Minimalism measured in Bengaluru

A Bengaluru family residence by ADND holds luxury and restraint in quiet equilibrium

11 Aug 2026

For Shobhan Kothari, partner and architect at multidisciplinary studio ADND, luxury in homes has never been defined by what a space displays but by what kind of life it allows to take shape within its walls. The architect has always asked the harder question: how should a home make one feel? With Vista Villa, an 8,000 sq ft Bengaluru residence, the team strives to do exactly that.

From the outset, the emphasis was on how the family envisioned spending their time together: sunlit mornings lingered over, weekends animated with friends and quieter hours reserved for reflection. “Our direction was to work on simplicity with purpose. The outcome had to be luxurious but never ostentatious. As the vision sharpened, the design moved beyond a floor plan. It became a narrative which allowed living, dining and leisure to converge in a spatial rhythm,” says Shobhan.

“A restrained, monochrome palette is elevated through the play of textures. Veined stones, fluted surfaces, brushed metals and plush fabrics are each chosen to create a tactile sense of luxury without excess”

Shobhan Kothari

What makes the space

Sharing the tenets he feels best represent the home’s experience, Shobhan adds, “The design is inspired by the interplay of space, light and proportion.” Forging an uninterrupted connection between the inside and the outside, double-height volumes and uninterrupted sightlines carry one through the three-storeyed residence. Spatial planning takes precedence within — social areas are sculpted for gatherings and grand entertaining alike, the master floor morphs into a private sanctuary, while the children’s spaces echo a playful sensibility.

Layered luxury

In the considered absence of overt ornamentation, texture assumes a defining role. “A restrained, monochrome palette is elevated through the play of textures. Veined stones, fluted surfaces, brushed metals and plush fabrics are each chosen to create a tactile sense of luxury without excess,” he highlights. A medley of crisp whites, soft greys and deep charcoals wash over the shell, allowing accents of midnight blues, forest greens and warm metals to catch daylight in flitting glimpses.

With an expansive canvas entrusted in one’s hands as carte blanche, the challenge is seldom scale. It’s intimacy. To address this, the studio relies on a rhythm that feels inherent to the home. Patterned fluted wall panels add continuity, punctuating large planes which could otherwise register as stark. In communal areas, black metal-framed glass grid partitions cleave spaces while ushering in diffused light. Timber’s warmth plays off the cool lustre of marble, ensuring that the palette reads as dimensional.

Composed around the daily

Rather than treating the double-height living room within the residence’s heart as a spectacle, the approach focuses on making it feel lived-in. Suspended luminaires, curated artworks and hits of colour introduce warmth, with the envelope punctured in segments to frame the garden views. The dining area is envisioned with the same intention — as a nucleus where food and conversations converge. The sculptural table becomes both stage and anchor, while the artwork charges the palette with intensity.

Undisputedly the studio’s most cherished space, the lounge upstairs melds indulgence and belonging. “The sculptural marble counter with its bold veining is the anchor, while the fluted base introduces texture. The ceiling’s sculpted form is outlined with gold accents. Suspended within this form, a free-flowing light feature echoes the room’s social energy,” Shobhan illustrates. The room opens onto two terraces, one a tranquil sky garden and the other an alfresco dining zone, celebrating the balance between effortless hospitality and familial comfort.

Tempering minimlism

In Vista Villa’s private quarters, the aesthetic takes on a more introspective mood. The bedrooms derive their nuance from materiality, thoughtful composition and proportion. Each room conjures its own atmosphere while remaining devoted to the broader themes of timelessness and refinement. The most enduring homes are seldom designed around trends. They are designed around rituals and connections. In a time when excess is often mistaken for finesse, Vista Villa chooses restraint and, in doing so, chooses longevity. Long after finishes, hues and furnishings lose their novelty, the way the home holds everyday life endures.