Architects Bhavi Katira and Krishma Shah of The Home Studio curate a rich, vastu compliant residential haven in Bhuj that makes ancient traditions relevant to modern living. The project honours the occupant’s appreciation for the science of Vastu Shastra and their ties to the jewellery industry.

This Vastu Compliant House Makes Traditions Relevant to Modern Living | The Home Studio

Imagine a typical neighbourhood in a congested Indian city. With buildings almost huddling cheek by jowl, you couldn’t be faulted for dreaming of a vastu compliant home ensconced within a garden. An abode that would provide a soothing green salve for city-frayed nerves.

Such was the desire of a Bhuj-based business family, and they communicated it to the young and enthusiastic architects, Bhavi Katira and Krishma Shah of The Home Studio.

Design Philosophy

“Our designs are a reflection of our ideologies and ethics. Aesthetics and functionality are equally balanced to create straightforward designs radiating eternal elegance,” exclaims Krishma Shah. From college buddies to professional partners, Krishma Shah and Bhavi Katira have come a long way to establish their names as leading female architects in the industry.

Adhering to their fundamental philosophy of creating meaningful environments, the architect duo realises a vision for a modern-day vastu-compliant home through meticulously conceptualised spaces, selection of appropriate materials, and a clean execution of the overall design.

“Given the density of the urban fabric and the proximity of neighbouring structures, the need to create an inward-looking house came as a rational concept,” notes Bhavi Katira.

She further adds, “In order to create a luxurious and spacious home where the owners do not feel incarcerated, the architectural layout inverts the concept of a bungalow set into a garden by infusing the garden within the bungalow.

Inspired by Traditional Indian Homes

Taking inspiration from traditional Indian houses, a courtyard is introduced. This in turn also justified the requirements of a Vastu Shastra compliant plan.

“Very basic and clear guidelines were laid down by the clients from the first go. They only wished for a coherent home in terms of space utilization and maintenance,” reflects Krishma Shah. The adjoining residences abutting on the three sides of this plot leave scope for only the front entrance side for opening up the house.

A rationally designed balcony, above the main entrance of the house, not only creates a connection between the inside and the outside but also creates a strong narrative for the façade language. Cantilevered slabs shade the fenestrations, generating a sense of balance and anchoring the architectural composition.

The central courtyard functions as the nucleus of the house. Architecturally, the ground floor layout accommodates an entrance foyer, living room, dining space, kitchen, and parent’s bedroom flanked by the courtyard. The private upper deck consists of a master bedroom, kid’s bedroom, guest bedroom, and entertainment zone.

Natural Ventilation

Natural light and cross-ventilation, modulated through skylights, enliven the house. The design team had to put the thinking cap quite firmly on their heads to churn out the out-of-the-box idea of using fabricated aluminium and glass pyramids to secure the skylights tactfully.

The changing play of light throughout the day creates dynamic moods. An erudite blending of natural and artificial lighting amplifies the spirit of the spaces.

The house revolves around the concept of connections. Alluring fenestrations and skylights seamlessly connect the indoors to the outdoors. The articulated central courtyard intertwines the spaces both planarly and volumetrically.

Niches and Corners

This makes the house function as a homogenous unit, creating niches and corners for every occasion. The ambience is conducive to solitude as well as celebrations.

In keeping with the client’s desire for a strictly Vastu compliant house, the placement of spaces in the house is in sync with the plan of the Vastu Purusha Mandala.

Thus, apart from positioning the main areas of the house, such as the kitchen, living room, courtyard, dining room, bedrooms, and temple, according to the elements, even positions of design elements like doors and stairs are in accordance with the correct energy flows.

This leads to the colossal challenge of moulding a visually appealing piece of architecture from a rigid design grid that dictates most of the decisions. Surprisingly, the architects dovetail modern aesthetics and traditional spirit to adjourn into not a showplace but an abode hallmarked by personalised timelessness.

Nature Meets Contemporary Aesthetic

Materiality performed a great role in setting the natural-meets-contemporary aesthetic direction. An amazing mélange of traditional material palette with contemporary detailing leads to sublime vocabulary for the spaces.

The use of natural stones like green Kota stone, multi-coloured Kota stone, and Jaisalmer stone offers earthy, rustic vibes. Warmly hued Teak wood furniture and jute curtains complete the collage.

The colour scheme throughout the house is in adherence to the Vastu Shastra principles. The designers saw the restrictions placed by traditional science as a guideline rather than a challenge.

