Nestled discreetly is the home of lime plaster walls and agrarian roots. Away from the hustle and bustle of city life, carved into one of the many picturesque rock formations in the city of Hyderabad is a sprawling colony with lanes shaded by seasoned trees, roads sparingly lit by rays of filtered light that fall on a bed of red, yellow and green.
Editor’s Note: “With a simple, minimalist and meaningful facade, this residence design re-establishes the relationship between human and nature with creative use of materials. Punctuated with large openings and hand plastered lime skin, this abode evokes a sense of belonging and takes one back to the roots. The thoughtful planning and creative choice of materials, the residence strikes a difference and stands apart.” ~Simran Khare
The Home of Lime Plaster walls and Agrarian Roots | Nowhere
Taking inspiration in equal parts by the Telugu movie ‘Maya Bazaar’ and the story of ‘Maya Sabah’ from the Hindu epic ‘Mahabharata,’ the proposal attempts to re-establish the tactile relationships. Moreover, the family used to share with nature and elements and create a living house through the creative use of materials.
Large openings punctuate the solid periphery. Moreover, the layers of cement are carefully removed and replaced by a hand lime plastered skin. It is also mixed with salvaged brick and marble dust. This blend comforts the residents with natural elements while keeping them connected to nature.
Reclaimed wood doors have supplanted aluminum counterparts, with the latter melted down to forge brass-coated fixtures. Stones and earth displaced during construction find purpose in external paving and pigments.
The manipulation of common materials like—brick, marble, earth, etc.—alters their form and perception. Thus, creating novel experiences marked by a perpetual tension between what one knows, sees, and feels.
For example, in one of the rooms, the contemplation of a mature jackfruit tree’s view converges with the room’s color. This sensation of being enveloped by the tree emerges. Additionally, the surrounding hue, extracted from the leaves and pulp of that very jackfruit tree, remains unnoticed.
Similarly, in another room, artisans use waste marble dust from quarries as a pozzolan. They also use it in the final coat of a native Indian hydrophobic lime plaster. This method adds luster to the lime-plastered floor, which they further carefully compress and buff by hand. Thus, creating a different experience of a “marble floor.”
Again, the beauty of it is that a lot of these practices are not new but rather obscured through lack of engagement with them, only existing within stories told by those who still remember them.
The house is organized around a central courtyard sitting on top of a rainwater tank, surrounded by a living room, home office, dining area, kitchen, staff quarters, bedrooms, library housing a 14-foot high bookshelf, and also an adjoined study all rendered in various pigments harvested from the immediate landscape.
Its design crowns the three-storied house with a liminal pavilion, enveloped in translucent marble skin. Adjacent to it, a semi-open shower area is delicately enclosed by salvaged bamboo strips woven together. Moreover, the idea was to create clusters of public, semi-public, and private spaces and use circulation and glazing as two means to offer privacy.
Moving further, the design introduces a lush landscape around the house to offer respite from the rapidly growing colony. Also, the water bodies create a micro-climate around the house, allowing it to regulate the surrounding temperature naturally. Due to the slopes of the colony, this particular house receives a large amount of storm water drainage from the surrounding areas.
The design carefully negotiates the existing impenetrable bed, leaves more open ground for water percolation vegetation, and incorporates an underground water storage tank that filters and stores up to 14,000 liters of water during the monsoons. It is also equipped with technology that allows water to be harvested from the air, ensuring that there is a constant supply of drinking water without having to rely on wasteful existing technologies.
Mayalogili is an ambitious project that represents a unique fusion of latent vernacular technologies with contemporary sustainability principles as it also seeks to redefine the conventional urban villa.
In summary, the design re-imagines the old, opaque, heavy, worn-down building, obsessed with permanence, as an open, translucent, nurturing space that embraces life and all that comes with it in an environmentally, socially, and financially conscious manner.
