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 of raw textures, immersive transitions, and quiet moments of reflection. Every space invites slowness—replacing spectacle with presence, and function with feeling.
Ishaar was conceived as a brutalist staycation retreat that merges raw materiality with immersive spatial experience. Anchored in the cornfields of Vijayawada, the design explores how architecture can create emotion through contrast—hard and soft, open and enclosed, light and shadow. Every element—from the sunken pool lounge to the misted dining deck—was imagined to slow the visitor down and connect them to space through touch, sound, and atmosphere.
Editor’s Note: Ishaar is a place where time slows down and the senses come alive. It invites you to pause, feel, and just be. Every corner is designed to bring calm, comfort, and quiet joy. It’s not about luxury, it’s about feeling at home, in nature, and with yourself. ~Isha Bora
Ishaar, a Holiday Villa is Rooted in Brutalist Tactility and Calm | Addy’s studio
The entry to Ishaar marks a spatial threshold where the outside world begins to dissolve and the experience of retreat quietly unfolds. A sharply angled corten steel gate stands as a sculptural element—bold yet elemental—its weathered patina blending seamlessly into the agrarian landscape.
Framed by walls finished in grey lime-washed plaster, the composition is intentionally raw and unfinished, evoking the material honesty of brutalism while grounding the visitor in the earth-toned context of the site. As one passes through the gate, the sound of cascading water becomes audible—originating from a fountain that gently drops into a sunken swimming pool.
The path ahead aligns precisely with this visual axis, placing the movement of water directly at eye level, creating a visceral connection between entry, sound, and space. This moment is not merely functional—it is ceremonial, designed to mark the transition from chaos to calm, from urban tension to immersive stillness.
Set against the backdrop of the villa’s raw, monolithic form, the sunken pool becomes a central sensory feature—the water fountain aligning with the approach axis, offering a calm visual plane from the moment of arrival.
Adjacent to the pool, a recessed lounge invites pause and reflection, while the expansive lawn beyond unfolds into an open event stage, seamlessly merging leisure with celebration.
The villa’s presence remains quietly bold—anchoring the composition with its brutalist lines, earthy textures, and deep visual connections across water, stone, and sky.
The villa at Ishaar is a low-slung, linear structure that subtly anchors itself into the surrounding landscape. Designed with a restrained brutalist vocabulary, the villa features earth-toned lime-washed walls, corten steel accents, and green Kota stone flooring. Together, they establish a raw yet refined palette. This materiality mirrors the agrarian textures beyond. Internally, the villa unfolds as a sequence of sensory experiences, defined more by atmosphere than form.
A glass-framed living room opens out to the preserved trees at the rear, allowing the landscape to visually and emotionally extend into the interiors. Above, cloud-like pendant lights animate the ceiling, creating a surreal softness against the villa’s otherwise grounded mass.
Every space blurs the line between inside and out. It offers moments of openness, intimacy, and reflection throughout the day and night.
The plan houses three bedrooms, including a master suite with an indoor plunge pool and rainfall shower, veiled by a planted canopy.
The backyard at Ishaar is an intimate yet multifunctional retreat. Leisure, dining, and quiet contemplation unfold beneath open skies. The design preserves three existing trees and anchors them as a central visual feature. A full-length glass wall from the living room frames the space. This allows the indoors to seamlessly dissolve into the greens beyond.
At its heart sits a 12-seater dining table under a mist-sprinkled canopy. It offers a cool, shaded space for communal meals in the heat of day. To one side, a campfire zone becomes the evening’s anchor—providing warmth, glow, and gathering potential.
Nearby, a children’s play area is subtly integrated into the landscape. It ensures visibility and safety without compromising the natural rhythm of the space. Natural stone flooring and ambient rock lighting maintain material continuity. The surrounding plantation creates a buffer of calm, making the backyard both a visual pause and a social heart of the villa.
Positioned at the intersection of comfort and celebration, the lounge room, event stage, and expansive lawn at Ishaar come together effortlessly. They form a seamless indoor-outdoor axis that encourages connection and flow. This space hosts both quiet leisure and large gatherings with ease.
The lounge room, enclosed yet visually open, features warm material tones and a billiards table. A fully equipped bar counter adds to the experience, offering a relaxed, shaded vantage point. Framed by glazing, it looks directly onto the open-air stage. This allows guests—especially VIPs or older family members—to enjoy performances or ceremonies in comfort and privacy.
The stage, set amidst thick plantation and stone-finished edges, becomes a striking focal point. It hosts events like sangeet nights, cocktail parties, and open-air dinners.
The lawn, flowing gently around it, accommodates up to 300 guests. Natural lighting and rock-edge illumination create a magical atmosphere as day transitions into night. Together, the trio creates a flexible, celebratory zone—rooted in landscape and elevated by design.
Fact File
Designed by: Addy’s studio
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: Ishaar, the staycation
Location: Vijayawada
Year Built: 2025
Duration of the project: 2024-2025
Project Size: 2700 Sq.ft
Principal Architect: Ar. Adarsh Akula
Photograph Courtesy: Ar. Adarsh Akula
Firm’s Website Link: Addy’s studio
Firm’s Instagram Link: Addy’s studio
For Similar Project >>> House of Silhouettes Reflects Contemporary Modern Architecture
This residence is a contemporary bungalow that beautifully fuses minimalism with luxurious detail and natural materials, standing as an architectural statement defined by restrained elegance and thoughtful materiality. From the very first impression, its exterior establishes a refined rhythm through the interplay of textured vertical panels and smooth, neutral-toned surfaces, balancing lightness and solidity. Natural […]
Located in the breathtaking Sahyadri mountains of Igatpuri, Nashik, the sloping roof home is a masterclass in harmonizing architecture with nature. We’ve preserved the natural contours, shaping them into steps that enhance the landscape’s visual appeal. This Sloping Roof Home in The Sahyadri’s Sits Harmoniously With Nature | Unbound Studio Design Elements The design guides […]
This project involves designing a residence on a 2400 sq. ft. plot, located in a densely built urban area where achieving optimal natural light throughout the day posed a challenge. The design accommodates a three-story structure with six bedrooms and all essential spaces. “The designers incorporated a central courtyard into the plan to ensure that […]
The design of Coexistence House is rooted in the philosophy of living in harmony with nature. The site, located in Perungudi—a rapidly urbanising neighbourhood of Chennai—held a unique character with its mature mango and coconut trees, remnants of an older garden deeply tied to the memory of the place. The client’s deep emotional connection to […]
There are countless options when designing a home; each story is distinct to the person who creates it. “When we were asked to craft a home that revolved around the idea of practicality and modern materials, we decided to create a space that felt contemporary and brought in the idea of nature”, says Ar. Saumya […]
“Hilltop House” is envisioned as a contemporary yet context-sensitive residential project that harmonizes architecture and interior design to create a sanctuary perched on a scenic elevation. The design will respond directly to the topography, climate, and panoramic views, while delivering a highly functional, comfortable, and aesthetically refined living environment. This Hilltop House in Indore Is […]
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 […]
Aangan is a modern residence that seamlessly integrates with the lush environment of Kerala, showcasing a tropical home design. Designed to embrace the region’s warm climate, the house features a striking sloped terracotta roof at varying levels, enhancing both its aesthetic appeal and functional efficiency. The structure is enveloped in a vibrant tropical landscape, adorned […]
The door design for main door is a defining feature of any Indian home, embodying both style and cultural significance. In a country rich with diverse architectural traditions, the entrance to your home reflects not only personal taste but also cultural heritage. Whether you’re drawn to the intricate carvings of traditional Indian door designs or […]
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 […]