The Home Studio has successfully created a dwelling that prioritises meaningful experiences for its residents, emphasising substance over gratuitous ostentation. 

Cocoon of Comfort

This house is the perfect mélange of traditional and contemporary designs into a cocoon of comfort for different generations living happily under the same roof in current times. The connections between the spaces are analogous to the relationships between family members. The interior design is congenial to the architectural language.

The convoluted flooring pattern and ritzy chandelier mark the entrance to the house. The flooring pattern extends to the tan wooden ceiling embellished with cylindrical lights. The entrance features a semi-covered portico with a wooden ceiling and circular columns, setting the stage to unveil the marvels that lie ahead.

The vestibule is bedecked with an enticing geometric pattern of multicoloured Kota and Jaisalmer stone flooring. The classic combination of polished Kota stone flooring, white walls and warmly hued Teak wood furniture can never go wrong.

Tan-toned seating and profile lights framed in wood define the living room. Jaisalmer stone flooring and wooden storage enhance the double-height pooja space. It is beautifully accentuated by the dynamic play of natural light throughout the day.

Tranquil Aura

Wooden shutters for the base cabinets, paired with white and beige back painted glass wall cabinets, bring panache to the semi-modular kitchen. The neutral theme offers clear and peaceful energy to the homemaker through the hectic daily chores. The beautiful hand made green tiles on the breakfast tabletop work as a cherry on the cake. The patinated quartz dining table draws inspiration from fine dining restaurants, while the dainty vertical wooden crockery units elevate its elegance. The floral fabric chairs serve as feathers on the hat for the entire composition.

Each bedroom is themed to reflect the users’ personalities and expectations. Affability and complacency ooze from the minimal décor of the parents’ bedroom, marked by white walls and wooden furniture. The bright yellow Jaisalmer stone-clad staircase adds a splash of colour to both levels. Panache and poise are the words that are tossed into the mind as one enters the master bedroom. Teakwood furniture is partnered with a neutral suede leather finished wardrobe and headboard. The green Kota stone flooring is inserted with a multi coloured Kota stone pattern. Almost zen in nature, the master bedroom speaks a language of serenity and warmth.

Cool and Calm Ambience

The design elements in the daughter’s bedroom, including handles, wardrobe shutters, and headboards, infuse a tint of blue. Windows opening into the courtyard and front garden facilitate cross-ventilation and plenty of soft natural light. The guest bedroom features a pastel green theme, creating a cool and calm ambience.

A Palatial Home

Building your dream home is often a once in a lifetime opportunity, and when that moment comes, all your aspirations will fight for equal attention in the grand design scheme. How does one reconcile that? Principal architects Bhavi Katira and Krishma Shah of Bhuj-based The Home Studio just has the answer for us, or at least their recent residential gem—this palatial home for the Zaveris—can be our guide. A design, filled to the brim with details, stories, and intricacies, casts a sense of wonder at every corner of this house.

Fact File

Designed by: The Home Studio

Project Type: Residential Architecture & Interior Design

Project Name: A Cocoon Of Connections

Location: Bhuj, Kutch

Year Built: 2020

Project Size: 3575 Sq.ft

Project Cost: 80 Lakhs

Principal Architects: Ar. Krishma V. Shah & Ar. Bhavi J. Katira

Photograph Courtesy: Jignesh Zaveri & House of Artsy

Text Credits: Kruti Choksi Kothari

Products / Materials / Vendors: Wall construction – Bricks / Roof Construction – Reinforced Cement Concrete / Windows – Aluminium / Doors – Teak wood / Flooring – Kota stone, Jaisalmer Stone Bathroom finish – Ceramic Tiles / Kitchen Cabinets – Wood, MDF with acrylic finish / Kitchen Tandem – fluid / Kitchen Countertop – quartz storelne – cream with light brown dots / Laminates – Royal Touche Veneers – Royal Touche / Paints – Asian Paints / Bathroom Tiles – Simpolo / Highlighters – Handmade tiles by Vikram Studio, Ahmedabad) / Lighting – Profile lights by Pious, Bhuj and Hanging lights from Bela Casa, Anmol, Ahmedabad / Tapestry – Curtains by D Decor / Upholstery – Sarom by D Decor / Hardware – HETTICH / Faucets – JAGUAR / Tandem – FLUID, HETTICH / Air conditioning – LG

Firm’s Instagram Link: The Home Studio

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