Perched on the edge of town, along a buffer of potato farmlands, is an eco-friendly home, a residence, Shoonya (meaning zero), designed for a young family. The brief was to design a house that would naturally withstand the harsh climate conditions of northern Gujarat and create various scales of openness within it. In response to these aspirations, the project balances experimental design methods with traditions of the neighbourhood and locally available construction skills, materials, and knowledge.
Editor’s Note: “Embracing the vast potato farmlands, ‘Shoonya’ locates itself as a timeless piece of tradition and invention. Wrapped in lime, brick, and steel, it emerges organically from the farmlands like a sculpture, playing with light and air. This home is a shelter and a story, along with earthy tones, sunlit openings, solar power, and local wisdom.” ~ Anusha Sridhar
This Eco-Friendly Home Naturally Withstands Harsh Climates in Gujarat | BandukSmith Studio
The protective house uses thick walls, insulated slab strategies, and smartly controlled openings to shield its inhabitants from the hot summer sun. The plan faces the entrance on the southern side, with potato farmlands stretching along the northern end.
The design is revealed through solar strategies of closed mass on the south and open terraces for transparency on the northern side, strategic cutouts where light and shadow can play, and walls of different materials and porosities.
The house is constructed through a combined structural system; with load bearing external walls and an internal frame structure.
Lime plastered walls, exposed brick jaali (screen) facades, steel frame fenestrations, and flowing terrazzo flooring come together to bring coolness into the space and form a sense of familiarity.
In the earthy tones of the built house, the furniture and fabricated staircase add a pop of color and eccentricity. Shoonya is powered through solar panels, installed on the terrace.
Fact File
Designed by: BandukSmith Studio
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: Shoonya House
Location: Deesa, Gujarat
Year Built: 2021
Built Up Area: 3659.73 Sq.ft
Principal Architects: Sachin Bandukwala & Melissa Smith
Design Team: Nabajyoti Dutta Choudhury, Hiral Kandoi, Mudit Tikmani
Photograph Courtesy: Vinay Panjwani
Manufacturers: KG Tiles, Philips, Sanjari Glass Enterprise, Ziky Plaster- Lakhan Rathod
Structural Consultant: StrucArt Design Consultants
Carpenter: Mukesh Mevada
Client: Deepak Vardey
Source: Archdaily
Firm’s Website Link: BandukSmith Studio
Firm’s Instagram Link: BandukSmith Studio
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 […]