Ramjula is Designed as a contemporary residence where architecture emerges from the landscape rather than living in it. Designed as a second home for a family, the project reworks the spatial logic of traditional Indian rural dwellings. Courtyards, shaded Terraces, and garden thresholds are seen through a limited and climate-responsive architectural language.
Editor’s Note: There’s a certain quiet honesty in homes that don’t try too hard to stand out, but instead choose to belong. Ramjula feels like one of those spaces. Rooted in familiar ideas of courtyards, verandahs and open thresholds, the home reinterprets traditional living in a way that feels effortless and relevant today. What stands out is not just the planning, but the way light, air and movement shape the experience– Yamini Patil
This Home Reworks The Spatial Logic Of Traditional Indian Homes | Vicara Design Studio
The site planning is led by the spatial logic of water and terrain. At the heart of the property lies a central lake that anchors the project both visually and environmentally. The building directs rain from its roofs and paved surfaces toward this water body, and the Spillover restores an existing well on site.
The construction process reshaped the excavated earth into gentle landforms that define jogging trails, shaded pathways, and pause points such as the bamboo court and woodland. Landscape, circulation, and ecology operate as a single continuous system.
The design arranges the built form as a series of low-rise volumes around a central courtyard. Deep verandas and covered walkways connect these volumes and blur the boundary between interior and exterior spaces.
Movement through the house unfolds as a sequence of shaded passages, open courts, and framed views into gardens and water, allowing the experience of the home to change subtly with light, breeze, and season.
Material choices reinforce this grounded spatial experience. Kota stone flooring provides thermal comfort and visual calm within the interiors, while Jaisalmer stone introduces warmth and softness in selected areas.
Outdoor courts and thresholds are defined using chocolate sandstone, lending depth and texture to transitional spaces. Overhead, Mangalore tile roofs soften the architectural profile and recall familiar vernacular forms, while deep overhangs protect openings from harsh sun and rain.
Local craftsmanship plays a key role in shaping the house. Stone, brick, wood, and textile elements were executed in collaboration with regional artisans, allowing traditional skills to be embedded within a contemporary framework without overt ornamentation.
Passive design strategies guide the project’s environmental performance. Shaded verandas, cross-ventilation, and controlled openings reduce reliance on mechanical cooling, while native planting establishes microclimates and supports biodiversity across the site.
Together, architecture and landscape create a quiet, low-energy homestead—one that prioritizes slowness, continuity, and a deep connection to place.
Fact File
Designed by: Vicara Design Studio
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: Ramjula – A Contemporary Courtyard Homestead
Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Year Built: 2025
Built-up Area: 12000 Sq.ft
Principal Architects: Sankalpa Patel & Jaimish Dhameliya
Design Credits: Jaimish Dhameliya, Sankalpa patel and Reeyaa Shah
Landscape Architecture: Sculpting Grounds
Photograph Courtesy: Neesaar by Tarun Hirapara
Firm’s Instagram Link: Vicara Design Studio
Firm’s Facebook Link: Vicara Design Studio
For Similar Project >>> This Aesthetic Courtyard House With Lush Landscape Design Offers A Calm Aura To The Users
Editor’s Note: Some places feel rooted because they belong to their surroundings rather than trying to stand apart from them. Coffee Sangam in Andhra Pradesh takes this approach through a raw, tactile palette of brick, stone, teak, and mild steel. The random rubble compound wall extends the landscape into the architecture, while the Corten steel […]
Envisioned as a contemporary home rooted in Indian sensibilities, this residence sits on a south-facing urban plot. The design accommodates the evolving lifestyle of a multi-generational family. The project integrates architecture and interiors to create functional, climate-responsive, and emotionally connected spaces. Each level balances privacy with interaction. The design also allows flexibility for changing family […]
Editorial Note: Some homes are shaped by the memories, objects, and stories their residents carry with them. Ungana in Chennai, meaning “merge” in Swahili, brings together a well-travelled family’s collection of antiques and everyday rituals within a narrow urban plot. A double-height living space becomes the heart of the home, connecting the kitchen and dining […]
House of the Framed Atrium explores how a contemporary home can revolve around light, connection, and shared experiences. The design follows the ideas of a Living Atrium, Living with Nature, Framed Volumes, Vertical Living, and Timeless Materiality. The residence connects a sequence of interconnected spaces around a dramatic triple-height atrium. The atrium forms the heart […]
A Mock-up That Became a Home – For an architecture practice, a mock-up often helps test an idea before the team translates it into a larger project. It allows architects to work at full scale, examine materials and construction techniques, and understand their limitations. The process also gives them room to test different brick bonds and […]
The house began not with a formal brief, but with a conversation about the kind of life the clients hoped to build within it. Set between the denser urban fabric of Kannur and the quieter residential landscapes of North Kerala, the project responds to a desire for openness and connection. At the same time, the […]
“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, […]
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 […]