grand circular aperture within square brick screen dominates AKDA's family house in india

Abhishek Ajmera Architects designed the Brick House, a dwelling located in Indore, India, on a 6,500-square-foot plot, encompassing 8,000 square feet. The residence features four bedrooms, a basement office, communal areas, and an activity room. The design prominently utilizes exposed brick, both as a construction material and as a key aesthetic element, guiding spatial transitions, modulating natural light, and seamlessly connecting interior and exterior spaces. The entrance sequence is carefully crafted, incorporating a sculpted mound, floating steps, and a suspended I-beam resting on a boulder, which collectively blur the distinction between the landscape and the architectural form. The primary material palette, consisting of brick, metal, wood, and black basalt, establishes visual continuity throughout the property. The interior layout prioritizes openness and fluidity, employing partitions rather than conventional walls to define spaces. A double-height living room, characterized by a sloped ceiling, serves as the central hub of the house, offering views of the north-facing pool and a southeast garden. Full-height sliding glass doors can be recessed into brick walls, allowing for a flexible integration of indoor and outdoor zones. Above the dining area, a mezzanine level with a distinct blue panel provides a versatile space for reading or working, adding a vertical dimension to the living area. A solid wood dining table is centrally placed beneath a cantilevered lighting fixture and an exposed I-beam, complementing the industrial aesthetic. The adjacent kitchen features an island designed to appear suspended, finished with dark veneers that align with the overall material scheme. Throughout the house, the architects introduce accents of color, such as green, yellow, blue, and red surfaces, to enhance visual interest and prevent uniformity. A central feature of the home is a hanging staircase, crafted from solid wood and metal, which ascends alongside a black basalt wall, all enclosed beneath a vaulted ceiling. A strategically placed window adjacent to the staircase creates dynamic patterns of light and shadow throughout the day, a design principle extended to other areas of the house through slit windows, skylights, and framed openings. The first floor accommodates two bedrooms, an activity room, and a dressing area, all designed to maximize natural light and ventilation. The daughter’s bedroom includes a private balcony overlooking the pool, while her dressing room benefits from a skylight, reducing the need for artificial illumination. The master bedroom, situated in a secluded part of the house, features a vaulted brick ceiling and offers views to the east and west. An accessible terrace on the eastern side expands the living space outdoors, while the western facade is adorned with planters and brick louvers that help mitigate sunlight and enhance privacy. A yellow spiral staircase provides access to the terrace, acting as a sculptural element that complements the exposed brickwork. In the master suite, the ensuite bathroom incorporates vegetation and natural light, with windows providing ventilation and lessening reliance on mechanical systems. A walk-in wardrobe and a central island complete the suite, illuminated by daylight from an east-facing slit window. The basement office combines exposed brick and concrete walls with a Jaisalmer stone floor and glass partitions, creating a naturally lit and inviting workspace. Vertical ducts and well-positioned windows channel sunlight to indoor plants, effectively addressing the challenges typically associated with subterranean spaces. The minimalist decor and the use of raw materials, such as reclaimed rods, brick, wood, and glass, emphasize the inherent textures and architectural qualities of the design. #ArchitecturalDesign #ResidentialArchitecture #BrickHouse #SustainableDesign #IndoorOutdoorLiving #Materiality #IndianArchitecture #NaturalLight #ContemporaryHome

This article highlights the innovative design solutions implemented in a tri-level Ascot Vale home, built on a narrow block, to accommodate a family with three young children. The primary objectives were to maximize natural light, provide ample storage, and create a long-term living space suitable for raising a family. Figr Architecture Studio was tasked with creating a design that met these needs while complementing the building's footprint and respecting the streetscape. Architect Michael Artemenko describes the home as an "emotional journey" with thoughtful design ideas creating diverse experiences. A key principle was the considered use of space, where space was reallocated from less critical areas to more essential ones. This approach resulted in a generous living, kitchen, and dining area, serving as the family's central gathering point, and a sizable study that can function as a second