Emerging from the ground, 6AM House is a weekend home designed for two families. What began as a one-acre plot has since expanded to include the adjacent lot, bringing the two properties together.
Located in Aamby Valley, Lonavala, the house overlooks vast mountain ranges and Korigad Fort to the west. Its east-facing orientation welcomes soft morning light into the interiors. This connection with the early morning sun also inspired the name, 6AM House.
6AM House Opens Weekend Living To Lonavala’s Mountainous Landscape | Studio PKA
Writing
The house takes shape in response to its surroundings and natural contours. The existing trees and steep gradient influenced its form and layout. Drawing inspiration from traditional Indian homes, the design places a courtyard at the heart of the planning process. This central space brings the four-bedroom villa together as one cohesive home, rather than a series of disconnected blocks with separate functions.
The courtyard acts as the fulcrum of the house, organising spaces into public, semi-public, and private zones. The layout places the day areas towards the east and the night areas towards the west. The natural slope also positions the house on relatively high ground, creating several vantage points. These views further influenced how the spaces were planned and arranged.
The house features three main levels, each serving a distinct purpose. The basement accommodates recreation and services. The ground floor houses the common areas, including the kitchen, dining area, double-height living room, study, and two bedrooms.
The first floor features terraces and an additional set of bedrooms. This arrangement creates a clear separation between shared living spaces and private areas.
Each space is carved out while considering the movement of the sun and prevailing wind conditions. From the frontage that boasts a sprawling deck that spills out from the dining and living to the open-to-sky courtyard surrounded by glass fenestrations that allow a constant dance of light and shadow, the interconnected blocks also facilitate and ensure a steady stream of breeze through the structure.
The rustic and raw approach to the house is revealed through the materials used. Exposed concrete and brick walls, wood, glass, and stone are the primary elements, allowing the villa to resemble the tones of the land on which it rests, yet stand out against the green landscape.
The project called for balance. A delicate act between the needs and ideas of multiple generations and the two families occupying the property, as well as between the built and the unbuilt. 6AM House represents the fruition of hopes and desires – a second home that allows a connection with nature but also provides room to strengthen familial bonds and grow.
Fact File
Designed by: Studio PKA
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: 6AM House
Location: Lonavala, Maharashtra, India
Built-Up Area: 12000 Sq.ft
Year Built: 2025
Principal Architect: Puran Kumar
Design Team: Noel Woodward, Vaishnavi Iyer, Shruti Todankar, Kavya Turaga
Photograph Courtesy: nayansoni21
Source: Archdaily
Firm’s Website Link: Studio PKA
Firm’s Instagram Link: Studio PKA
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