of understanding the nuances of design and the life it brings to their home.

Although we believe architecture should be informed by the natural elements—light, life, site, and context—our cultural roots often call for a different sensitivity.

To ensure the home is in harmony with Navsari's climate, we've strategically designed the structure to mitigate harsh southern sunlight, especially in the living and drawing areas.

There is a south-facing tropical garden that will flourish under the sun over the years, while patios protect interior spaces from glare. An 18-foot-high window system, with carefully crafted shutters, fills the rooms with natural, glare-free northern light.

This is the essence of our design approach—more than just aesthetics, it's about building a home that breathes with its surroundings.

Refined technology and mechanisms have enabled us to craft a home that is both functional and forward-thinking. The project has also allowed us to engage deeply with the design of custom furniture for each room, aligning each piece with the overall narrative of the home.

In our material choices, we've drawn inspiration from the beauty of locally - sourced Indian marble, particularly lesser-known varieties that often go unused but add a richness of colour, hue, and texture.

We have created custom patterns in local materials like Indian sandstone pavers and Indian granite for the patio, giving a tactile warmth and authenticity to the outdoor spaces. Together, these elements create a home that feels deeply rooted in its context.

The staircase, with its cantilevered flight, embodies our dedication to functional beauty. Dividing the patios of the drawing and living rooms creates a passage of six feet at the highest point, providing a cozy, inviting space on both sides under the staircase.

One of the most interesting stories is about integrating solar panels at a 14-degree south-facing angle, resulting in a naturally sloping structure above the second floor.

This slope informed the architectural form of the lounge, allowing us to create a taller volume and incorporate a small mezzanine with a cozy bed, a library, and a small "Rapunzel" window that frames the sky.

LANDSCAPE AND ECOSYSTEM 

The landscape is imagined as a tropical micro-ecosystem - planted with local tree varieties that provide both shade and sun, positioned thoughtfully to nurture and grow with time.

To reduce water consumption, we've avoided traditional lawns, instead creating shaded baithaks where clients can relax, connect, and simply be outdoors. The rainwater tank in this courtyard becomes the only hardscape surface providing a functional platform for picnics, morning chai, and evening banters under the trees.

Pathways are filled with sand, referencing the textures of Navsari's Dandi beach and adding a soft, natural movement to circulation.

INTEGRATING DETAILS, CRAFT, AND COLLABORATIONS 

Our projects are always in a constant state of evolution. We stress being fluid; to create a collection of forms, shapes, and experiences that shape the space and get shaped by it, with different elements coming together to create a distinct narrative.

We work closely with our artisans at different stages of the projects, resolving and refining the details. Design is a way of life, and this is why we look to various aspects for inspiration.

Rather than filling the house with curated objects, each element is designed with context in mind, offering a dialogue between space, function, and inhabitant. We see the home as a sanctuary where each room resonates with the client's life and vision, capturing an essence that is timeless and rooted.

For us, architecture is sacred. Each detail is deliberate, each millimeter purposeful. There's no need for adornment or embellishment when the architecture is thoughtful and precise.

Our work seeks to achieve a balance of structure and service, of light and life, leaving behind clean, uncluttered spaces that speak in their own quiet way.

We have also tried to work with a lot of young product, light, and textile designers and even artists in this project, which has helped us create a stronger, ever-growing design community that thrives and supports each other.

We've woven the same tones, hues, and colours throughout the entire home by engaging in thoughtful collaborations. Priyanka from Wicker Story has created a unique ceiling installation, while Harshita Jhamthani and LBH have designed custom lighting.

The double-height living room features a 12-foot artwork from Shahenshah Mittal from Delhi, and there is a folding partition screen from Raasleela Textiles, crafted using the traditional Sujani technique, which is a dying craft.

We have worked with a few artisans from Rajasthan for stone elements in the landscape, along with artwork from Morii and sculptures in ceramics by Keph Design Studio and House of Soko, a terrazzo swing and a dining table top by Rohan Shroff, and a light installation by Silvi Panchal. These collaborations allow us to establish a rooted, yet evolving design narrative that grows with each piece.

"Craft is generational, Design is intentional." Craft carries the weight of generations, evolving through inherited skill, while design is a response to the present, always shifting.