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 a quieter rhythm — one that speaks of functional living, intergenerational harmony, and the small comforts of a space that understands its inhabitants.

Modest Houses in New Anjar Reflect Clarity and Intergenerational Harmony | Sulemans Design Studio

Listening First

The design brief, as described by Ar.Shaad Khatri of Sulemans Design Studio, was straightforward: a 4BHK duplex on a 30×45 ft plot that prioritised ease of living. The family consists of the client and his wife, their two sons and the client’s mother. That’s three generations under one roof — each with its own spatial needs and everyday patterns.

But unlike many homes where aspirations outpace the reality of use, this project had an unusual clarity. “The client knew exactly what he wanted,” says Shaad. “He wanted a decent, simple house — something that feels calming and functions well for his family.”

This clarity shaped every decision that followed.

A Grid for Daily Life

On the ground floor, the public zones — living, dining, kitchen — are planned in a grid that keeps circulation intuitive and movement fluid. The grandmother’s room is also placed here, allowing her ease of access and interaction with the communal spaces without the hassle of stairs.

The living and dining areas are split — and yet visually connected — through a sliding shutter system. It’s not a design flourish; it’s a lived solution.

“Midway through the design, the client requested that the kitchen and dining not be directly visible from the living area,” says Shaad. “Women in the family spend a lot of time in these spaces, and they wanted to maintain a bit of privacy.”

The shutter acts like a curtain — opening up the house when needed, or shielding parts of it when preferred. Like a home that can quietly modulate its tone.

Building Up, Gently

The first floor hosts the remaining three bedrooms and a small office nook. Each room has been planned with storage, ventilation, and privacy in mind. There’s an attic and loft space tucked in around the stairwell to maximise storage — a necessity in Indian households, especially ones with multiple generations. There’s no pretension here. Just straightforward decisions made with care.

The terrace includes a stair cabin and attic storage — again reinforcing the idea that space must serve, not just show.

Façade as Filter

With common walls on either side, the design had just one opportunity to create a face to the outside world. And it does so in measured steps. The front façade is simple — a layering of mass to provide shade, vertical grooves for a rhythm, and a muted palette of greys and whites to keep things calm. A bubble-textured exterior paint adds subtle tactility, while wood, metal and glass are used sparingly to maintain a balance between modesty and warmth.

This isn’t a house that screams “look at me.” Instead, it carries itself the way elders in many Indian homes do — quietly confident, rooted, and generous.

Climate, Context, Comfort

New Anjar’s climate isn’t forgiving. Summers are harsh, and sunlight can feel intrusive if not managed well. The design responds to this with practical restraint. “We made sure every space had at least one source of natural light and ventilation,” Shaad explains. Fenestration was carefully considered — with box-type windows, planned wall thicknesses, and room orientations that allow for morning sun to grace the common areas.

It’s a gentle way to begin the day — not with spotlights and drama, but with sunlight slanting softly onto a breakfast table.

A Palette of Humble Hues

Throughout the house, the material and colour palette are consistent. Muted creams, greys, and soft browns dominate — both in paint and in flooring. Solid-coloured tiles keep the interiors grounded, while wood panelling is used strategically to conceal storage or to soften transitions between spaces.

This restraint in materiality doesn’t feel clinical. Instead, it echoes a certain cultural sensibility — one that values order, calm, and cohesion. The goal wasn’t to impress a visitor but to soothe a resident. In that, the design succeeds.

Small Gestures, Big Meaning

There are no grand features in this house, but there are small moments that speak volumes. The concealed store on the ground floor, hidden behind wooden panels. The carefully placed powder room tucked under the stairs. The way beds and bathrooms were oriented in response to religious customs. These details may never make headlines, but they make this residence a home for the Memons.

And in the hands of a practice like Shaad’s — which prioritises coherence with the user’s lifestyle — these gestures become the theme of the design.

A Practice in Simplicity

Reflecting on the project, Shaad describes the house in four words: Timeless. Elegant. Calming. Soothing. And if you were to trace the design intent across the plan, the materials, and the photos, you’d see that this isn’t just lip service. The project doesn’t try to perform for the camera. Instead, it settles quietly into its context, offering a reliable, measured environment for everyday life.

Perhaps the most telling sign of a well-designed home is how seamlessly it absorbs the life that enters it. In the case of the Memon House, it’s not hard to imagine an afternoon where the grandmother naps downstairs while her grandson studies in the room above. Where someone peeks out from the kitchen while conversations flow in the living room. Where sliding shutters close in the evening, creating pockets of privacy without closing off the household. It’s in these moments — unremarkable to the world but invaluable to the family — that the design proves its worth.

Fact File

Designed by: Sulemans Design Studio

Project Type: Residential Architecture Design

Project Name: Memon House

Location: Anjar-Kutch

Year Built: 2023

Duration of the project: 1.5 Years

Project Size: 3000 Sq.ft

Principal Architect: Ar. Shaad Khatri

Photograph Courtesy: Take 2 Architecture

Products / Materials / Vendors: Construction Materials – Bricks with RCC frame structure / Sanitaryware – jaquar / Windows – Satyam Aluminium / Flooring – Simero / Paint – Asian paints

Firm’s Instagram Link: Sulemans Design Studio

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