In Ahmedabad, Formhouse Architecture and Design creates a family home that honours memory and heritage, weaving Gujarati craft, colour, and comfort into everyday life.
Curated by: Deepa Nair
Photographs: The Space Tracing Company; courtesy Formhouse Architecture and Design
The brief
Formhouse Architecture and Design was approached by the Ahmedabad-based Shah family with a deeply personal vision: to create a home that would honour the memory of their late mother while carrying forward their Gujarati heritage for the next generation. They wanted spaces that evoke the warmth of their childhood and hold the stories they hope to share with their two daughters. More than a showpiece, the house was to be a living canvas for memory, tradition, and everyday life—a place where emotions and legacy could find form.
The design intent
The design evolved as an act of remembrance and renewal. Every detail reflects the family’s roots while allowing the home to grow and adapt with them over time. It stands as both a tribute and a promise… a home where the past is cherished, the present is celebrated, and the future is nurtured. At its core, the design seeks balance—between drama and comfort, form and feeling. For a family of six, the home needed to be both a sanctuary and a stage, where daily life unfolds freely yet meaningfully. The floorplan therefore distinguishes between public and private zones, each shaped with its own character and intent.
“The public areas, where the family gathers and entertains, are imagined as vibrant, sensory spaces. Colours, patterns, and textures work together to create a setting that feels lively yet grounded. These zones invite connection and joy, adapting easily from festive gatherings to everyday family moments,” explains Rishva Patel, principal architect, Formhouse Architecture and Design. “In contrast, the private spaces take on a gentler language. The bedrooms are designed with a sense of calm and restraint, their clean lines and subtle materials creating a backdrop for rest and reflection. Each one is a personal retreat, tailored to individual comfort while remaining part of the larger narrative of the home,” she adds.
The civil intervention
The 3,000 sq ft apartment originally featured five bedrooms and six bathrooms, finished with basic whitewashed walls, standard tiling, and fitted accessories. Formhouse reimagined the layout to align with the Shah family’s lifestyle and love for hosting.
Significant civil changes were introduced—the entire flooring and all bathrooms were redone, while one of the guest bedrooms and its bath were removed to create a larger entertainment area. This reconfiguration brought openness to the plan, improving circulation and fostering connection between spaces. The redesigned layout bridges the formal and informal zones seamlessly, creating an airy entryway and a sense of continuity throughout the home. The result is a space that balances comfort with versatility, welcoming both family and guests with ease.
The spatial configuration
The reimagined layout opens into a broad, light-filled entryway that bridges the formal and informal zones of the home. This threshold establishes an immediate sense of openness and ease, welcoming both family and guests while naturally guiding movement inward. At the heart of the plan lies the entertainment zone which is created by merging one of the original bedrooms into a larger gathering area.
Designed with colour, pattern and texture, the public spaces—living, dining and entertainment—are engaging and expressive. They encourage interaction and togetherness, making them equally suited to festive gatherings and relaxed family evenings. The flow between these areas is seamless, maintaining a sense of visual connection while allowing for fluid movement across the home.
In contrast, the four bedrooms form more secluded zones, designed for rest and reflection. Each one embraces restraint through clean lines, soft materials and an atmosphere of calm. These rooms act as private retreats, offering comfort and intimacy away from the social core of the house. Circulation within the home balances openness with privacy, ensuring the transition between shared and personal spaces feels natural and intuitive. The result is a spatial composition that is both inviting and composed—a home that accommodates celebration and stillness with equal ease.
The material and colour palette
Locally sourced Kota stone flooring and Limocoat lime-plastered walls lend the home an understated sense of timelessness. Textured and tactile, these surfaces form a neutral canvas against which colour, craft and detail come alive. Wallpaper from Kalakaarihaath adds visual interest in the daughters’ rooms, guest room and pooja space, while a striking design from Sabyasachi’s Nilaya series elevates the wardrobe in the master bedroom.
Soft furnishings across the home feature traditional textiles from Sabyasachi and Raiff by Aerodrape, their patterns lending depth and warmth to the interiors. Exquisite rugs from Obeetee further layer comfort and artistry underfoot. A 600-year-old Patola frame, sourced locally, anchors the master bedroom with history and reverence, while vibrant Pichwai paintings from Udaipur animate the living and dining areas with cultural richness. Artworks sourced from The House of Things and Ikkadukka punctuate the entertainment zone and passageway, bringing curated personality to each space.
Custom-crafted Rajwadi doors, windows, frames and pitara trunks from Gujarat Handicrafts introduce grandeur through intricate workmanship, tying the home’s visual narrative to its regional roots. Together, these details create a setting that is rich in memory, layered in meaning, and deeply rooted in Gujarati craft traditions—a home where heritage finds graceful expression within contemporary design.
Fact file
Project: Aapnu Ghar
Location: Ahmedabad
Area: 3,000 sq ft
Principal architect: Rishva Patel
Civil contractor: Yogesh Patel
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