This remodelling project aimed to revitalise a load-bearing house while respecting its original integrity and adapting it to contemporary needs. The design approach prioritised minimal structural intervention, allowing the existing framework to guide spatial reconfiguration. Careful consideration was given to preserving the load-bearing walls, which formed the backbone of the original construction. Openings were strategically introduced or expanded within structural constraints to improve spatial flow, increase natural light penetration, and enable effective cross-ventilation.

Indian architectural elements were integrated in a way that respects both the functional and cultural context of the space. Features such as traditional jaali patterns, exposed materials, and external courtyards were employed not only as aesthetic references but also as passive design strategies for climate responsiveness. Natural ventilation was enhanced through the creation of stack effect corridors and ventilation shafts, while large operable windows and skylights were positioned to optimize daylight distribution and reduce dependency on artificial lighting.

The result is a balanced interplay between structural pragmatism and cultural expression—a home that retains the character of its load-bearing origins while embracing a sustainable, light-filled future rooted in Indian architectural wisdom.

This Load-Bearing House Embeds Original Integrity with Contemporary Design | Studio Kosha

Main Entrance

This charming entryway is a warm and inviting threshold that sets the tone for the home’s aesthetic, a thoughtful blend of traditional Indian elements and clean contemporary detailing. A robust wooden main door, adorned with classic brass studs and a lion head knocker. Further, opens into a serene foyer featuring a rich ochre and white wall combination. Capped by a decorative tile border that adds a touch of old-world elegance.

A carved wooden console table sits gracefully beneath a large, ornately framed mirror that reflects light and space, expanding the visual depth of the room. On the console rests a folk-style wooden sculpture paired with simple brass décor accents. A subtle nod to Indian artisanal heritage.

Exposed ceiling beams in natural wood add warmth and architectural rhythm overhead, while a minimal black chandelier introduces a hint of modern contrast. The floor, in a muted natural stone, anchors the space with earthy calmness. A potted plant adds a touch of greenery and life.

This entryway strikes a perfect balance, welcoming yet composed, traditional yet timeless. The home reflects its roots in culture while embracing simplicity and elegance.

Foyer

A generous vestibule welcomes you into the home, exuding a sense of tradition, art, and grandeur. The flooring immediately sets the tone, a striking black-and-white checkered pattern laid with precision. Hence, offering a timeless elegance reminiscent of a colonial-era verandah. The monochrome base creates a dramatic canvas that balances beautifully with the vivid storytelling around it.

The walls of the vestibule are a narrative in themselves, adorned with hand-painted Ramayan scenes. Painstakingly illustrated by the client,  rich in detail.

The paintings are not merely decorative but carry spiritual and cultural resonance, anchoring the space in Indian mythology.

Natural light gently filters in from the screen near the compound, casting delicate shadows on the artwork and flooring. Further, adding movement to the still scenes. Though enclosed, the vestibule offers ample ventilation and invites quiet immersion. It is consciously designed to serve as a pause point before one enters the rest of the home.

Puja Courtyard

This sun-drenched courtyard is a tranquil transitional space that blurs the boundaries between indoors and out. A pergola-style skylight crowns the space, gently bathing it in natural light and casting soft grid-like shadows on the stone flooring throughout the day. The open roof invites dappled sunlight while ensuring ventilation, lending the area a serene, ever-changing ambience.

The courtyard features a palette of earthy tones and lush greenery, large potted plants, hanging foliage, and traditional brass vessels. They evoke a grounding, almost meditative atmosphere. A narrow bed of river pebbles runs alongside the pathway. Further, adding texture and a tactile contrast to the clean, linear stone tiles. A brass urli filled with floating flowers sits at the centre. Offering a warm, cultural nod that enhances the sense of welcome.

Framed by warm wooden doors and a recessed puja room entrance, this courtyard becomes a sacred pause point in the home. Making it an inward-looking sanctuary filled with light, life, and quiet ritual. It’s a celebration of Indian courtyard living, where architecture and nature meet in quiet harmony.

Living Room & Staircase

The striking staircase is accentuated by a custom under-stair storage unit finished in a muted sage green, with arched rattan shutters adding texture, breathability, and a vintage charm. The arch motif, repeated rhythmically, brings in a sense of architectural softness against the linear geometry of the staircase.

The staircase itself features a minimal metal railing with slender vertical rods. Further, topped with a simple wooden handrail that complements the earthy palette. At the base of the stairs, a traditional wooden turned column anchors the space. Adding sculptural interest and grounding the modern lines with a classic Indian design detail.

A vintage wooden planter chair with woven cane seating sits in the foreground, enhancing the relaxed, heritage-inspired vibe. Nearby, a folk-style wooden head sculpture and rustic artefacts tucked under the stairs lend character and a curated, lived-in feel.

The flooring, in natural stone, adds to the tactile richness of the space. Forming a seamless blend of tradition and simplicity, where utility and aesthetics beautifully coexist.

