The clients envisioned a residence with concrete wall forms where individual spaces communicate seamlessly, allowing family members to remain connected even when in their areas. Previously residing in an old city house with shared walls, they yearned for the true openness of a family home that exudes airiness and is bathed in natural light. Their aesthetic preference leaned towards form-finished concrete, desiring a minimalist, modern home that is unique and dynamic.
Editor’s Note: “The rugged concrete texture and the captivating interplay of mass and voids in this abode evoke a sense of curiosity and comfort. Expansive windows and angled terraces flood the interiors with natural light. Embracing a neutral color palette and minimalist design, the indoors radiate a comforting aura.” ~Simran Khare
The Spaces in the Residence with Concrete Wall Forms Communicate Seamlessly | ESSTEAM
The squarish plot, approximately 440 square yards with a setback on all sides, posed spatial challenges, necessitating vertical stacking of the living spaces across four levels.
Leveraging the advantages of the corner plot with roads on the west and north sides, the house is designed to orient most spaces towards the north.
This orientation allows for large, full-sized windows that bring soft, diffused northern light throughout the day.
Strategically placing the vertical circulation and bathing areas on the southern side insulates the primary living spaces—such as the living rooms, bedrooms, and dining areas—enhancing their comfort and functionality.
The design ensures that the majority of liveable spaces have three exterior walls. Thereby promoting cross-ventilation, ample daylight, and outdoor views.
The volumetric composition of the house introduces dynamism, with spaces stacked and the master bedroom cantilevered approximately 4.2 meters (13′-9″ feet) over the first-floor garden. This creates a double-height volume. Thus allowing visual connectivity from the top floor to the ground level, from extreme east to west.
Achieving this sense of openness within a confined plot boundary is a remarkable feat of design. Here, individual volumes assert their presence while collectively embodying the family’s values of unity and individuality.
Inspired by one of our previous projects featuring form-finished concrete, the client was resolute in engaging us. They wanted us to design their new home with a minimalist material palette that exudes modernity.
Using form-finished concrete as the primary shell, we integrated wood, white marble stones, and a few metals to set a warm and sophisticated tone.
Modernist detailing in the interiors ensures that the house remains inviting and visually comforting. Careful restraint in the interior design and customised artworks with a pinch of colour in the spaces enhance the elegance of simplicity.
Technologically advanced, the house features smart controls that enhance the lifestyle of the client’s family, offering unparalleled comfort and ease.
‘Speaking Volumes’ stands as a testament to our design philosophy. It is achieving more with less, creating spaces that are both functional and aesthetically compelling.
Fact File
Designed by: ESSTEAM
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: Speaking Volumes
Location : Surat, Gujarat
Year Built: 2023
Project Size: 9805 Sq.ft
Principal Architect: Ar. Snehal Shah
Team Design Credits: Nishith Jariwala, Dhruv Chaliawala, Sarthak Dixit, Umang Kapadia, Payal Shah, Mansi Jariwala, Ketna Morker, Hiral Sanghani, Harish Chotaliya, Alish Narola, Abhay Vaghela & Bhikhu Rathod
Photograph Courtesy: Noaidwin Sttudio
Name of Client: Mr. Ajay Lakhwala
Products / Materials / Vendors: Construction – Materials Ultratech, TATA / Construction Chemicals – Roff Stone & Tiles – Dineshbhai, Stone World, Simpolo / Plumbing Materials – Astral, Viega, Huliot / Lighting Fixtures – Delta, Ligman, Alurays / HVAC Equipments – Diakin / Doors – Onsite / Partitions – JG Glass – Waltz / Sanitaryware – Hans Grohe, Toto / Windows & Glazing – Vitrum / Furniture – Molteni, Bonaldo, Cattelan Itlaia / Elevator – Kone / Kitchen – Modunova / Paint – ICA / Artworks – Oblique / Hardware – Ideal / Hardware – Hafele, Blum, Dorma
Firm’s Website Link: ESSTEAM
The Firm’s Instagram Link: ESSTEAM
Firm’s Facebook Link: ESSTEAM
For Similar Project>>> This Aesthetic Courtyard House With Lush Landscape Design Offers A Calm Aura To The Users
The house incorporates elements of Persian design while adhering to a minimalist luxury motif. The concept is a deep journey with luxury as its language, seclusion as its promise, and functionality as its cornerstone. Known as the princess of Jaipur, it pirouettes in response to outside visual cues such as curves and smooth edges. A modern […]
The house showcases a modern three-story residence exemplifying contemporary architectural design through its clean lines, geometric volumes, and a balanced interplay of materials. The facade skillfully combines textured tile cladding, smooth plaster, and contrasting color blocks in neutral shades of gray, black, and earthy rust, adding visual depth and dynamism. Expansive glass panels framed in […]
House of Silhouettes is located in Navratan, Udaipur. The plot is a corner one facing north and west 60’x40′ with a built-up area of 6500 sq.ft., designed in contemporary modern architecture as an independent house at three levels, including terrace. House of Silhouettes Reflects Contemporary Modern Architecture | Shaunak Singh and Associates This contemporary residence […]
Nestled in the upscale neighborhood of Naranpura, Ahmedabad, Visamo is a south-facing NRI bungalow that redefines luxury modern bungalow design through a seamless blend of contemporary architecture and biophilic design. Spanning a 7,330 sq. ft. plot with 10,000 sq. ft. of built-up area, this residence is a heartfelt homecoming for a young couple returning to […]
The client envisioned a quiet contemporary residence within the dense urban fabric—a contemporary home style that balances modern aesthetics with a lived-in warmth. Functionality, spatial fluidity, and a strong connection with nature were prioritized. The home was to accommodate a multigenerational family, enabling both communal and private moments without compromising on light, ventilation, or spatial […]
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 […]
Pillar design is a cornerstone of architectural elegance, seamlessly blending structural support with aesthetic appeal. Our blog, “50 Best Pillar Design Inspirations,” celebrates this essential element, showcasing a variety of styles from classical Doric and Ionic to contemporary and avant-garde innovations. Whether you’re an architect, interior designer, or a design enthusiast, these pillar design inspirations […]
This simple farmhouse design is a humble residence that responds to the climate and site. It is a fun fact that the house is both an inward and outward looking house at the same time. One of the USPs of the simple farmhouse design project would be that it connects well with the most playful […]