A Balinese beach house in Udupi

Vriksh designs a home by the backwaters of Udupi

03 Feb 2026

This home feels like an act of refusal. Spread across 3,600 sq ft on a narrow strip of land between the Arabian Sea and the backwaters of Padukere, Udupi, this holiday home proposes a gentler alternative to the daily rules of routine we tie ourselves to. Designed by Sonal Shetty Rao and Amit Rao of Vriksh, it draws from the spirit of a Balinese beach house that is relaxed, porous and unpretentious. Glass becomes the primary mediator between inside and out, framing expansive views while letting light and air do most of the talking.

The setting does much of the heavy lifting: waves on one side, still water on the other, and the sense that time moves differently.

“Conceived as a contemporary homage to Balinese living, the residence takes its cues from the island’s traditional roof forms while opening up its plan to embrace the spectacular 360-degree views surrounding the site”

- Sonal Shetty Rao and Amit Rao, Vriksh

Covered sit-out with stone flooring, swing seating, indoor planting, and openings toward the sea; Photography by Shamanth Patil

A dweller’s paradise

The entrance tells this story best. A dwara pala inspired by Bali’s angkul-angkul gateways, signals a transition from the public realm into a protected inner world. Beyond it, a stone pathway winds through dense planting, with a lily pond and statues gently shaping the way inward.

A life-size painting of Buddha is meant to set the tone for what lies ahead. The homeowner, an avid traveller, wanted the house to carry traces of places that had left a lasting impression, and Bali emerged as a recurring influence. Recycled wood, slate and limestone sourced from the island lend the home a grounded materiality, while lily ponds and shaded sit-outs soften the architecture’s edges. There’s a suspended swing that feels almost inevitable in a house like this. And then there’s the view: uninterrupted and undeniably indulgent.

Dining space with coconut shell chandelier from Bali, stone flooring by The Stone Company, Fenesta windows and Bali-sourced furniture; Photography by Shamanth Patil

Living room opening to sea and backwaters with grey limestone flooring by The Stone Company, bamboo furniture, wood rafters with bamboo mat infill and Fenesta windows; Photography by Shamanth Patil

A coeval homage to Bali

The dining room, overlooking the ocean, is anchored by a live-edge table whose irregular form brings a sense of ease. Above it hangs a coconut shell chandelier sourced from Bali, casting a warm, dappled glow as evening sets in. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow daylight to flood the room, accompanied by the sound of waves in the distance. The ocean-facing deck naturally becomes a favourite while the master bedroom offers a contrasting view of the backwaters. A bathtub positioned to face the water completes the picture.

This is a home that lives by susegad. It anticipates your return even as your stay draws to a close. More than a destination, it becomes a reminder of how it feels to live with ease and not just exist.