living space. The four-bedroom, two-bathroom contemporary home showcases six notable design concepts. The first idea is a unique day bed in the living room, which serves as an intimate relaxation spot. Its materials visually link it to the adjacent kitchen, with a stone bench wrapping from the kitchen into the living area, forming the day bed and creating a continuous visual flow. Dark-stained oak veneer, also used in the kitchen joinery, forms the base, offering textural contrast with the stone. This design aims for uniformity and gives the building's length a distinct presence. The second design highlight is the strategic use of the color green. Vibrant green carpet on the top level provides a bold color accent, enhancing the natural beauty of materials like stone and timber, and connecting the interior with the garden. This green carpet gives the main bedroom and study a strong identity and creates a dramatic transition between floors. Each level has a distinct feel, with the top level featuring green carpet, the middle level having blackbutt-timber floors, and the lower level, housing the children's bedrooms, featuring traditional light-grey carpet. The varying tones of green in the carpet evoke a sense of being on a "grassy knoll" as one moves up through the house. The combination of green and timber on the top level creates a "treehouse" effect when sunlight filters in. Green is also incorporated into the laundry joinery, which is concealed behind bi-fold doors, transforming a traditionally overlooked space into a visually appealing one. Creative window designs form the third point of inspiration. At the front, a large rectilinear window encased in a black metal shroud offers a bold, modern interpretation of traditional architectural forms, providing depth and presence against the crisp white weatherboards. At the rear, a picture window next to the day bed opens to the garden, functioning like a door and creating a reading nook that allows for both indoor and outdoor views. Fourth, dark highlights, particularly the color black, are used to give rooms a bold, modern edge and contrast with lighter materials. Black penny-round tiles are featured on the kitchen's splashback and a living room wall, creating a striking visual element. The architect notes that using black highlights specific design aspects and that the penny-round tiles interact with the surrounding light and colors, causing the wall to appear to change throughout the day. Black is also used around some doorways to emphasize transition areas, and strategically placed black can paradoxically make a space feel larger. The fifth idea focuses on imaginative storage solutions. Storage was crucial for the family but designed to be unobtrusive and engaging. Overhead cabinetry in the kitchen appears as an extension of the timber-lined ceiling. In the study, storage is sculptural, following the building's lines and cathedral ceiling, and incorporating fun display spaces. Floor-to-ceiling storage in the main bedroom seamlessly integrates with the walls, with white-painted wardrobe doors enhancing uniformity and the sense of space. Even the top cupboards, designed to follow the cathedral ceiling, are functional. Finally, feature ceilings are highlighted as the sixth design idea. The cathedral ceiling ensures compliance with council residential guidelines and the overall architectural plan, blending with the streetscape and increasing internal volume. It also allows for skylights, maximizing winter sunlight and sky views. In contrast, a blackbutt-timber-veneer lined ceiling in the kitchen and living area adds warmth and draws the eye outdoors. Despite this section having a lower ceiling, the light, grain, and texture reflected by the timber prevent it from feeling compressed, instead creating a dramatic effect and signifying a change in space. #Architecture #HomeDesign #NarrowBlock #SpaceUtilization #InteriorDesign #SustainableLiving #FamilyHome #AscotVale #FigrArchitecture

Aditi Bhatia, known for her role as 'Ruhi Bhalla' in the daily soap opera, _Yeh Hai Mohabbatein_, and her significant social media presence with 6.4 million followers, recently unveiled her newly designed home. The actress, who purchased the property in 2024, collaborated with California-based Osaya Architects founder, Shreya Porey, to create a living space that is both visually appealing for her online audience and highly functional for her family and two dogs. Bhatia's primary vision for her home was to achieve a 'Pinterest-worthy' aesthetic, ensuring that every corner could serve as an engaging backdrop for her social media content, including stories, posts, and reels. Concurrently, she emphasized the necessity for the home to be practical and meet the daily needs of her family. To reconcile these objectives, designer Shreya Porey incorporated distinctive curved elements throughout the apartment, transforming its conventional builder-grade shell. These curved features are