This Ahmedabad villa maximises green views while treading a minimal path

Studio Risa erect a tranquil living environment using nature as the protagonist.

Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Wabi-Sabi Studio by Janvi Thakkar; courtesy Studio Risa

ARC is a suburban Ahmedabad villa, home to a family of two generations living under the same roof. Located away from the main hubbub of the city, the two-storey building is surrounded by green pastures, and the star of the site itself are the 34 mature palm trees growing on the north and east. Their swaying grace, other green vistas and the sun informed the internal orientation of the layout.

“The primary design intent was to offer the users a view of lush open gardens from all the spaces of the house,” say architects and Studio Risa founders Sanchi Khandhar and Riya Patel. “The romantic idea of waking up to see your garden, or sipping on hot tea whilst lounging in your living room watching birds chirping… We wanted the clients to live an orchestrated lifestyle built on their fantasies,” they smile. Indeed, the name itself is derived from the path of the sun as all different spaces are strategically placed to receive the soft northern and eastern sunlight.

The client brief revolved around minimalism and a natural aesthetic. “Minimalism with the use of natural material and textures was something they wanted in their home,” discloses the duo. “They wanted their home to speak of their ideas and of a very simple, minimal and clutter-free lifestyle.”

The architecture planning is quite linear, due to the shape of the plot. But, thankfully, this formalisation has resulted in almost all spaces overlooking and opening to the lush green garden on the north-eastern side. The formal living, pooja room, formal dining, informal living, informal dining and family kitchen have been strategically placed for a free flow of spaces. The double-height living room forms the heart of the house, with the bedrooms opening into its soaring volume. “All the semi-private spaces are connected visually and are not confined,” Sanchi and Riya elucidate. “It is an open plan in the true sense. Only the bedrooms and bathrooms have doors!” The dining room is a particularly appealing example of the outwardly-oriented programme. With a huge garden and courtyard on one side and the lovingly created Zen garden on the other, it gets plenty of natural light and air flow.

Contributing to binding the narrational aspect, the visual expression embraces natural stone, terrazzo, light-coloured veneer and hues of brown. “We believe that nothing is as glamorous as nature,” declare the architects. “Nature and natural materials are true luxury. Minimalism is true luxury. And this project is a clear example of the same.”