Minimalist home on a farmland

Alter Architects blends dark tones with tropical architecture in Gujarat

13 Jun 2025

Tucked away in the serene green heart of a farmland in Gujarat, this farmhouse is a striking departure from the conventional. Surrounded by shady mango and chikoo trees, the 2,500 sq ft home embraces a curious, dark theme, unusual for its tropical setting. Designed by Chitra Sindhkar, Principal Designer at Alter Architects with co-founders Parth Patel, Shil Shah and Aditya Umrajkar, the project explores the intersection of contemporary tropical architecture and minimalist design. “To let the space speak for itself, we intentionally kept the interiors minimal and unadorned,” explains Chitra. The home holds two bedrooms, a living room, a dining area, and a kitchen that exists in harmony with nature.

“The dense vegetation of the site was very inspiring for us. We wanted the house to co-exist with it. We were also very mindful of preserving the existing trees on the site” — Chitra Sindhkar

Surrounded by dense, shady mango and chikoo trees, the home embraces a bold, dark theme, unusual for its tropical setting; Photography by Tejas Shah

Ideas cultivated from nature

A spacious, paved forecourt holds a lush garden that welcomes visitors, followed by a series of steps that lead the way to the front porch . A metal perforated screen creates a dance of light and shadows that paints patterns on the wall throughout the day. The double-heighted space with its pitched roof embraces ample natural light. The kitchen and living room merge into each other, while The dining space uses an elegant live-edge dining table, which stretches into the outdoor space, the deck and the swimming pool, a transition to the bountiful nature outside.

The home does not incorporate a single style but instead focuses on the homeowners needs resulting in an uncluttered, minimalist space where the surrounding nature and design intervention makes their own statements. “The dense vegetation of the site was very inspiring for us, and we wanted the house to respect it and co-exist with it. We were also very mindful of preserving the existing trees on the site” says Chitra.

The entrance porch uses a jali to draw shadows on the floor, which has textured tiles with a granite border; Photography by Tejas Shah

The master bedroom uses an on-site customised bed, metal work by Mahir steel and lights from Geo lights; Photography by Tejas Shah

Fruit of a dark intervention

Gray and black are visually a dark change amongst the green surroundings; a playful switch from the wood textures of the farmhouse. The integration of raw, organic textures are seen through the black steel of the screens that make up the space division, wall panelling and rafters. “To let the space speak for itself we intentionally kept the interiors as minimal and unadorned,” says Chitra. The walls have a concrete finish that complements the dark theme, just like the muted black floor tiles, alleviated by the wood panelling and furniture pieces. Using the natural ability of sunlight to elevate the space, the home uses large openings which also ensures cross-ventilation and a direct visual connection to the outside. The design language remains consistent, creating an uncluttered, minimalist space that weaves into the surrounding environment.