evident in the furniture, room entrances, and even the design of the bed, establishing a cohesive and unique design theme. A standout feature of Bhatia's residence is her designated glam or vanity room, a space meticulously designed to support her profession as an actress and cater to her personal interests. This room is characterized by a floral wallpaper from LoveShackFancy adorning the ceiling, which creates a striking contrast with a geometric chandelier. The vanity room also includes mirror-front closets from Veneto, a lush carpet from Jaipur Rugs, and a plush pouffe, contributing to an overall luxurious ambiance. Bhatia highlighted the practical utility of this room, noting its importance for getting ready, particularly for fittings, and its dual function as a dance studio. She expressed satisfaction with the highly organized nature of the space, where every item has its specific place, facilitating an efficient routine. The walk-in closet within the vanity room is spacious enough to accommodate an entire team of makeup artists, hairstylists, and fashion experts, illustrating its thoughtful design for professional use. Shreya Porey described the vanity room as reflecting Bhatia's glamorous and stylish personality. The design process was heavily influenced by Bhatia's 6.5 million Instagram followers, underscoring her role as an influencer. She consciously sought design ideas that would resonate with her audience, aiming to create spaces that felt accessible and appealing to various age groups while maintaining a mature and timeless elegance. The collaboration between Bhatia and Porey successfully balanced youthful energy with sophisticated design, resulting in a home that serves as both a personal sanctuary and a dynamic platform for her digital content. #AditiBhatia #CelebHomes #HomeDecor #InteriorDesign #GlamRoom #WalkInCloset #InfluencerHome #ArchitecturalDesign #SocialMediaInspired

Located on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India, at the end of a mango tree-lined street, Teen Vaults is a residence that evolved from a weekend home concept to a full-time residence for a family of four. The design is characterized by its interplay of brick, concrete, and natural light, featuring three parallel exposed Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) vaults. These vaults are central to the home's organization, with one dedicated to the kitchen and dining area, another to the formal living space, and the third housing a study and reading lounge. This tripartite structure establishes a clear architectural order, while simultaneously creating diverse spatial experiences throughout the home. The residence emphasizes material honesty through the prominent use of exposed brick load-bearing walls and raw concrete vaults. These robust materials are complemented by off-white terrazzo floors from Bharat Floorings, which extend throughout the interiors, providing a subtle yet continuous visual flow. Custom solid teak furniture and brass accents are strategically incorporated to add warmth, texture, and a touch of refinement to the interior spaces. Furthermore, building services such as HVAC and lighting are intentionally left exposed, integrated as elements of the architectural expression rather than being hidden. A central courtyard, adorned with frangipani and tulsi plants, forms the heart of the layout. This courtyard serves multiple functions, including providing natural ventilation and a serene visual break within the home's plan. A folded concrete staircase, featuring reclaimed teak treads and a distinctive wooden-bead railing, connects the ground floor to the upper level. The upper floor is dedicated to the private living spaces, specifically the bedrooms, which are designed to offer privacy and a quiet retreat for the occupants. Lighting and art are meticulously integrated into the overall spatial composition to enhance the aesthetic and functional qualities of the residence. Two prominent light installations by Radhika Sanghvi illuminate the double-height living and dining areas, creating a captivating ambiance. Olie sconces are used to highlight the textured brick surfaces, drawing attention to the material details. The interior is further enriched by handwoven dhurries from Enii Living and serigraphs by Esther David, which contribute to a crafted and personalized interior environment. Teen Vaults, designed by architect Vaissnavi Shukl, exemplifies an architectural approach that harmonizes structural clarity with domestic functionality. The residence stands as a testament to a thoughtful dialogue between its robust materials and the comfort required for everyday living, where design choices not only support practical needs but also maintain a strong, distinct formal and material identity. #AhmedabadResidence #VaissnaviShukl #ArchitecturalDesign #BrickArchitecture #ConcreteVaults #IndianArchitecture #MaterialHonesty #ResidentialArchitecture #InteriorDesign #CourtyardHouse