“I miss home.” That’s where it all began, a simple sentiment rooted in nostalgia for designing this compact home. How does one recreate the essence of home, far from its familiar embrace, on a compact 30 x 50 feet site in a bustling city like Bengaluru? For us, the answer lay in weaving together memories of Udupi and modernity — Mangalore tiles that echo the warmth of old roofs, courtyards that breathe life into a home, wooden accents softened by time, a play of light that is both diffused and dramatic, and pockets of greenery through planters and pots placed indoors.
This Compact Home Weaves Memories of Udupi | From Around Here
Our clients, a couple who work from home, sought a sanctuary — a forever home nestled away from the city’s relentless rhythm. Vastu principles guided the spatial organization of this east-facing plot, ensuring harmony between the built and unbuilt.
Aware that as the neighborhood grows, light would be limited from three sides, we opened large terraces on each floor and introduced a skylight above the central courtyard and staircase.
The ground floor unfolds as an invitation to pause and gather. The living room, opening onto a courtyard, is intimate. A cozy seat in bright yellow Jaisalmer stone and teak wood, set against a soothing green oxide pond and koi fish, nestled into a corner—a quiet retreat for a steaming cup of tea or an impromptu work session.
The pooja space strikes a balance between opulence and modernity, integrated into the living area and open enough to host gatherings of up to fifty. A custom-crafted jack wood mandap, sourced all the way from home, rests on dainty columns, giving a magical floating effect.
In the kitchen, an earthy yellow backsplash adds vibrancy, while high fixed windows flood the space with natural light and frame glimpses of the surrounding greenery.
The guest bedroom and bathroom are tucked away for privacy, offering a comfortably accessible space for our clients’ aging parents. To ensure ample daylight—despite the prospect of future neighboring structures—a fluted glass opening connects the guest room to the courtyard, allowing soft, diffused light to filter through.
On the first floor, the rising sun takes center stage. The master bedroom, occupying nearly half the site area, embraces the morning light through a large east-facing sliding door that opens onto a generous balcony. Its terracotta flooring nods to tradition while keeping the space naturally cool. A high-pitched roof, paired with an all-white and wood interior, evokes a sense of understated luxury.
The children’s bedroom—currently a flexible space doubling as a home office and gym—serves as a canvas of playful contrasts. A striking jaali wall casts intricate patterns that dance with the shifting light, while also welcoming a few unexpected guests—families of finches that have made it their home. Designed in a zig-zag pattern, the jaali not only enhances privacy from future neighbors but also integrates a thoughtful seating nook inside and a planter outside, blending function with charm.
Movement through the house becomes a journey of discovery. The staircase landings are more than mere transitions—they unfold like quiet vignettes, adorned with art and pockets of greenery, offering moments of surprise at every turn. Among these surprises are wooden windows with delicate flower motifs, pivoting along their metal rims to alter the flow of light into the stairwell. Traditional artwork adorn the walls, paying homage to the essence of Udupi.
The second floor reinterprets work and leisure. A home office, calm yet connected, opens onto a semi-open balcony lined with fixed seating and planters — a perfect setting for hosting family and friends. The use of earthy green oxide continues on this floor. Providing a beautiful foreground for the ever-changing Bengaluru skies and its famously beautiful weather. A delicate skylight, with traditional floral patterns in metal, casts ephemeral shadows on the walls and floors below. Giving a subtle reminder that tradition and modernity can coexist, not just side by side, but intertwined.
Ultimately, this home is more than just a place to live — it’s a feeling, a memory rekindled. A place where old-world charm meets modern-day comfort, creating a self-sufficient haven — not just through the physicality of spaces, but through the soul they hold.
Fact File
Designed by: From Around Here
Project Type: Residential Architecture and Interiors
Project Name: HANCHU MANÉ
Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka
Year Built: February 2024
Architecture Studio Location : Manipal, Karnataka
Project Size: 2760 Sq. Ft
Principal Architects: Ar. Shreya Daffney & Ar. Saran Babu
Team Design Credits: Ar. Shreya Daffne, Ar. Saran Babu & Ar. Anudipti
Photograph Courtesy: Arjun Krishna
Firm’s Instagram Link: From Around Here
For Similar Projects >> This Home Celebrates Tropical Home Design
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 […]