Imagine residing with nature at this Holiday Home in Chandigarh. On a quest for a compact spot among the mango, chikoo, and guava trees, you will find an amorphous one surrounded by fruit trees everywhere. Finding one of these is challenging in an area close to the city boundaries.
Editor’s Note: “This farmhouse in Chandigarh embraces nature seamlessly with its open expansive windows and stark white built form. Emerging from the lush greenery, stepping into this sanctuary instils a profound sense of serenity and comfort. The open layout, functional partitions, natural materials, and radiant skylights transform every corner of this abode into a celebration of the timeless connection between humans and the natural world.” ~Simran Khare
Reimagining Residing with Nature at this Holiday Home in Chandigarh | Design i.O
Situated in Chandigarh, this 3800 sq. ft. holiday home denies its identity as a built structure amidst nature, instead embracing the notion that it emerged from nature itself. Rightly so, they have conceptualized, laid out, and crafted it to camouflage with the surrounding silence and solitude.
House of Mango Shadows greets visitors with a compact yet refreshing entryway with trees on either side of the paved walkway.
Upon entering through the main door, one is revitalized to witness the absence of brick walls and concrete columns, setting the tone of this serene sanctuary to contemplate after the mundane routine.
House of Mango Shadows is composed to harmonize with nature and to let in as much as desired. This is strategically done by incorporating expansive, slide, and fold windows from ALCOI, softening the architectural boundaries silently and seamlessly.
Walking into the open floor plan, the common spaces, such as the living room, dining room, kitchen, pool room, and TV lounge, are segregated by functional partitions, which serve as part screen and display units.
Going further, private spaces, such as bedrooms, consist of more secure openings, sliding doors and windows, and a bamboo screen to offer additional privacy. Each bedroom has an attached washroom, which features a private courtyard with an outdoor bathing area.
Natural materials, including teak and ashwood for doors and furniture, Kota stone for flooring, green spider marble, and jaisalmer stone for the washrooms, reflect stripping the nonessential ornaments and evoke mindfulness and minimalism.
Unbound by the conventional perceptions of a roof, the project houses three skylights, lighting up the spaces effectively and naturally.
“Although we signed this project to build it as a farmhouse, on visiting the site, we experienced a distinct sense of realization. At that very moment, we knew we wanted to build on the sense of oneness and further encourage spiritual reflection.” Saurabh and Palak, co-founders of Design i.O.
In the tapestry of architecture and design, where human aspirations meet the raw beauty of the natural world, House of Mango Shadows in Chandigarh embodies a harmonious blend, echoing the sentiment of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe: “We should attempt to bring nature, houses, and human beings together in a higher unity.” Here, amidst mango, chikoo, and guava trees, walls dissolve and expansive windows open to the organic world.
Crafted by Saurabh and Palak, it serves as a living testament to the inseparable bond between human design and nature’s grace—a sanctuary where architecture and nature converge in a higher unity, offering space for contemplation, reflection, and spiritual oneness.
Fact File
Designed by: Design i.O
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: House of Mango Shadows
Location: Chandigarh
Year Built: 2023
Built Up Area: 3800 Sq.ft
Principal Architects: Saurabh Singla & Palak Singla
Design Team: Himanshu Agrawal & Darshan Paliwal
Photograph Courtesy: Jeevan Jyot
Structural Engineer: Rakhra Associates
Manufacturers: ALCOI, Asian Paints, Jaguar, Kriglow, Legrand & Ziba Homes
Firm’s Instagram Link: Design i.O
For Similar Project>>> A Climate Responsive Courtyard House In Kerala With An Earthy Palette And Natural Materials
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 […]