Mediterranean warmth grounds a Bengaluru home

Source Architecture designs a villa that three generations call their abode

24 Jun 2026

In North Bengaluru’s Rajanukunte, a row villa set within a Mediterranean-themed development finds its fullest expression in the hands of Sneha Ostawal of Source Architecture. The exterior of arches, moulded facades and warm masonry was already established by the development’s overarching design language. Ostawal’s task was to carry that vocabulary inward, and to layer it with something far more particular: the domestic rhythm of a three-generation Indian household. “The brief was intentionally simple,” Sneha recalls. “Create a home that functions well, feels warm and is filled with natural light and ventilation without anything that feels overtly styled or artificial.” With those words as a compass, Source Architecture set about designing a space that breathes.

The home spans 4,000 sq ft across four levels, housing four bedrooms, a study, a private garden and a terrace. The ground floor serves as the communal heart, with the living area, dining room and kitchen opening onto a 500 sq. ft garden. The first floor holds the parents’ bedroom and a guest room, each with an attached bathroom and private balcony. The second floor is the family’s most intimate zone, a master bedroom, a children’s room and a family lounge. The top floor becomes a home office and study that spills onto a generous deck with a swing, armchairs and a fireplace.

“Mediterranean living and Indian family life share fundamental values; both prioritise natural ventilation, outdoor living and homes that evolve with the family.”

- Sneha Ostawal

Source Architecture — The walnut portal doorframe connects the kitchen to the dining and living areas; Magari table, dusty rose chairs and Dtale Modern chandelier anchor the dining end; Photography by Nayan Soni

LIGHT FROM ABOVE

The moment one enters, a triple-height foyer commands attention. Wooden rafters cross overhead, skylights draw daylight deep into the home’s core, and the walls, painted in a warm white with the faintest green undertone, shift in tone as sunlight moves across them throughout the day. Statement chandeliers from Pottery Barn anchor the volume without overwhelming it. “The volume creates a sense of generosity and openness while also drawing hot air upward and facilitating natural ventilation,” explains Ostawal. Given that the row villa has openings on only two sides, every arch placement, door alignment and vertical volume was meticulously calibrated to encourage air movement. Even during Bengaluru’s warmer months, the living spaces remain comfortable with minimal reliance on air conditioning.

ARCHES AND HONEST MATERIALS

The Mediterranean vocabulary is most vivid in the arched teak niches flanking the dining area, the ornamental wrought-iron railings, and the exposed wooden rafters, all executed by Space Craft Contractors. What keeps it grounded, however, is the material honesty running through every room. Natural stone covers the primary living areas, valued as much for its thermal properties as for its texture. Wood flooring warms the private zones. Wrought iron replaces conventional steel in railings and light fixtures, lending the home a sturdy, timeless quality.

Furniture is largely custom-designed and locally fabricated through Magari, incorporating woven leather, rattan and natural fabrics, linen and cotton chosen for their breathability. Rugs from Obeetee and Jaipur Rugs anchor individual rooms, while decor from Pottery Barn, West Elm and Amala Earth add carefully considered warmth. “Mediterranean living and Indian family life share fundamental values; both prioritise natural ventilation, outdoor living and homes that evolve with the family.”— Sneha Ostawal, Source Architecture.

ROOM BY ROOM

Each bedroom carries its own personality while remaining loyal to the home’s warm, earthy palette. The parents’ and master bedrooms feature custom four-poster beds with leather-backed headboards from Magari, paired with table lamps from Orange Tree, art from Artisera Gallery and rugs from Jaipur Rugs. The children’s room is anchored by a coffered timber ceiling and a woven leather bench at the foot of the bed. The top floor study, dressed in dusty mauve walls, arched niche shelving and a trio of glass pendant lights from Pottery Barn, is quietly compelling, a room that invites you to sit down and stay. The kitchen, fitted by W&K by Magari with Siemens and Hafele appliances, introduces the one deliberate jolt of colour: olive green cabinetry against a white stone counter, glimpsed through a walnut arched doorframe. It earns every bit of attention it gets.

THE GARDEN AS HEART

The 500 sq. ft garden extending directly from the dining area is not ornamental. It is a natural extension of the living space, compensating for what might otherwise feel like a compact footprint, allowing the family to host large gatherings, give children room to play and carry the indoor warmth outside. This indoor-outdoor relationship embodies both the Mediterranean tradition of outdoor dining and the Indian cultural instinct for communal outdoor space. In this home, those two traditions do not compete. They converge, quite naturally and without fuss.