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 areas while creating a setting for travel memories, a grandparent’s piano, and treasured books. Natural materials, exposed brick, black Tandur stone, wood, and earthy tones give the interiors a grounded character, while colourful art and collected objects add contrast. The existing coconut tree, reclaimed teak door, traditional swing, and gabion wall further connect the home to its context. Ungana becomes a layered home where architecture, memories, and everyday life naturally merge. ~ Yashika Bajaniya
UNGANA – merge in Swahili
In metro cities, high density and rising land costs are making narrow plots increasingly common. Ungana is one such project in Chennai. The house sits on a narrow plot that faces the road towards the north.
Chennai Residence Uses Brickwork To Give A Narrow Facade Texture | Art & Architecture
The brief was to design a maximalist house with material brutality that integrates the family’s lifestyle with their decor collection. The family of four is well-travelled, with two children currently living elsewhere. They have an assortment of antiques and artefacts that the design needed to incorporate.
The entrance features a double door reimagined as part of the gate and compound wall. This creates an unorthodox treatment along the lane. A gabion wall adds another distinctive element that is rarely seen in this precinct.
The existing coconut tree on the site was preserved and now marks the boundary of the patio. It also frames the traditional wooden swing alongside a reclaimed, intricately carved teak wood main door.
The brownish-grey patio flooring seamlessly blends the outdoors with the dark black Tandur stone flooring inside. The design creates a sense of surprise for guests while offering a familiar, cohesive experience for the users. The space becomes perceptible from the main door.
The entry foyer is just enough to pass through before opening into a strategic double-height, sunken living space. The living area remains visually connected to the kitchen and dining spaces. It also creates an axis parallel to the cantilevered steps and the exposed brick wall.
The space carries the charm of a grandparent’s piano, chronicles of travel and shopping, and a favourite bookshelf. This path becomes a movement through memories and personal objects. The high ceiling and long French windows on the east bring the open, interactive space together. Natural light spreads across a mix of modern furniture and antiques.
The material palette remains primarily natural and earthy. Wooden furniture and finishes reinforce the nature-oriented approach. The colours of the art and artefacts stand out against the concrete and exposed brick walls. They complement the overall mood of the space.
The dining table with high chairs connects with the kitchen counter. This setup encourages conversations over food and wine beneath the custom-made hanging light.
Structurally, the roof uses two upturned beams to create a seamless roof bottom and clean planes below. The beams eventually form a bridge that provides privacy for users walking across it. The bridge also connects the bedrooms on the floor above. It breaks the space into different levels and adds a dynamic character to the design.
Victorian inspired cast iron handrail with swirling and curving lines create a sense of flow drawing the eye along the bridge, hidden cove light is given on the wooden support handle on the exterior exposed wall.
The master bed is at a lower level formed by the upturned beam demarcating the space functionally.
Roadside children’s bedroom opens inward to the double height living space below through a bay window to establish communication within the house and a wooden louvered corner window with sill seating on the north facing the street for façade treatment and privacy.
The facade of the house is an interesting arrangement of bricks to break the monotony and to create a light shadow texture.
Fact File
Designed by: Art & Architecture
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: Ungana
Location: Chennai
Year Built: 2025
Duration of the project: 16 Months
Built-up Area: 2200 Sqft.
Principal Architect: Chamraj Suresh Babu
Team Design Credits: Bagavathi Shree
Photograph Courtesy: Kaptured_studios
Products / Materials / Vendors: Finishes –Exposed Brick and Concrete/ Construction Materials – Brick Lighting – LED/ Doors and Partitions – reclaimed and repurposed wood / Sanitaryware – Jaquar / Windows – Alumimium and Wooden / Flooring – Tandoor, Slate , granite / Kitchen – Livspace / Hardware – hettich
Consultants for the Project: Civil – Neem constructions / Interior Designers – Art & Architecture / Structure Engineers – Kannimar consultants / Interior Styling – Lavanya Prince
Firm’s Website Link: Art & Architecture
Firm’s Instagram Link: Art & Architecture
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