In the quiet outskirts of Jaipur, Saur Stays unfolds as a dialogue between architecture, landscape,
and legacy. Designed by architect Vipul Raj, a graduate of CEPT University, Ahmedabad, the project is
at once a personal journey and a professional statement. Commissioned by his father Mr. Vimal
Kumar Sharma, a lifelong horticulturist deeply connected to the land, Saur is not merely a boutique
homestay. It is a meditation on fragrance, memory, and the confluence of two worlds: architecture
and horticulture.

Inside Outside Architects

A Name Rooted in Fragrance

The genesis of Saur lies in scent. Early in the design process, father and son envisioned a retreat
infused with the aromas of native flowering shrubs. The name embodies this sensorial ambition:
Saur speaks of fragrance that lingers, shitis with the seasons, and defines experience. Each guest
room extends this idea. It carries the names of native blossoms, Mogra, Chandni, Kunj and Juhi so
that the architecture is inseparable from its botanical inspiration. On another level, the name
gestures to the family’s intent. To share the “fragrance” of their culture and kindness with travellers
from across the world.

Father and Son: Horticulture Meets Architecture

Vipul raj and his fathers’ relation profoundly shaped this project. For the father, landscapes have always been a language of care—nurturing, patient, and deeply rooted in place. For Vipul, architecture is a language of form, space, and material honesty. With an education sharpened at CEPT, where the traditions of Ahmedabad’s masters left a deep impression. In Saur, these languages intertwine. The father’s horticultural sensibility guided the planting scheme and landscape planning. Vipul’s architectural clarity gave form to the built environment. Together, they crafted a retreat where fragrance and structure exist in harmony.

Structure

The structure of Saur Homestay is anchored in RCC, ensuring stability across multiple levels. Yet, the
project’s true identity lies in its exposed brickwork—a deliberate design choice that forms both the
aesthetic and philosophical heart of the homestay. Far from being just a surface treatment, the brick
is celebrated for its honesty, tactility, and Timelessness. In Jaipur, where exposed brick is often
perceived as “unfinished,” the choice becomes almost radical, transforming what is locally
misunderstood into an emblem of refinement and restraint. The façade thus emerges as bold and
unapologetic, simultaneously contemporary in clarity and rooted in craft.

Staircase

The staircase-well is finished with lime plaster, a traditional material Ar.Vipul Raj was keen to revive. Beyond its elegant, matte quality, lime plaster carries ecological significance, offering a low-carbon footprint and the rare ability to age gracefully, acquiring patina over time rather than decay. This detail reflects the architect’s learnings over the years of practice—where material was not only thought of as a building block, but as a cultural and environmental statement.

Rejecting the artifice of false ceilings, Vipul instead embedded sakore (earthen saucers) into the slab during casting. These modest terracotta forms create a textured ceiling that feels warm, human, and sustainable. What might otherwise have been hidden in convention is instead transformed into a
subtle design signature—an architectural wink to vernacular ingenuity.

Staircase

On the semi-open staircase, tensile kite fabric is employed—both a poetic and practical intervention. The translucent tensile sheets shield guests from the harsh south-western sun while maintaining ventilation, privacy, and a gentle play of filtered light. The choice reflects the architect’s ability to balance functional pragmatism with lyrical expression, infusing everyday movement with quiet delight.

In all, the design philosophy is less about embellishment and more about truthfulness to material, climate, and craft—a language Vipul Raj conƟnues to evolve.

Layout

The homestay offers three distinct room formats: a 2BHK apartment for families, a kitchenette studio
for extended stays, and a single room for solo travellers. Independent circulation ensures privacy, with a staircase placed on the roadside edge to demarcate guest movement from the family residence.

Garden

The garden, connecting both residence and homestay, is the project’s living heart. Ornamental trees, flowering shrubs, fruit-bearing plants, and climbers fill the site with scent and shade. The east-facing façade rises as a backdrop for this greenery, carrying fragrant climbers up to the second floor, so that the building itself becomes an extension of the garden.

Responding to Jaipur’s climate, the south façade is kept blank to block harsh sunlight, articulated instead with expressive brickwork. Cross-ventilation and daylighting strategies maintain comfort, while tensile shading at the staircase balances privacy with climatic performance.

Conclusion

What distinguishes Saur Homestay is not only its material honesty or spatial intelligence but also its layered humanity. It is a space shaped by the father’s lifelong dialogue with plants and the son’s architectural training, a built environment that carries memory as much as function. Vipul Raj’s education manifests in the sensitivity to materials, climate, and human scale, while his father’s horticultural vision ensures that fragrance, growth, and care are integral to the experience.

Fact File

Designed by: Inside Outside Architects

Project Type: Residential Architecture Design

Project Name: Saur Stays

Location: Jaipur

Principal Architect: Ar. Vipul Raj

Photograph Courtesy: Studio BluOra®

Firm’s Instagram Link: Inside Outside Architects

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