Drawing the lines in Mohali

Studio Vasaka crafts home where birdsong anchors gentle living

11 Feb 2026

Kalrav, named after the melodious cadence of birdsong, draws its lines when it comes to asymmetry through an orchestration of linearity. Lines appear throughout this residence playing with perception. Slender rods extending skyward, facade articulations, stone inlays and blinds compose vertical rhythms, blending together craft into an architecture both graphic and serene.

Envisioned by lead architects Karan Arora and Varchasa from Studio Vasaka along with Nalin Kumar and Keerti Kapila, this 4,825 sq ft home in Mohali transforms a tight urban plot into a spatial meditation on memory and modernity for a senior couple. Its conceptual core comes from the crossroads of two sensibilities — the nostalgic generosity of old government bungalows and the considered pragmatism of contemporary living.

“The new site in Mohali is compact and urban, yet the architecture restores that intimacy with nature, transforming everyday life into ritual”

-Karan Arora and Varchasa

A soaring double-height living room where light, clean lines and warm textures create an airy sense of calm; Styling by Vasaka Living; Photography by Purnesh Dev Nikhanj

LIVING LINES

At the heart of the matter, Kalrav approaches materiality with an instinctive restraint. As the architects note, “We wanted the material palette of Kalrav to feel almost instinctive.” From this sensibility emerges a larger philosophy of slow living, where the interiors invite stillness and the beauty of everyday rhythms. Light, air and landscape are treated with the same importance as structure, allowing daily rituals to unfold organically. A veranda for lingering over morning tea, a terrace for quiet retreat and a courtyard that welcomes the monsoon. This courtyard forms the emotional nucleus of the home, an ever-changing stage where light drifts and silence becomes tangible, grounding the residence in a contemplative calm.

How do large spaces and structural lines create the experience of stillness in a house? The staircase answers in functionality. Connecting two floors together on both a physical and emotional level alongside a double-height lounge that lets natural light enter deep into the house and serves as the centrepiece of the family life, with all of the family collecting, sounds being absorbed and observing how the sky changes through day, all creating a visual scene that represents everyday life.

A sculptural staircase of stone, steel, and timber unfolding through light-filled vertical space; Styling by Vasaka Living; Photography by Purnesh Dev Nikhanj

Warm wood cabinetry and Clay Mango light fixture anchor a sunlit kitchen that opens seamlessly to greenery beyond; Styling by Vasaka Living; Photography by Purnesh Dev Nikhanj

CRAFT OF CALM

Ultimately, the authority of Kalrav can be explained by the specificity of each space, where the language of lines continues undeterred. Bedrooms are bounded by precise lines of waist-coating and paneling, carefully forming statements where furniture and light can successfully reside. The adjacent bathrooms, clad in black tiles, provide contrasts without overpowering the color palette of the home. This series of spaces reinforces the fundamental preoccupation of the home — design by design, where every surface and every measurement is a thoughtful resolution resulting in timeless design and a sense of intimacy without sacrificing architectural charm.