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
The site is located in Ahilyanagar town of Maharashtra, with a design brief of 7,000 sq feet, while the house had to be designed for the hot and dry climate, which responds carefully to extreme temperatures, intense sunlight, and low humidity. The design focuses on reducing heat gain, improving natural ventilation, and creating comfortable indoor spaces with […]
“Pravah” — A House That Breathes is envisioned as the main concept of this home revolves around a fluid, light-filled home where architecture becomes a continuous experience of movement, air, and connection. Located in Pal Gamtal, Surat, the project is a residential redevelopment on a 1,850 sq.ft. plot within a dense urban fabric. The site, […]
SapanoUday is a contemporary residence that balances material rawness with layered textures and crafted detail, aligning modern living with cultural and spatial sensibilities. Designed by Hundreddesigns, the home responds closely to the client’s routines and artistic inclinations while thoughtfully integrating Vastu principles. HundredDesigns The designers defined the architecture through a minimal palette, using exposed concrete […]
KRIPA is a residence that reflects the personality and lifestyle of its homeowner — calm, open, and rooted in nature. The project focuses on creating light-filled, green spaces with minimal private zones, encouraging openness and connection. In a time when spaces are shrinking but expectations are rising, architecture becomes the medium to bridge this gap […]
The Sculpted Sanctuary is a masterclass in modern minimalist design. The project focuses on “Quiet Luxury”. It is the idea that a space doesn’t need bright colors or flashy decor to feel expensive. Instead, it uses raw natural materials, rich textures, and sharp architectural lines. This Home Is A Masterclass In Modern Minimalist Design | […]
SIDHARTHA, is a four-bedroom modern house which is functional and aesthetic driven by the specific needs of the client. The location of the site is in a dense neighbourhood in Bengaluru, India. The contemporary urban dwelling frequently negotiates competing demands. It balances generous daylight and visual connection to the street with privacy, dust control, and […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Plants for home garden, apart from making houses look more beautiful and inviting, add health and calmness to them. Having any kind of indoor plant, a herb plant or a flowering plant adds some value to your decor and the quality of the space. Always choose plants that will flourish in your space and climate. […]