Double-Height Dining Area with  Feature Wall

The former terrace of the home was strategically opened up to introduce a soaring double-height dining space, where volume and warmth coexist in perfect harmony. The vertical expanse draws the eye upward, creating a sense of grandeur while allowing natural light to pour in from the skylight. This central space becomes both a gathering point and a visual anchor, a seamless extension of the home’s ethos of light, air, and narrative.

Adding a layer of cultural significance, the custom-made wallpaper features artwork and ancient texts derived from a 100 year old palm leaf DASAVATARAM relic- a treasured handloom passed down through generations in the family. This intricate art of avatars has also been thoughtfully incorporated into the sandwiched glass panels on the bi-fold door shutters, which open up into the puja courtyard adjacent to the dining, blending heritage with architecture.

Kitchen Area

The kitchen is a charming blend of simplicity and heritage, dressed in a clean white and wood finish that balances warmth with timeless elegance. The cabinetry is minimalist, with crisp white shutters paired with warm, natural wood accents, particularly on the overheads and open shelves.

A standout feature is the open shelving, supported by beautifully turned wooden spindles, adding a nostalgic touch reminiscent of vintage Indian and colonial homes. These delicate spindle supports give the kitchen a handcrafted character, tying in effortlessly with the custom-made breakfast counter, which features matching spindle legs and thoughtfully integrated storage niches below, ideal for baskets, linens, or cookbooks.

Selected cabinet shutters feature fluted glass, adding subtle texture and privacy. This choice softly obscures stored items while lending a vintage softness to the otherwise clean palette.

The flooring makes a bold yet classic statement with black and white chequered tiles, lending a retro charm and grounding the space with visual rhythm. The overall result is a bright, welcoming kitchen that merges modern functionality with nostalgic details, where old-world craftsmanship meets contemporary simplicity.

Master bedroom and Walk-In Closet

The master bedroom is a poetic blend of old-world charm and personal artistry. The highlight of the space is the back wall, hand-painted by the client in an intricate, traditional style, a mural that adds intimacy, emotion, and a timeless presence to the room.

Natural light streams through a yellow stained glass window, casting a warm amber hue across the room and creating a nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of heritage homes. The glow dances on the Tandur stone flooring, cool and earthy underfoot, bordered delicately with Athangudi tiles in traditional patterns. This beautiful pairing anchors the room in regional craftsmanship and timeless materiality, celebrating the elegance of slow, handmade design.

On one side, the walk-in wardrobe stands with an old-world oxide finish, evoking the rich, tactile surfaces of heritage homes. The wardrobes feature a combination of solid shutters and glass-fronted panels with soft fabric curtains tucked behind, striking a perfect balance between display and concealment.

A built-in seating nook runs beneath the tall windows, detailed with carved wooden spindles, a nod to colonial-style craftsmanship. The seat invites quiet moments and offers concealed storage below, making it as practical as it is poetic.

Every element, from the warm flooring to the soft filtered light and antique finishes, comes together to create a bedroom that is deeply personal and richly evocative. It’s a space that feels rooted in memory and material, a perfect retreat that whispers stories of the past, while holding space for the present.

Recreational Room

A thoughtfully designed skylight adorned with a traditional jaali bathes this recreational room in natural light, transforming it into a serene retreat. Positioned overhead, the jaali filters sunlight into delicate patterns that dance across the floor and walls, creating a constantly shifting interplay of light and shadows throughout the day. Soft golden glows calm the mornings, while bold, geometric silhouettes cast by the sun energise the afternoons.

Bathrooms

Minimal and more practical. The toilets are just the size and are not huge, given the site constraints we had. However, thoughtfully designed with lime washed walls and heritage tiles, the toilets are cozy and efficient.

Terrace

A serene and stylish terrace space comes alive with a timeless black and white chequered flooring, grounding the area in bold visual rhythm. The flooring adds a touch of vintage charm while also enhancing the geometry of the open space. The designers finished the walls in a soft, earthy micro cement, creating a contemporary, seamless look that contrasts beautifully with the high-contrast floor. Subtle planters or rustic wooden furniture could punctuate the monochrome palette, making this terrace an inviting retreat that balances old-world elegance with modern minimalism.

Fact File

Designed by: Studio Kosha

Project Type: Residential Architecture & Interior Design

Project Name: Gopura

Location: Bangalore

Year Built: 2024

Duration of the project: 2022-2024

Project Size: 4000 Sq.ft

Principal Architect: Ar. Moonmoon Mishra & Ar. Nikita Rao

Photograph Courtesy: studio.f8

Products / Materials / Vendors: Finishes – Micro cement / Doors and Partitions – Burma border teak and Niki flush doors / Sanitaryware – Jaguar / Windows – Burma Border Teak / Flooring – Tandur Stone, Vitrified tiles / Paint – Asian Paints – Hardware – Hettich/Hafele

Consultants for the Project: Civil – Feature Constructions / Interior Designers – Studio Kosha / MEP & HVAC Consultants – JES design consultants / Structure Engineers – SSS Consultatns / Contractors – Mr. Purusoth

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