The Garden House

 Serenity entwines seamlessly with grounded minimalism at The Garden House by NNAD Studio. A monolithic brick-clad form rises from the rugged landscape, harbouring a multitude of open and green-doused nooks that urge one to rest, pause, and reflect.

Cradled amidst the untamed greens of its context, The Garden House emerges as an organic expression within the suburban fringes of Banashankari in Bangalore. With a bevy of residential developments on the rise within the neighbourhood, this private residence makes a compelling case for sustainable architecture that is birthed from the earth while epitomising a raw identity. A 50×80 South-facing plot was baptised with a new lease of life, anchoring a home that amalgamates an old-world charm with a keen eye on conscious design interventions that address the present. 

The Garden House aims to strike an equilibrium between contemporary nuances and an earthy persona. The client’s brief emphasised upon the creation of multiple spaces to house greens, vegetable and fruit gardens, and pockets of areas to unwind in, all while mitigating the generation of building waste. A juxtaposition of solids and voids, the multilevel home’s rectilinear mass has been punctured in areas to create crevices of greenery, openness, and tangible galleries of light and air that travel across the home’s entirety through the day.  

With an open floor plan as the frontrunner, the overall design ethos of the home remains to create easy to maintain spaces that assume an uninterrupted. The overarching material palette comprises warm terracotta-hued bricks made from soil excavated to establish the home’s foundation, exposed concrete, wood, Kota and Sadarahalli stones, and bamboo in a harmonious blend that creates a tactile designed environment. 

“Unlike any other project that I have envisaged, this home was akin to piecing together a jigsaw puzzle from the outside-in! In keeping with the intent of upcycling and refurbishing as much as possible, we initiated the process of design by procuring elements such as doors, windows, grills, and steel columns and beams from restoration sites and older bungalows that were being demolished around the area,” she explains. Although acquired from a variety of sources, the medley of elements was cohesively integrated into the residence to make it seem homogeneous while ensuring functionality was prioritised. 

The entrance gate to the property is composed of protective louvres that were obtained from a discarded generator set, creating a privacy-endowed veil of sorts that builds intrigue. Led through by a pergola shrouded in verdant creepers and floral blooms of Bengal Clock Vine, the pathway was deliberately designed to lead an end-user through the expanse of the surrounding gardens, one comes across a flurry of flowering, aromatic, and ayurvedic species of plants and herbs that strengthen the immersive experience that envelops the dwelling’s surroundings.  

Built in exposed concrete, the foyer space is accented with engraved stone and textured wood to hint at an apparent sense of ruggedness and rusticity. The lintels have been maintained at a lower height at the entrance, tipping their hat to the traditional Indian ritual of humbly bending one’s head intentionally while entering or exiting a home.  

Forming the heart of the blueprint, the open and connected living area, dining nook, and kitchenette create the communal core that witnesses the family spending a significant fraction of their time within. Made across morphing internal levels, the living area bears an almost cavernous quality, with warmth surging through it. With shafts of daylight pouring in through the clerestory windows, filtering through the intricate iron filigree, the living room hosts a range of versatile seating arrangements. Peppered with vintage switchboards, curated brass antiques, and timeless handloom fabrics, this zone cascades into a sunken seating area with brick-based benches and light furniture that keeps the milieu airy and flexible. 

In a constant state of dialogue, the kitchenette and dining spaces remain visually and pragmatically linked to create quaint nooks to dine and cook while facilitating interaction. The U-configuration kitchenette features a brick and mortar constructed Peninsula Island that extends itself to create a light threshold between zones and doubles up as a breakfast counter paired with upcycled bar stools. The dining space is defined by a snug four-seater rosewood folding table and woven cane chairs, illuminated whimsically by a duo of bamboo pendants that showcase an interplay of light and shadow. A corridor situated right off this zone houses concealed louvred storage, the inconspicuous utility area, and a powder bathroom. 

Spilling into the outdoor courtyard, the space is graced by a traditional swing, stone bench seating, a gurgling water curtain, and the home’s internal staircase posing as the axial spine. The outdoor area makes for a zen nucleus that blurs the boundaries between the inside and outside. “This zone comes alive during congregations and for the couple to begin their day within, soaking in the views of the greenery while remaining secluded in the home’s embrace,” expresses Nayanika. 

Leading up to the higher levels, the customised bamboo luminaires make for elegant additions to the corners of the staircase. “The mezzanine level of the home is punctuated by a strategically positioned pyramidical skylight, drawing in generous doses of sunlight during the day and presenting sights of the starry sky at nightfall. This area has been fashioned as a reading and unwinding spot perfect to enjoy a good brew with views of the sky’s canvas and the landscape below through the sweeping fenestrations,” describes the Designer.  

The ensuite master bedroom situated on the first level of The Garden House is a homage to all that the home is emblematic of. Steeped in an allure of a bygone era, the primary bedroom reveals its expanse as a membrane of folding-sliding doors is unfurled. “The impetus behind constructing this sequence of doors was to bless the bedroom with an extended perception of space that softens the boundaries between connected zones,” illustrates Nayanika. The bedroom has been designed to include a walk-in closet section abutting the master bath. 

The green terrace on the first floor is approached via an independent entryway accessible from the inside and outside, creating an oasis of verdure. Designed inventively, the conventional railing lining the periphery of the terrace has been replaced by a metal parapet wall that cantilevers as light seating. 

“For us as a studio, this home will always be an undeniable reminder of finding inspiration in what surrounds us. The Garden House nudged us to look inwards, create consciously, and to still ensure that the home invoked familial warmth. As a result, the design brief was fulfilled with the client’s way of living being manifested into the architectural grammar of the residence,” concludes the Principal Designer. 

The Garden House straddles the dominions of the past, present, and future with a palpable sensitivity for the environment it dwells within. The home presents a quintessential experience of living in synchrony with nature, reiterating that an expressive design language can be woven in complete devotion to sustainability.