Vault House is a contemporary farmhouse located in Kotna, Gujarat, designed by MS Design Studio as a retreat that seamlessly integrates nature, vernacular architecture, and minimalist design principles. Spanning a built-up area of 6000 sq feet within a 3-acre site, the residence reflects a deliberate balance between earthy materiality and modern spatial planning, creating a timeless living environment deeply rooted in its context.
Vault House Accentuates Timeless Living Environment | MS Design Studio
The primary design intent was to create a home that not only responds to the landscape but celebrates it. The architectural vocabulary draws inspiration from traditional forms, specifically the vaulted structure, reinterpreted with clean lines and minimalist detailing.
The defining feature of Vault House is its grand self-supporting vaults, which span 8 meters without the need for internal columns or reinforcement. These monumental arches lend a sense of scale, rhythm, and openness to the spaces, evoking both grandeur and warmth.
At the heart of the design lies a central courtyard, an age-old element in Indian architecture that promotes natural ventilation, passive cooling, and visual connection with the outdoors.
This courtyard becomes the core around which the interior spaces are organized, encouraging indoor-outdoor living and fostering interaction with nature. Covered walkways, spacious verandas, and open decks act as transitional spaces that further dissolve the threshold between the built form and the lush landscape.
The material palette plays a crucial role in establishing the home’s earthy character. Locally sourced rammed earth, exposed brickwork, natural stone wall, wood, and glass are used in their raw, honest form.
The materials have been chosen not just for their aesthetic appeal but for their ability to age beautifully, blending the architecture seamlessly into its surroundings over time. The interiors follow the same ethos, muted tones, natural textures, and minimal ornamentation allow the focus to remain on spatial quality and material richness.
Sustainability forms the backbone of the design strategy. The use of passive design principles, such as the vaulted roofs for heat insulation, cross-ventilation through the courtyard, and the thermal mass of rammed earth walls, ensures a comfortable living environment throughout the year without heavy dependence on mechanical systems. The planning carefully considers solar orientation, wind flow, and natural shading provided by the mature trees around the site.
Vault House stands as a sensitive response to its site, promoting slowness, simplicity, and harmony. It merges contemporary architectural language with regional wisdom, resulting in a home that is not only aesthetic and functional but also emotionally connected to its context.
The project exemplifies how architecture can transcend mere functionality. Further, become a sensory, soulful experience, celebrating nature, tradition, and modernity in equal measure.
Fact File
Designed by: MS Design Studio
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: Vault House
Location: Kotna, India
Year Built: 2024
Project Size: 6000 Sq.ft
Principal Designers: Manav Patel & Shivangi Patel
Photograph Courtesy: Tejas Shah Photography
Source: Arch Daily
Firm’s Instagram Link: MS Design Studio
Firm’s Facebook Link: MS Design Studio
For Similar Projects >> A Captivating Family Home, Seamlessly Blending Tradition and Modernity
“Viraam,” a 4000 sq ft house design that embodies its literal translation: “a pause.” The vision is to create a sanctuary for relaxation, introspection, and to escape from the constant demands of daily life – an urban void for personal retreat. This 4000 sq ft House Design Unfolds Calm Lifestyle | Avani Mudra Design Reimagining […]
The facade of this Indian contemporary house design strikes a careful balance between solids and voids, with sculpted forms that reveal the inner workings of the space. The design plays with light and shadow, creating visual depth and intrigue from the exterior. The form resembles a cuboid that has been scooped out, while the outer […]
This 5 storey building takes inspiration from ancient haveli architecture. “Hailing from north India, the family held deep nostalgia for haveli, large residences with communal courtyards called chowks, projecting balconies called jharokhas and intricate brick or stone lattice screens called jaalis, vernacular to many western and northern regions of India,” said SJK Architects partner Vaishali […]
Set in the serene landscape of Nashik, the Dabholkar Residence by GDA is a home, embracing stone clad walls. Here, tradition and contemporary design exist in harmony. Designed to reflect the family’s deep connection to tradition and art while embracing the style of contemporary living, it is a space where architectural details, heritage furniture, artwork […]
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 […]
Redefining Indian temple architecture, the relocation of the existing shrine due to a new residential project presented an opportunity to design a space that seamlessly integrates tradition with contemporary needs. The given 400 sq. ft. site was envisioned not merely as a shrine to Lord Datta, a local deity, but as a vibrant community space, […]
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 […]
This multi generational home is a testament to the ability of the design practice to blend aesthetic appeal with practical functionality. Keeping environmental sustainability and the welfare of the community at the forefront, Bhowal designed a home that was truly ahead of its time. His visionary approach and the Design Consortium’s expertise in providing 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 […]
Pillar design is a cornerstone of architectural elegance, seamlessly blending structural support with aesthetic appeal. Our blog, “50 Best Pillar Design Inspirations,” celebrates this essential element, showcasing a variety of styles from classical Doric and Ionic to contemporary and avant-garde innovations. Whether you’re an architect, interior designer, or a design enthusiast, these pillar design inspirations […]