The architect designed the house with a vault roof specifically for an artist. The design of the house is based on two factors: site context and the client’s background. The original structure was a humble 2-bedroom GF residence. It was built 20+ years ago on the outskirts of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad). The client sought to expand the vault roof house without demolishing the existing structure. The site is located in a hot and dry climate zone within a relatively densely populated area.
Editor’s Note: “The vaulted roof of this Aurangabad residence rises as a striking testament to architectural elegance. The captivating interplay of brick and concrete harmoniously converges, crafting a minimalist and serene ambiance. Thoughtful planning and exquisite attention to detail weave the interiors seamlessly with the outdoors, offering utmost privacy while embracing an open, natural spirit.” ~Simran Khare
This House With A Vault Roof is Specifically For An Artist | Vrushaket Pawar + Architects (VP+A)
The requirement of 4 BHK with a vault roof is spread across the three floors (GF, FF, and SF). Here, the living room, kitchen, dining room, master bedroom, and guest bedroom are located on the ground floor. The sons’ bedrooms are located on the first floor. Whereas, the den for the client himself is placed on the second floor.
The first floor’s exposed concrete cantilevered slab on the main stairs is a low-height space enveloped by prefabricated perforated panels on the roadside and an exposed brick wall on the terrace side. Thus, creating a perfect balance between privacy and openness.
However, allowing occupants to enjoy the view of large tree canopy in front of the house at the same time obscuring the view inside the house, from the road.
This also helped create a strong upward wind draft, removing the hot air from the kitchen, dining room, and master bedroom, especially in the summer.
In winter, you can enjoy sunlight in the centre of the ground floor without being exposed to chilly winds.
The dining room is strategically placed at the centre of the house, where we punctured the old slab to create a three-floor-high stepped courtyard. This design brings sunlight to the centre of the house throughout the year.
One bedroom is located on the NW corner, facing a large tree, and an apartment is across the road. We designed it with a high, vaulted ceiling to reduce heat gain in the summer and bring winter sun into the room from the south.
This also helps to maintain the privacy of the room, as vaults are cantilevered on the northern side only.
The designers designed the staircase in three different parts on different levels due to the old stairs being located in the northeast corner of the building.
This spatial planning approach towards the stairs transcended into a multi-level terraced design across three floors. This created an outdoor space for each room, each with its own unique identity.
The second staircase surrounds the central courtyard, which we built as a load-bearing structure using simple materials such as kota stone and first-quality brick. It overlooks the dining below while connecting to the artist’s “Den.”
The bedroom placed on the SW corner has fewer openings due to the hot, dry climate. However, we designed the toilets in both bedrooms with a skylight to maximise light and ventilation. Meanwhile, they are also creating space for planters to add interest to otherwise mundane daily tasks.
The Den is a special room where the client spends his time doing creative work like painting, thinking, and feeding fish! The room has glass on three sides and a lotus pond overhanging the courtyard. A free-standing brick jaali wall envelops the space, providing privacy and allowing for light ventilation. The room also has a partly high ceiling with one vault for the very same reason: passive cooling.
The den is placed in such a way that it has access to two different terraces with completely different views, from hills in the distance to large tree canopies with landscapes around, respectively. This room also has an indoor standing balcony overlooking the dining below, creating a visual and vocal connection between multiple levels.
We kept the material palette minimal, using humble materials such as Kota stone slabs, tiles, exposed brick, and concrete work, reflecting the client’s humble beginnings. We sourced the wood used in the project locally, reclaiming it from a very old wada. The stepped terraces, stairs, large vaults, and materials, in a way, unfold the artist’s life. Resilient, fluid, yet firm like his spirit.
Fact File
Designed by: Vrushaket Pawar + Architects (VP+A)
Project Type: Residential Architecture
Project Name: The Vaulted House
Location: AURANGABAD, INDIA
Year Built: 2024
Project Size: 3153.83 sq.ft
Source: ArchDaily
Principal Architect: Vrushaket Pawar
Photographs: PHX India, Jacob A Nedumchira, Sebastian Zachariah
Structural Engineer: Anil Datar
Contractor: Mr. Gulab
Carpenter: Janak Prajapati
Electrical Contractor: Rahul Jadhav
Plumbing Contractor: Vinod Bhosale
Wall Finishes Contractor: Manoj Giri
Firm’s Instagram Link: Vrushaket Pawar + Architects (VP+A)
For Similar Project >>> Atypical Take on Origami Inspired Office Interior Design | Vrushaket Pawar+Architects
KRIPA is a residence that reflects the personality and lifestyle of its homeowner — calm, open, and rooted in nature. The project focuses on creating light-filled, green spaces with minimal private zones, encouraging openness and connection. In a time when spaces are shrinking but expectations are rising, architecture becomes the medium to bridge this gap […]
The Sculpted Sanctuary is a masterclass in modern minimalist design. The project focuses on “Quiet Luxury”. It is the idea that a space doesn’t need bright colors or flashy decor to feel expensive. Instead, it uses raw natural materials, rich textures, and sharp architectural lines. This Home Is A Masterclass In Modern Minimalist Design | […]
A home is a living canvas. More than a carefully planned housing scheme, it is a silent witness to everyday routines, shared laughter, and collective memories that shape a lasting sense of belonging. It is defined by the intangible threads that quietly bind a family together. Housing Scheme: A Contemporary Home Designed Around Everyday Living […]
SIDHARTHA, is a four-bedroom modern house which is functional and aesthetic driven by the specific needs of the client. The location of the site is in a dense neighbourhood in Bengaluru, India. The contemporary urban dwelling frequently negotiates competing demands. It balances generous daylight and visual connection to the street with privacy, dust control, and […]
The first thing one notices at Ekya, a 12,000 sqft house in Hyderabad’s Jubilee Hills, is the silence of the wilderness. Courtyards and terracesrise at different levels rife with dense foliage. A three-storey-high boulder wall makes the house appear as though it has been carved from the rock, while the chirping of birds adds to […]
Layers don’t just sit here; they breathe, shift, and whisper through light. The Screen, set in the sun-drenched fabric of Solapur, Maharashtra, isn’t trying to scream luxury. It doesn’t need to. It moves quieter than that, more composed, more intentional, like a pause button carved into the chaos of the city. Spread across 4,125 sq. […]
We conceive EMA not as a conventional architectural object, but as a living continuum of memory, ecology, and craft. Located in Malappuram, Kerala, the 1,700 sq. ft. residence, designed with thermal comfort draws from vernacular wisdom and the philosophy of the Kaavu—the sacred grove—where humans, nature, and other living beings coexist without hierarchy. Within this […]
Set within the lush landscapes of Bharanikavu in Kollam, Arcade – a single storey residence that blends tropical modern architecture with colonial and traditional elements. Designed for a businessman, his wife (a teacher) and their two daughters, this house showcases a shared interest for elegance rooted in familiarity. This Single Storey Home Sits Amidst Lush […]
Located in HMT Layout, Bangalore, Isha_Srinidhi Nilaya stands as a multi-generational home designed on a compact 60×40 ft (2400 sq. ft) East facing plot, with a total built-up area of 8000 sq. ft. East Facing a lush public park, the residence responds to its urban setting through a layered design that balances privacy with a […]
Nestled within a 30×40 ft plot is the compact house design in Banashankari 6th Stage, Bengaluru. This residence for the Ellappans, reimagines traditional Indian living in a contemporary, spatially dynamic form. Designed for a family of three- Mr. Ellappan, his wife, and their teenage son- the house expresses a deep connection to vernacular roots while […]