‘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 a program that balances private, semi-private, and flexible spaces across three levels.
Kamat & Rozario Architecture
Owing to the depth required for the foundations, a key design strategy adopted was the use of stabilized earth blocks, manufactured in-situ using soil excavated from the site itself. This approach rooted the construction in its immediate context.
The design plans most spaces by puncturing the built form with green pockets and courtyards—one at the east (front), where the house opens into a verandah, and another at the south (side), adjacent to the dining area. These voids help with the ventilation, while also mediating views and privacy.
To address unpredictable developments on adjoining plots, the design creates the illusion of a garden on the north side by introducing a narrow strip of greenery and restricting openings to the lower half of the wall. On the south side, a grill cage covered with creepers conceals the dining courtyard, providing privacy from the neighbouring house.
The design sources all materials locally, using Cuddapah stone for the lower-level flooring, laid in a herringbone pattern with brass inlays. This pattern transitions to timber flooring on the upper levels, introducing visual continuity.
The front elevation has a cantilevered stone-clad volume housing the son’s bedroom projects towards the street. A terracotta screen laces the lower part of this elevation, ensuring privacy and adding textural contrast to the façade. This screen wraps the front courtyard and continues along the side garden.
A lightweight metal staircase connects the double-height living area to the upper floor, where a large integrated library wall defines the central family space and conceals the bedroom entrances within its cabinetry.
On the terrace, an independent studio apartment is accessible via a separate passage and stair. The design accommodates multiple functions in this space—either as staff quarters or a rentable unit—offering flexibility that aligns with the client’s travel-oriented lifestyle.
Operational sustainability is embedded into the house’s systems: all rainwater is harvested and filtered to potable standards, while solar panels installed on the roof ensure that the home generates more energy than it consumes.
At ‘Roots’, sustainability is embedded in the decision making: right from the planning, to material sourcing and the detailing. The result is a home that is deeply rooted in context, challenging the conventional notion of sustainable buildings- quietly embodying sustainable principles while maintaining a contemporary design language.
Fact File
Designed by: Kamat & Rozario Architecture
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: Roots
Location: Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Year Built: 2025
Built-up Area: 4250 Sq.ft
Principal Architects: Lester Rozario & Smruti Kamat
Photograph Courtesy: Arjun Krishna Photography
Firm’s Website Link: Kamat & Rozario Architecture
The Firm’s Instagram Link: Kamat & Rozario Architecture
Firm’s Facebook Link: Kamat & Rozario Architecture
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