Project Description

Client Brief

The client envisioned a bungalow on a 140’ × 140’ ancestral plot overlooking a lake on the outskirts of Bangalore. The intent was to create a spacious, nurturing environment where his children could grow up and form lasting memories. The home was to balance shared family life with individual privacy, while maintaining a sense of warmth and positive energy. The program included formal and informal living areas, five bedrooms, a home theatre, and a gymnasium, distributed across a G+1+0.5 structure.

Concept Note

The design strategy minimizes the building footprint to preserve maximum open space and uninterrupted views toward the lake. Outdoor areas are treated as an extension of the house, allowing nature to integrate with the interiors. The architectural language follows a tropical modern approach, informed by site contours, sun path, and prevailing wind patterns. Spatial zoning is organized by privacy levels, with semi-private functions on the ground floor and private spaces above. The design emphasizes human scale, natural light, cross-ventilation, and sustainable planning principles to create a comfortable, balanced living environment.

Design Process

The built footprint was limited to 50’ × 60’, enabling the inclusion of outdoor features such as parking, a swimming pool, landscaped garden, and gazebo. The building is oriented to the north and east to capture optimal lake views, with the northern exposure allowing for consistent daylight without excessive heat gain. Service and low-occupancy spaces are positioned along the west and south-west to reduce solar ingress.

A column-free corner in the north-east of the living area ensures uninterrupted views of the lake. Double-height volumes at the foyer, puja, and lounge enhance spatial continuity and visual connection between levels. The ground floor accommodates semi-private, outward-oriented spaces with fluid transitions between indoors and outdoors, while the first floor houses private areas. The terrace level contains the gym and home theatre, completing the spatial hierarchy.