This Bengaluru home’s design is directed by the trees that surround it

Bungalow, located at 24 1st Ave., New York, NY, is a contemporary Indian restaurant that has been recognized with a Bib Gourmand award by the MICHELIN Guide, signifying good quality and good value cooking. Helmed by Chef Vikas Khanna, the establishment offers a distinctive dining experience in a warm and inviting atmosphere. The interior is characterized by pale pink walls, vibrant murals, and a bar featuring intricate carved panels, creating an aesthetically pleasing setting. Securing a table at Bungalow can be challenging, as the restaurant is frequently bustling, and many diners line up early in hopes of getting a walk-in spot, given that reservations are not available through the MICHELIN Guide's platform. The culinary journey at Bungalow begins with a selection of unique cocktails, which incorporate innovative ingredients such as turmeric-infused tequila and chili-infused mezcal. The menu focuses on contemporary Indian cuisine, showcasing the rich and diverse culinary traditions from India's 28 states. This approach allows for a broad exploration of regional flavors and techniques, moving beyond more commonly known Indian dishes. Standout items highlighted by the MICHELIN Guide include the five-cheese kulcha, a stuffed flatbread, and yogurt kebabs. These kebabs are wrapped in crispy kataifi pastry and served with a bright pickled cabbage puree and a spicy mango coulis, illustrating the kitchen's creative and skillful execution. Bungalow operates from Tuesday to Sunday, opening at 5 PM and closing at 11 PM, with Mondays being its day off. The restaurant accepts various payment methods, including American Express, Discover, Mastercard, and Visa credit cards, as well as debit cards. While it falls under the '$$$' price range, categorized as suitable for a 'Special occasion' by the MICHELIN Guide, its Bib Gourmand status implies that it offers excellent value for the quality of food provided. The restaurant is also noted as being family-friendly and is currently trending, further indicating its popularity among diners. Facilities and services include air conditioning. The restaurant is positioned within the New York State, New York area, specifically in a location accessible to a variety of nearby dining and lodging options. The MICHELIN Guide review for Bungalow was published on December 9, 2024, by a Michelin Inspector, who praised the chef's independent venture and the vibrant atmosphere. #MichelinGuide #BibGourmand #IndianCuisine #NewYorkRestaurants #ChefVikasKhanna #ContemporaryIndian #NYC

The 'Sun House,' located in the tropical state of Goa, India, was designed by SAV Architecture + Design, a firm with offices in London, Mumbai, and Goa. This residence draws inspiration from the sun, incorporating local red laterite stone for its exterior walls, substantial sun screens, and a double-height brick-clad entrance and living spaces. The architectural geometry is informed by the surrounding landscape, emphasizing bold, sweeping lines, fluid forms, and expansive overhangs that seamlessly extend into the interior areas. Faced with a constrained and compact site, which is unusual for a holiday home, and limited external views, the architects concentrated on creating an inward-facing dwelling. The design intentionally brings natural elements into the house, exposing them throughout its interiors. A prominent exposed brick wall serves as the central structural spine, dynamically changing its trajectory as it extends into the double-height living area, creating a sweeping effect. The curved living space is sunken, aligning with the level of the outdoor pool, establishing a visual and poetic connection with the water. This area also incorporates amphitheater-like seating. The living room's double-height doors are designed to slide and fold, allowing the interior to open directly to the pool area. The architects utilized a restrained, minimalist, and locally sourced material palette, which not only reinforced the architectural concepts but also highlighted craftsmanship and detail, fostering a strong connection to nature and the outdoors. In-situ concrete forms the exposed roof and floors, contributing to a seamless interior aesthetic while aiding in temperature regulation in Goa's tropical climate. Despite its artistic design, the house is highly responsive to its tropical environment, featuring large overhangs and shaded green courtyards. These overhangs and sloping rooflines are mirrored in the internal spaces, creating diverse spatial experiences through varying slopes and angles. The entrance is marked by a brick-lined wall alongside a shallow linear pool and large sun screens on the south wall, establishing both a reflective and functional mood upon entry. A floating teak wood open-riser staircase, complemented by brass rods as balustrades, introduces textural layers and refined materiality throughout the house. The open-plan dining and kitchen area is conceived as a vibrant, airy space that harmoniously blends local and contemporary elements. This area features Goan-Portuguese inspired traditional cement tiled flooring, local granite countertops, a modern high-specification kitchen, and brightly colored furnishings. Positioned around an internal courtyard on both sides, the kitchen and dining areas benefit from ample natural light, ventilation, and a continuous connection to the outdoors. On the first level, the staircase leads to an open-plan mezzanine overlooking the double-height sunken living area. The lighting fixtures in this space were custom-designed by the architects, drawing inspiration from the house's architectural lines. Bedrooms are accessed via fluid, sweeping white corridors that add an element of surprise. Each bedroom offers a unique connection to the outdoors, with the master bedroom featuring a large private terrace that overlooks a louvered courtyard on one side and the pool on the other. Integrated timber joinery and subtle accents of bold colors in textiles and art provide a contrasting warmth to the otherwise minimal and meditative architectural palette. The five bath spaces within the house are significant design elements, each crafted to establish a strong connection to the raw nature of materials, illuminated by top-lit skylights, and echoing the fluid spatial lines of the residence. The bar and poker room, situated by the poolside, present a blend of chic interiors with custom-crafted furniture, maintaining a strong connection to the surrounding tropical plants. Both these spaces face the pool and their respective inner courtyards. The landscape around the pool, though not expansive, echoes the dramatic architectural lines of the house, creating spaces that transition seamlessly, contributing to the dynamic and picturesque quality of the environment. #TropicalArchitecture #ResidentialDesign #IndianArchitecture #Goa #SustainableMaterials #IndoorOutdoorLiving #ArchitecturalGeometry #ModernDesign

