Geometry in the city of lakes

A garden that floats

The journey begins beneath a terrazzo-lined corridor, where inverted clay pots nestle within the filler-slab ceiling, a tactile nod to traditional craft that keeps the entry cool and grounded in heritage. Sculpted greens flank the path, drawing one closer to the main threshold. Here, the Indian ritual of removing one’s shoes becomes a sensory pause as feet meet the cool, textured surface of black Madras stone.
With the ground floor leased out, the concept of a backyard had to be reimagined. The answer: a lush northeast-facing terrace alive with planters, herbs and quiet seating nooks. This garden floats above the street, dictating how rooms open, how light spills and how air breathes through the home. “We began exploring ways to elevate the garden experience — literally and conceptually — by designing upper-level terraces, planters and double height volumes that allowed light, air and greenery to become central elements of the home,” says Aman.

Hills in the house

Step inside and the Aravalli influence sharpens into architectural drama. Double-height volumes in the staircase block, the drawing room and the living area frame a dramatic interior topography. A wide ramp intersects the drawing room from above, while slit-panelled glass windows bring in sculpted daylight from the upper reaches. Below, sliding glass panels reveal the verdant terrace, overflowing with flowering plants and creepers, a sensory oasis echoing the homeowner’s passion for gardening.

The same textured stone that clads the exterior flows inside, keeping the palette grounded and rooted. Black Kadappa anchors circulation paths with a cool, calming presence underfoot, while red jasper appears like punctuation in the form of sculptural side tables that double as art. Aluminium and metal accents temper stone’s warmth, creating a balance between raw and refined. From the far end of the living room, a discreet passage leads to private bedrooms, ensuring complete spatial separation. Another stairway heightens the drama, weaving staircases, drawing rooms and living volumes into a unified choreography of light, scale and movement. At the top floor, a large study anchors the space, its expansive windows opening onto a terrace that overlooks the one below. This layered outdoor connection blurs boundaries, encouraging exploration and dialogue between levels.

Against this strong material frame, soft craft moments sing. A cascading textile installation drops into a double-height wall. Drukriti’s suspended crimson and white silk-paper origami weaving between drawing and living rooms, catching light and shadow as it hovers. These elements humanize the architecture, making it feel lived in. Aman says, “The material palette for the home draws deeply from the rugged vastness and geological richness of the Aravalli range — its earthy hues, stratified textures and artisanal legacy.”

Cool, calm, louvred

The living room wedged against a narrow western setback could have been hot and exposed. Instead, a grid of tall vertical louvres, each angled with precision, turns a challenge into a signature detail. Glazing between the louvres softens the light, breaking harsh sun into a gentle, shifting glow. The room breathes naturally, pulling breezes across the space while keeping privacy intact.

Here, the living room becomes a quiet shrine of solitude anchored in silence and stillness where material honesty and environmental logic converge. The bridge overhead, the interplay of heights and the rhythm of light through louvres choreograph a sense of retreat without disconnecting from the whole.

Rooted in the rugged poetry of the Aravallis yet elevated above the street, the home redefines space through layers of light, texture and thoughtful spatial choreography. In the end, it whispers a tale of transformation where constraints become catalysts and space itself tells a story.

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