This residential building is designed to accommodate three generations of a large family, balancing the often conflicting needs for personal privacy and family togetherness. The family consists of three couples and two children, which required creating secluded private spaces alongside shared areas suitable for gatherings of various sizes.
The design draws inspiration from an unexpected source: the basic unit of digital images—the pixel. Despite this modern reference, the philosophy remains deeply connected to nature. The house is designed to harmonize with its natural surroundings through thoughtful landscape integration, orientation, and form.
The building’s design features a series of stacked volumes that step back to create a subtle and private form. This staggered arrangement not only provides intimate gathering spaces but also allows the garden to extend inward. The material palette respects this geometry, combining large areas of natural stone, exposed concrete, and exterior spray paint, which also contributes to thermal regulation.
Architecturally, the design explores covered balconies, overhangs, and nested spaces, with each room oriented toward the garden on the north side. This orientation responds effectively to the region’s hot and arid climate, resulting in a warm and inviting home that maintains privacy.
The pixelated theme is most striking at the main entrance, where a bare concrete canopy features a series of square openings of varying sizes. Inside the ceiling, large custom MS light fixtures echo this pixel effect. Together, these elements create a ceremonial sense of arrival, enhanced by dynamic light and shadow patterns throughout the day.
The interior layout offers a seamless flow, creating a rewarding spatial experience from the entrance onward. Visitors first encounter a simple yet elegant foyer that sets the tone for the design narrative. From there, the main volume opens up, with a stairwell as the focal point—lined with exposed brick walls and illuminated by a skylight above.
The exterior’s stepped form is echoed inside with a series of tiered potted plants along the railing-free staircase, adding a sense of security. These stacked plants invite touch, making the ascent a pleasurable experience reminiscent of walking through a garden. The interior materials reflect the natural theme—stone, wood, and exposed brick walls are complemented by simple lime plaster finishes, creating a timeless spatial quality. Contemporary furniture, artwork, and accessories complete the modern living atmosphere.
Design Drawings
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Front View
△ Left Elevation View
△ Right Elevation View
△ Sectional Drawing AA
△ Sectional Drawing BB
△ Section CC
Project Information
Project Type: Independent Residential Building
Location: Ahmedabad, India
Architectural Firm: The Grid Architects
Area: 7,303 ft²
Year: 2019
Photographer: Photographix India
Suppliers: AutoDesk, Tata Steel, Powder-Coated Aluminum, Asian Paints, Google, Saint-Gobain, Ultratech
Lead Architects: Snehal Suthar, Bhadri Suthar
Design Team: Vishvajit Hada, Keyur Patel, Heli Sheth, Ankita Mevada
Structural Design: In-House
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