Alongside the major diamond and textile industry, recent other sectors such as oil, shipping and metallurgy have contributed to the growth of Surat into a sprawling metropolis in a very short time, making it one of the richest cities in the country and one that is highly vibrant. An old baori (fresh-water well) was found on site, a rare find in the coastal regions – and the joining of these two glasses of water and weaving them through the house became the driving force of the design of this traditional Indian home.
Editor’s Note: “This residence by Matharoo Associates, merges Vaastu-aligned spatial layouts inspired by an ancient baori with contemporary design. Anchored to the ground by a stone masonry base, the house features interwoven concrete tubes rising above it to create dynamic volumes offering sea views. Its central void is reminiscent of step-wells, in which a sculptural staircase connects five floors. Semi-open verandahs and floating terraces enhance the indoor-outdoor connection while light, wind, and nature work together beautifully.” ~ Anusha Sridhar
This Design Reflects A Fusion of History and Modernity Of Traditional Indian Homes | Matharoo Associates
Located only 20 km away from the hustle and bustle of the city is the coastal town of Dumas, marked once by its numerous havelis (mansions) for the Nawabs (noblemen of the kings), now its peaceful setting is the reason people opt to move here from the city.
The site for the house of a jeweler couple and the family of their son lies minutes away from the coast and requires only some elevation over the palms to be able to afford breathtaking views of the Arabian Sea.
The planning of spaces was imposed by the strict limits of Vaastu, which adheres to a set of principles rooted in traditional Indian building design. Moreover, these principles often arise from myth and, as a result, defy rational and contextual thought processes.
Additionally, it assigns fixed locations of various spaces and elements to the cardinal directions. It includes the entrance, water bodies, kitchen and each of the bedrooms, down to the orientation of beds, even water closets.
Fragments of the past are manifested in a stone masonry enclosure for the house, positioned high on the roadside. Moreover, this placement forms a visual and sound barrier. Meanwhile, remaining open on the serene internal sides of the site.
Additionally, thin concrete tubes are stacked up on this massive stone base, pushed in and pulled out to frame views of the expansive landscape all around. As a result, this play creates a void within, which emerges as the protagonist. Moreover, a snaking volume constricts and dilates, entwining each of the five floors into a seamless continuum.
Each tube on the upper floors contains private suites for members of the joint family. Meanwhile, the common spaces of the house, including the living areas, temple, entrance vestibule, kitchen, and utilities, nestle directly beneath them.
Of these, the family and formal living areas, along with the dining, open out into a semi-open verandah at the corner of the house adjoining a swimming pool and landscape beyond.
With the sit-out of the master bedroom and children’s lounge on the first floor looking into this space, it forms the nucleus of the house by default. From here, one looks at the baori deep into the ground on one side and the sky through the void on the other.
Inspired by the now-extinct typology of the ancient Indian step well, a long flight of steps that give access to an ever-fluctuating table of water – the stair starts from the base of the well, rings along the inside and wraps around the sunlit void, connecting all of the spaces as one rises to the top – a walk 150 steps up to the sea. Thus, this project is an ode to traditional Indian homes.
Fact File
Designed by: Matharoo Associates
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: 150 Steps up to the Sea House
Location: Surat
Year Built: 2021
Built Up Area: 13777.81 Sq.ft
Principal Architect: Gurjit Singh Matharoo
Photograph Courtesy: Dinesh Mehta & Edmund Sumner
Interior Designers: Matharoo Associates
Project Architect: Krishna Mistry
Site Architect: Vishal Parik
Landscape Architect: Vagish Naganur
Clients: Kavita and Tushar Choksi
Trainees: Daksh Sharma, Vinita Mhatre
Carpentry: Hiralal Mistry
Plumbing Consultants: Bharat Chauhan Plumbing Consultants
Structural Engineers: Rushabh Consultants
Electrical Consultants: JIT Engineering Services Consultant
HVAC Consultans: Pankaj Dharkar Associates
General Contractors: RIVA Constructions & Consultancy
Manufacturers: ARTIZE, Architectural Lighting Works, Cooline, Daikin, Dercora, Jaquar, Maruti Hardware, Mufaddal Glass Creation, Nolte, Vago Forniture, Vitrum
Source: Archdaily
Firm’s Website Link: Matharoo Associates
Firm’s Instagram Link: Matharoo Associates
For Similar Project>> This Aesthetic Courtyard House With Lush Landscape Design Offers A Calm Aura To The Users
Layers don’t just sit here; they breathe, shift, and whisper through light. The Screen, set in the sun-drenched fabric of Solapur, Maharashtra, isn’t trying to scream luxury. It doesn’t need to. It moves quieter than that, more composed, more intentional, like a pause button carved into the chaos of the city. Spread across 4,125 sq. […]
This project is located in Ben Tre, Vietnam, and was completed in 2021. With a total area of 430m2, the project set within concrete vaults includes 3 bedrooms and one living room, each with a view of the nearby river. Concrete Vaults Form The Main Identity Of This Vietnamese Home | VTN Architects The ground […]
We conceive EMA not as a conventional architectural object, but as a living continuum of memory, ecology, and craft. Located in Malappuram, Kerala, the 1,700 sq. ft. residence, designed with thermal comfort draws from vernacular wisdom and the philosophy of the Kaavu—the sacred grove—where humans, nature, and other living beings coexist without hierarchy. Within this […]
Set within the lush landscapes of Bharanikavu in Kollam, Arcade – a single storey residence that blends tropical modern architecture with colonial and traditional elements. Designed for a businessman, his wife (a teacher) and their two daughters, this house showcases a shared interest for elegance rooted in familiarity. This Single Storey Home Sits Amidst Lush […]
Noah’s Ark is a contemporary residence designed as a calm and welcoming home with a clear planning. The client’s brief was to create a home that felt simple, warm, and timeless without becoming overly minimal or impersonal. Noah’s Ark responds by blending clear planning, honest materials, and personal elements, resulting in a house that is […]
Located in HMT Layout, Bangalore, Isha_Srinidhi Nilaya stands as a multi-generational home designed on a compact 60×40 ft (2400 sq. ft) East facing plot, with a total built-up area of 8000 sq. ft. East Facing a lush public park, the residence responds to its urban setting through a layered design that balances privacy with a […]
Nestled within a 30×40 ft plot is the compact house design in Banashankari 6th Stage, Bengaluru. This residence for the Ellappans, reimagines traditional Indian living in a contemporary, spatially dynamic form. Designed for a family of three- Mr. Ellappan, his wife, and their teenage son- the house expresses a deep connection to vernacular roots while […]
Timeless architectural features, such as courtyards, are always associated with bringing the naturally public forms to the world’s heart, building the most peaceful, secluded outdoor areas. These outdoor spaces maximize the living experience with their private space feature, which gives one the option for leisurely relaxation, recreation, or gardening. Furthermore, it has also been a […]
Architecture font choices go beyond style—they shape how your work is perceived. From portfolios to presentations, the right architecture font instantly communicates clarity, precision, and personality. As architects, we design not just with space but with every detail, including typography. Selecting a strong architecture font shows your commitment to visual storytelling and design consistency. In […]
The Indian farmhouse accommodation goes on to capitalize on a mature evolutionary synthesis of ancestral aesthetics and contemporary features. With this, the outside and the inside of farmhouses became places of comfort with nature. In this blog, we delve into 15 incredible farmhouse designs that entail a harmonious blending. While they exhibit different spaces in […]