The article showcases the 'Secret Garden House' designed by Wallflower Architecture + Design, emphasizing its innovative approach to integrating nature within a residential urban setting. The design prioritizes privacy, natural light, and ventilation, creating a serene living environment despite its proximity to neighboring properties. The house is characterized by its strategic use of courtyards, green spaces, and water features that extend the living areas and blur the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces. Key to the Secret Garden House's design is its series of interconnected courtyards. These courtyards serve multiple purposes, including providing natural light and ventilation to the interior spaces, offering private outdoor retreats, and contributing to the home's overall aesthetic. The central courtyard, often a focal point, creates a direct connection with nature and influences the layout and flow of the surrounding rooms. The integration of lush planting throughout these courtyards enhances the sense of a 'secret garden,' offering residents a continuous interaction with greenery and the natural world. The architectural elements of the house are carefully considered to promote sustainability and energy efficiency. Large windows and strategically placed openings maximize natural light penetration, reducing the need for artificial lighting during the day. The design also incorporates passive ventilation techniques, utilizing the courtyards to create cross-ventilation and cool the interiors, thereby minimizing reliance on air conditioning. Materials are selected for their durability and aesthetic appeal, contributing to the timeless quality of the home. The layout of the Secret Garden House reflects a thoughtful consideration of spatial hierarchy and functional zones. Public areas, such as living and dining rooms, are designed to be expansive and open, flowing seamlessly into the courtyards. Private areas, including bedrooms and studies, are strategically positioned to offer seclusion and tranquility, often with direct views of smaller, more intimate garden spaces. This balance ensures that the house caters to both social interaction and personal reflection. In terms of its urban context, the Secret Garden House stands out for its ability to create a self-contained natural oasis. The design cleverly navigates the challenges of a dense urban environment by using boundary walls and strategic landscaping to screen out undesirable views and create a sense of enclosure and privacy. This approach allows the residents to enjoy the benefits of a large garden without compromising their privacy or being overtly exposed to the urban surroundings. The house serves as a compelling example of how architecture can foster a profound connection with nature in an otherwise built-up landscape. The construction details and material palette further underscore the project's commitment to quality and thoughtful design. Finishes are often natural and tactile, complementing the organic elements of the gardens. The use of timber, stone, and concrete is balanced to create a harmonious and sophisticated aesthetic that is both contemporary and rooted in its natural surroundings. The overall impression is one of understated luxury and a deep respect for the environment. #Architecture #ResidentialDesign #SustainableDesign #CourtyardHouse #UrbanOasis #NaturalLight #Ventilation #GreenArchitecture #Singapore

Wallflower Architecture + Design has completed the 'Bamboo Veil House', a semi-detached residence in Bukit Timah, Singapore. This unique dwelling is characterized by a continuous bamboo screen that envelops its façade, featuring rounded edges that organically respond to the street's curvature. The design's primary function is to offer privacy and solar protection, an essential consideration given Singapore's dense urban environment and tropical climate. The house employs a double-skin façade system. The exterior layer is an operable screen composed of vertically-laid bamboo, while the inner layer consists of aluminum-framed glass windows. This configuration allows for adaptable environmental control: the windows can be opened to facilitate natural ventilation in favorable weather or closed for air-conditioning during hot and humid conditions. This dual-layer approach provides both aesthetic appeal and practical climatic responsiveness. The client's brief called for a minimalist tropical house with a generous social space on the ground floor for entertaining guests. The architectural firm organized the spatial requirements of the nuclear family across three distinct levels, optimized for the irregularly shaped, triangular plot. The ground floor is dedicated to dining and social gatherings, while the second floor accommodates bedrooms. An attic level houses a study and a family room, providing additional functional areas. A central design element is the continuous bamboo 'cloth' that unifies the building's exterior. This organic layer is visually contrasted by defined white eaves, creating a soft yet striking aesthetic. The inspiration for the bamboo cladding stemmed from the owner's visit to the Nezu Museum in Tokyo, designed by Kengo Kuma, where the texture and color of bamboo left a profound impression. The bamboo veil functions both as an architectural feature and a practical element, acting as a breathable façade and a privacy screen, particularly effective as one approaches the property from the curved street. Sustainability is a key aspect of the 'Bamboo Veil House'. The bamboo used for the screens is locally sourced, contributing to its eco-friendly credentials. The screen plays a crucial role in passively cooling the house, thereby reducing reliance on energy-intensive air-conditioning. The operable bamboo screens and windows on the second level encourage cross-ventilation and provide framed views of the surrounding landscape. At night, the illuminated house transforms into a 'delicate bamboo lantern', emitting a soft glow onto the street. The closely spaced bamboo slats ensure privacy during both day and night, allowing residents to filter sunlight or open the screens for an unobstructed view during the day, and maintain intimacy by closing them at night. #ResidentialArchitecture #BambooCladding #SustainableDesign #TropicalArchitecture #OperableScreens #NaturalVentilation #PrivacyScreen #SingaporeArchitecture