On a lovely summer day, my clients invited me to go see their villa, La Serenite, on Serenity Beach, Pondicherry. Even though this modernist home was in the most dilapidated condition, I may have fallen in love instantly! We’ve used a full-bodied tile in the mud room area with flooring of black cudapah & white marble in a diamond pattern. The ceiling is in a gridwork of American sal wood. The floor and the ceiling are completely inspired by Geoffrey Bawa. The mud room has a pine wood wall cladding. The sliding door on the left leads to the children’s room with a micro cement floor.
Earthy Aesthetics Complimenting Tropical Modernist Home in Pondicherry | Hohm Design Studio
Visit: Hohm Design Studio
The pool hut was the focal point of the house with its highlight being the rattan sheet ceiling held with a teak wood rafter framework, adding the coastal feel.
The spacious 6500 sq.ft structure with aluminum partitions, exposed pipelines, and the most random paint shades on the walls, gave me an opportunity to be at my creative best! Our very busy doctor clients wanted the villa to be made into their private staycation home. Giving them that was my life for the next 6 months!
The entrance verandah of the home with its heritage pillars, wooden ceiling, traditional barge board, and athangudi tiles is the perfect lazing spot for our furry friends of the family.
What appealed to me was the beautiful outdoor spaces available along with the dreamy sunrises and sunset views of the beach. The shell was that of a heritage Kerala home with traditional rosewood doors and we decided to use that to our advantage to complement the earthy aesthetic. The living room with its black and white flooring and framework ceiling made with American Sal wood pays a tribute to the Bawa aesthetic.
The cushioned lounge beds and micro cement high dining table is the ideal spot to entertain as all 10 openings from this area open into the outdoor pool and garden areas.
Someone I took great inspiration from was Geoffrey Bawa’s concept of ‘tropical modernism’ with the added elements of the Kerala antiquities. Blurring the boundaries between the indoor and outdoor spaces broke the dark overtone and instilled it with natural light.
Most of the furniture, light, and decor pieces we have used in this project are created by various boutique stores and units of Auroville, thus contributing to consuming local talent, which is a big part of our design philosophy.
The master bedroom is made more like a suite room category of any five-star resort, including its very own tea area (with expansive views of the beach), a large dressing area, an outdoor open-to-sky shower area, and a spacious bathroom.
The bar and powder room have a French influence keeping in sync with the colonial feel of Pondicherry.
This modernist home on the beach is the perfect holiday home to unwind, hear the waves splash, and watch the perfect sunsets.
Fact File
Designed by: Hohm Design Studio
Project Type: Residence Architecture & Design
Project Name: LA Serenite
Location: Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu
Year Built: 2022
Duration of project: 9 Months
Project Size: 6500 Sq.ft
Project Cost Appx: 1.7 Cr
Principal Architect: Sonal Chordia
Photograph Courtesy: Shamanth Patil
Firm’s Instagram Link: Hohm Design Studio
Firm’s Facebook Link: Hohm Design Studio
For Similar Project>>>Experience Luxurious Healing at this Ayurveda Clinic in Ahmedabad
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 […]
In this modern luxury home, courtyards spill into living spaces, and the lines between inside and outside dissolve into a seamless whole. This 17,800 sq. ft. bungalow in Anand, by Hiren Patel Architects, blurs the boundaries between landscape, architecture, and interiors, creating a home where nature isn’t just the backdrop but an integral part of […]
Nestled in the foothills of the Shivalik range, the Himalayas is our latest project, Ekasham — a private residence refurbishment and redevelopment project, spread across an area of 2177 sqm. The monolithic home, through its volumes, composed of old and new structures, merges into a singular silhouette evoking the presence of a monolith from which […]
Ishaar is rooted in the belief that architecture should not just be seen, but deeply felt. Drawing from brutalist principles and natural tactility, the holiday villa is designed as a sensory retreat, where material, sound, light, and temperature shape the guest’s experience. Set amidst rural farmland, the villa dissolves into its landscape through a choreography […]
“Vishram Vaadi Nu Ghar” means a serene retreat amidst mango and chikoo farms, crafted to reflect the client’s vision in their mother tongue Gujarati. Vishram is a serene ground-touch structure offering breathtaking views of the Purna River and is a thoughtful example of countryside house design. Nestled amidst lush Amba and Chikoo Vaadi, the design […]
This single-story sustainable home in Ezhupunna blends traditional Kerala architecture with tropical, eco-friendly design. Inspired by the “kullakadavu” concept, a central pond encourages family interaction while enhancing the landscape. This Ezhupunna Home is Rooted in Eco-friendly Design | Judson Associates Architects & Interiors Despite being near lakes and beaches, adding a pond improves year-round moisture […]
In the heart of New Anjar, a small town tucked into the arid landscape of Kachchh, Gujarat, sits one of those modest houses designed with a quiet sense of clarity. Built for a Muslim family spanning three generations, the home isn’t trying to make a bold statement from its street-facing façade. Instead, it leans into […]
AME Studio was envisioned as a versatile yet understated architectural expression, reflecting our love for modest and unassuming architecture. AME Studio was envisioned as a versatile yet understated architectural expression, reflecting our love for modest and unassuming studio architecture. The design of AME Studio went beyond fulfilling a set of functional requirements; it was about […]
The house showcases a modern three-story residence exemplifying contemporary architectural design through its clean lines, geometric volumes, and a balanced interplay of materials. The facade skillfully combines textured tile cladding, smooth plaster, and contrasting color blocks in neutral shades of gray, black, and earthy rust, adding visual depth and dynamism. Expansive glass panels framed in […]
House of Silhouettes is located in Navratan, Udaipur. The plot is a corner one facing north and west 60’x40′ with a built-up area of 6500 sq.ft., designed in contemporary modern architecture as an independent house at three levels, including terrace. House of Silhouettes Reflects Contemporary Modern Architecture | Shaunak Singh and Associates This contemporary residence […]