Set in the semi-urban landscape of Gokak, The Skylight Villa is a climate-responsive residence designed to harmonize with the region’s hot and dry conditions. The architectural layout emphasizes clear zoning, sustainability, and a strong connection with nature, making it both functional and comfortable.
Set In A Semi Urban Landscape, This Home Harmonises With Nature | Yuvaraj Chougule & Associates
The design of this semi urban home organizes the ground floor with a clear separation between public and private spaces. Towards the front of the house lie the foyer, living, dining, puja, and kitchenareas—spaces meant to be accessible and welcoming for both residents and guests.
In contrast, the design tucks the bedrooms and family lounge into the rear corners, ensuring privacy and tranquillity.
At the heart of the layout is a central courtyard, which serves as a spatial and visual anchor. This open-to-sky feature improves cross-ventilation, brings in natural light, and facilitates fluid movement throughout the house.
Designed with sustainability in mind, the villa makes full use of passive cooling strategies. Large openings in each room offer visual access to greenery and promote airflow, while shaded sit-outs and landscaped gardens on both the north and south sides extend the living space outdoors.
These design choices not only reduce dependence on mechanical cooling but also foster a close relationship with nature
Moving to the first floor, the layout centres around a dramatic glass bridge that spans the courtyard below. This bridge connects the two wings of the upper level and reinforces the home’s vertical transparency, allowing views across different levels. It also enhances the openness of the house, making the circulation space an architectural feature in itself.
Around this central bridge are a mix of private and semi-private spaces. A family lounge forms the social core of the floor, opening out onto terraces that encourage outdoor living.
There are three bedrooms, each positioned to ensure privacy and outfitted with balconies that offer serene views and a sense of personal retreat. The staircase connects directly to the glass bridge, reinforcing smooth movement across floors.
The second floor is dedicated to leisure and wellness. A spacious recreation room sits at its core, designed to host fitness equipment, games, and informal seating. This room is surrounded by open terraces, allowing for panoramic views and natural ventilation.
Adjacent to this is a home theatre, acoustically treated to create a dedicated entertainment zone for family gatherings.
A standout feature here is the glass skylight, which brings soft, diffused light into the circulation areas and echoes the transparent design language established by the glass bridge.
The large rooftop terrace further extends the usable space, offering opportunities for outdoor gatherings, yoga, or quiet reflection.
Through a seamless blend of thoughtful zoning, natural ventilation, and meaningful integration with the outdoors, The Skylight Villa exemplifies sustainable, climate-sensitive design tailored for its Gokak setting.
Fact File
Designed by: Yuvaraj Chougule & Associates
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: The Skylight Villa
Location: Belgaum, Karnataka, India
Year Built: 2023
Project Size: 10000 Sq.ft
Photography Courtesy: Shamant Patil
Firm’s Instagram Link: Yuvaraj Chougule & Associates
For Similar Project >>> Evolving Native Vernacular Architecture and Contemporary Hospitality at Hotel Chospa in Leh
In a landscape where aspiration quietly waits, Granthalay emerges as a circular building and sanctuary for learning—gathering people, knowledge, and place into a shared civic moment. Granthalay is conceived as a civic institution that extends beyond the conventional idea of a library, responding to the acute lack of educational and community infrastructure in the district […]
A dilapidated old manor house in Jaffna peninsula, with warped roof beams, warped door windows and many structural defects were presented to the architects for refurbishment- by clients- to be refurbished as a retirement home for themselves who were returning to Sri Lanka after escaping to overseas due to the 25 years old North East […]
This residence is a sincere exploration of how architecture can remain simple, climate sensitive, cost-effective, and emotionally grounded, without compromising on spatial quality or design intent. Conceived as a 3BHK modest home for a small family, the project stands as a testament to what is possible when thoughtful planning, craft-oriented construction, and material intelligence come […]
Design, when it emerges as a living tapestry, turns the experience of living into a vibrant everyday narrative. Baldota House in Alandi, Pune by ARCHOS accommodates three generations under a single roof in the area spanning 7500 Sq. Ft. Spearheaded by the family’s desire for a generous space and a theatrical essence along with balanced […]
Few homes are celebrated for their iconic interiors, while some are celebrated for their open layouts. True to its unique context and subtleties, this home with a monochromatic palette, designed by Ar. Saumya Khanna & Ar. Sudhir Ambawata Co – founders & principle architects of SSDA Architects brings the essence of volumetric design and a […]
Adopting sustainable living today, both in design and daily life, is crucial for reducing our environmental footprint and preserving resources for future generations. In the design of this bamboo pavilion, this means using eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient technologies, and creating spaces that harmonize with natural surroundings. In daily living, sustainability involves mindful consumption, reducing waste, conserving […]
Tucked into the lush landscape of Thiruvananthapuram, Aashiyana is a residence that balances context, climate, and craft. Designed by architect Srijit Srinivas, this bungalow is conceived as more than a tropical retreat-it is a spatial journey where bold colour, filtered light, and thoughtful materials orchestrate a distinctive atmosphere. Nestled Amidst Lush Landscape Aashiyana Balances Craft […]
Situated on a compact 1200 sft south-west corner plot, this residence was conceived as an inward-looking sanctuary for a family of four — a home that balances privacy and openness, light and enclosure, within the dense urban fabric. This Residence Was Conceived As An Inward-Looking Sanctuary For A Family Of Four | The Insideout Studio […]
Project 1374 is located in one of the plotted developments in the north of Bangalore, characterized by well-demarcated plots, open spaces, spacious roads, and organized infrastructure. Trees flank the wide streets, dividing the plots with dense canopies offering shaded avenues. Abutting the plot stood a cluster of trees- a quiet presence. We borrowed these trees […]
‘Roots’ was an experiment to build sustainably but not confer to the design language typically associated with sustainable buildings. This residential project re-considers the expression of sustainable architecture through a minimalist and materially grounded lens. Located on a 4,000 sq.ft. plot, the designers conceived the house for a family of three and their pet, organizing […]