Tropical Bali meets grandma’s nostalgic backyard in a Hyderabad home by 23 Degrees Design Shift

A central manduva, green backyards laden with supple sunlight and a verandah that wraps around spaces in a comforting embrace — this 14,000 sq ft home tucked in a mango orchard and fields of Mansanpally, Hyderabad, is reminiscent of summers spent listening to grandmother’s stories. 

Designed by 23 Degrees Design Shift, it’s like walking into the pages of a Sudha Murthy story: simple, soulful and evocative. The traditional Andhra manduva logili inspired home balances the idea of a tropical Bali retreat with the charm of a childhood scrapbook summer vacation: running barefoot through mango orchards, the soil cool underfoot and air thick with the sweet scent of ripening fruit. Born from the homeowner’s vision to transform a single-bedroom farmhouse into a getaway space for his extended family, Neelesh Kumar, Principal Architect designed a space mindful of communal living without compromising on privacy. 

At the heart of the home is a reimagined manduva (courtyard) – a space for the whole family to gather and get together. True to its rural roots with the use of natural materials, like the leather-finish Kota stone cool underfoot and woodwork, it keeps up with the contemporary needs with modern elements.

A mandwa for family gatherings

As you approach the space, a narrow passage winds through the mango orchard, leading to a serene waterbody. Crossing which you arrive at the semi-open verandah, from where you can catch a glimpse of the living and dining space and the heart of the home– the mandwa. Surrounded by verdure, a circular waterbody takes the centre stage. A wooden deck suspended above the water creates a perfect gathering spot for the family. As each of the quarters flow into the manduva, the deck acts as a vantage point  to view the private spaces that surround it. 

Roofs, roots and reimagination

A traditional mandwa was meant for joint families with large spaces – rooms and open areas, usually four living blocks with a courtyard at the centre. “I particularly found reinterpreting the traditional design enjoyable. The idea was not to just open the courtyard on all sides, but also enhance its functional value whilst maintaining the connection to nature,” shares Neelesh.

The four living blocks of a traditional manduva are detached, yet brought together under one roof, keeping alive the essence of vernacular design while adapting to meet the contemporary needs. These separations allow better natural ventilation and ensure that each of the private quarters have access to their own private green space. “The most challenging aspect,” Neelesh adds, “was designing the roof, fragmenting it into four parts while maintaining a unified look and constructing it entirely in wood without metal structures.”

Andhra’s palette Bali’s soul

The material palette of this farmhouse is natural with earthy tones, rooted and simplistic. As the homeowners wanted the home to reflect the intimate connection with nature, the farmhouse has a leather-finish Kota stone flooring, white micro-topping walls and brown sandstone, giving the space a vernacular touch.

Traditional elements like natural timber and Spanish terrace tiles, allude to the rural setting of the house. Then like a Balinese resort, large glass openings unite the indoors with outdoors. 

The Courtyard house is much more than a farmhouse, it’s a tender ode to simpler times and shared laughter. It brings together the earthy charm of a grandmother’s stories with the breeze indulgence of a Balinese vacation. Every element from the earthy tones of Kota stone to the verdure of the courtyards that swells into the spaces, whispers of a life lived closer to nature. Here under the canopy of a wooden roof, family bonds flourish, stories are exchanged and the rhythm of rural life finds a harmonious beat with contemporary comfort.

Read more: This Mumbai home by Quirk Studio mirrors an Indian modern storybook charm