Set in a tropical village on the outskirts of Bombay, this existing family home has been reimagined with a contemporary identity and an annexure that responds meaningfully to its lush context. The transformation gives the old structure a new architectural language, where modern lines, fresh materiality, and a renewed façade unite the past and present into a seamless composition.
When the project entered the studio, it arrived with a compelling challenge: to retain the original beam–column–slab framework while addressing its lack of engagement with the surrounding landscape. Although the original proportions held potential, the home’s inward-looking character and minimal openings prevented it from embracing the tropical environment. The structure sat isolated on its site, missing opportunities for natural ventilation, daylight, and meaningful indoor–outdoor interaction.
The studio approached this transformation by opening the plan as much as the structural shell allowed. Walls were removed or expanded to invite nature into the footprint, ensuring the landscape became an active participant rather than a distant backdrop. The new design envelops the old, merging volumes, materials, and spatial gestures so fluidly that the transition between existing and new becomes imperceptible.
The early 90s farmhouse had small windows, high parapets, and limited outdoor connectivity. Recognizing that tropical living thrives on shaded openness, the designers reinterpreted the shell by carving out generous openings and reconfiguring spaces for cross-ventilation and natural light. A new programme was carefully stitched into the old, ensuring unified expression.
Materiality plays a central role in grounding the design. The lower mass, clad in contour stone slabs, evokes a structure rooted in the earth, while the upper level features a wooden brise-soleil that introduces lightness and celebrates tropical architectural character. A large double veranda becomes the heart of the home, opening to the landscape and pool, creating a harmonious gradient from indoor to semi-outdoor to open spaces. The arrival sequence, defined by a porte cochere perched on a stone installation, guides visitors toward both the main entrance and the annexed clubhouse.
With a sensitive, sustainability-driven approach, the studio honored the existing topography, vegetation, and structural shell. Instead of a complete overhaul, the design builds with and around the original, crafting a home that feels integrated, timeless, and deeply connected to its natural surroundings.