Fact File
Designed by: Nowhere
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Name of Project: Mayalogili
Location: Hyderabad
Year Built: 2023
Built-up Area: 5775 Sq.ft
Principal Architects: Seetharam Vallabhaneni (Architectural Designer, RIBA Pt. 2)
Photograph Courtesy: Vivek Eadara & Seetharam Vallabhaneni
Dornbracht, Aequo, Apple, Bowers and Wilkins, Daikin, Hyderabad, KMA exports, Kohler, LEVEL, Netgear, Nila Jaipur, Osolin, Philips, Saphed, Siemens, The Antique Loft, The Hesperus Store, Villeroy & Boch , Ware Innovations
Structures: Shiva / Furniture: Ekta Wood Works / Rainwater Collection: Retas Enviro Solutions Private Limited / Sound Design: Vector Systems Pvt. Ltd. / Site Supervisors: Ramu Vallabhaneni, Venkanna Donakonda / Wood: Gautam (Team Lead), Sunil, Vikas, Ajay, Mohan, Sanoj, Bablu / Stone: Nagesh, Ramu / Marble: Balaji Stone Work, Gaurav Sharma, Bhoora singh / Ips (Indian Patent Stone): Md. Rehman, Md. Feroz, Md. Hamidul /
Lime Plaster (Araish & Surkhi): Durgalal, Raju, Ravi / Masonry: Babu, Ramu, Narasimha / Bamboo (Structures): Md. Kurban Ali, Mitu Sheik, Karim, Ashaul / Bamboo (Objects): Md. Feroz, Md. Isa / Helpers: Srinu, Naidu, Shiva, Gauri Naidu, Vamsi / Electrical: Vinod, Raju / Plumbing: Md. Jaki, Ashutosh & team (external) / Air To Water Generator: Akvo Atmospheric Water Systems Pvt. Ltd. / Hybrid Solar Energy System: GV SUNPRO SOLARSYS (I) PVT. LTD. / Textile Artist (Area Rugs): Sabiha Dohadwala / Program / Use / Building Function: Single Family Home / Metal Fabrication: Megha Fabricators (Porch) / Water Strategy: Pangaea Trade Team Pvt. Ltd. / Home Automation: Wozart Technologies Private Limited
Source: Archdaily
Firm’s Instagram Link: Nowhere
For Similar Project >>> This Aesthetic Courtyard House With Lush Landscape Design Offers A Calm Aura To The Users
Editor’s Note: There’s something truly special about homes crafted with thought and care—where every corner and detail speaks to its users, becoming part of their memories. For siblings Akhila and Kaushik, Sona Reddy Studio brought this vision to life in One Summer House, a rustic farmhouse tucked within the vibrant city of Hyderabad. Designed with […]
This southwest-facing bungalow, with golden accents in its interiors, is a refined expression of contextual and climate-responsive modern architecture. The home embraces its orientation with an intelligent façade design that balances aesthetic appeal and environmental performance. With the sun’s harshest rays hitting the structure in the latter half of the day, the architects incorporated a […]
This North Facing villa opens towards the East to always soak in the cool and diffused light. Its orientation is mindful of the adjoining clubhouse and its expansive garden. The planning allows the villa’s private lawn to visually merge with it, creating a larger and cohesive space. With a connection to the open space at […]
An Urban Sanctuary Woven with Craft, Warmth, and Light Explicitly tucked into a quiet residential pocket, this home with a jaali facade is a thoughtfully layered expression of calm, character, and craftsmanship. Every surface and corner is rooted in intention — where light, material, and memory meet. The Jaali Design in this Layered Home Exudes […]
The design of the house prioritises connectivity to nature by incorporating green elements like vertical gardens or landscaped courtyards. This is achieved through various means, such as large windows framing scenic views, outdoor living spaces seamlessly merging with the surrounding landscape. The emphasis on connectivity to nature creates a serene and harmonious environment, fostering a […]
“Viraam,” a 4000 sq ft house design that embodies its literal translation: “a pause.” The vision is to create a sanctuary for relaxation, introspection, and to escape from the constant demands of daily life – an urban void for personal retreat. Editor’s Note: “Viraam is not just a house, it’s a pause. A place to […]
Set in the serene landscape of Nashik, the Dabholkar Residence by GDA is a home, embracing stone clad walls. Here, tradition and contemporary design exist in harmony. Designed to reflect the family’s deep connection to tradition and art while embracing the style of contemporary living, it is a space where architectural details, heritage furniture, artwork […]
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 […]