Manoj Patel Design Studio has completed a farmhouse on the outskirts of Vadodara, Gujarat, India, positioned between expanding urban development and surrounding agricultural land. Set on a 30,000 sqft plot with a built-up area of 1,500 sqft, the project explores material efficiency, climatic responsiveness, and spatial openness within a rural context.

The design adopts sustainability as a structural and material strategy rather than a stylistic approach. Exposed brick, locally sourced stone, and recycled materials form the primary construction palette. Brick cavity walls integrate ground beams, where RCC slurry is poured within the cavities to strengthen the structure. This method merges structural logic with material expression. Varied brick bond patterns contribute to self-shading performance, responding to the region’s hot and dry climate. Curved brick walls were shaped on site, reflecting the relationship between craftsmanship, geometry, and construction technique.

The built form is organized as a series of fragmented volumes. These distinct masses create interstitial spaces that allow landscape, light, and cross-ventilation to permeate the plan. Height variations across volumes assist in functional zoning while introducing vertical spatial modulation. An open central pocket operates as a landscaped courtyard, establishing a green core that supports informal gathering and play.

all images courtesy of Manoj Patel Design Studio

Sustainability informs both structure and material selection

Geometrically, the farmhouse balances curved and angular forms. Soft, curved brick surfaces contrast with sharper volumes, generating a rhythmic composition structured around courtyards and transitional zones. Circulation is conceived as a sequence of spatial shifts rather than a linear passage. Sloping roof profiles respond to climatic conditions and contribute to the silhouette of the structure. A glazed central volume functions as a visual anchor, channeling daylight deep into the interior and strengthening connections between different programmatic zones.

Manoj Patel Design Studio extends the architectural language into interior spaces through handcrafted details and material continuity. Patterned flooring, custom joinery, and artisanal finishes introduce layers of local craft. Light and shadow activate exposed textures throughout the day, reinforcing the tactile qualities of brick, stone, and reclaimed materials.

Bathrooms are treated as spatially immersive environments within the farmhouse. Stone surfaces, handcrafted tiles, reclaimed wood, and pebbled flooring contribute to a material palette that emphasizes tactility and natural reference. Fixtures are integrated within stone joinery, reinforcing material continuity. Natural light and ventilation enhance the environmental performance of these spaces while maintaining a strong connection to the surrounding landscape.

the farmhouse is located on the outskirts of Vadodara, between urban expansion and agricultural land

exposed brick, local stone, and recycled materials define the construction palette

curved brick walls were shaped on site through skilled craftsmanship

varied brick bond patterns create self-shading surfaces suited to a hot, dry climate

curved and angular geometries create a rhythmic architectural composition

height variations help define functions while modulating spatial experience

interstitial gaps allow landscape, light, and cross-ventilation to permeate the plan

patterned flooring and custom joinery extend the architectural language indoors

exposed materials interact with shifting light and shadow throughout the day

bathrooms are conceived as immersive spaces grounded in natural materials

stone, reclaimed wood, handcrafted tiles, and pebbled floors emphasize tactility

project info:

name: Recycled Material Farmhouse
architect: Manoj Patel Design Studio | @manoj_patel_designstudio

location: Vadodara, Gujarat, India

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

The post curved brick patterned walls frame farmhouse by manoj patel in india appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Located at the intersection of HITEC City and the Financial District in Hyderabad, India, Nivan Sky Gardens emerges as a contemporary residential ecosystem that repositions nature at the heart of high-density living. Designed by Studio Symbiosis, the project proposes a verdant vertical community where architecture and landscape operate as an integrated, self-sustaining system. The development responds to the modern disconnect from the natural world by transforming the traditional residential tower into a living landscape. Through a modular, staggered framework, the towers create a layered-shaded facade where every projecting module functions as an inhabitable garden terrace, allowing the architecture to mature into a cultivated vertical forest over time.

Nivan Sky Gardens in Hyderabad, India | all images courtesy of VERO DIGITAL

STUDIO SYMBIOSIS FUSES URBAN DESIGN WITH NATURE

Founded on the principles of synergy, Studio Symbiosis operates across Stuttgart, London, and Delhi NCR with a collective of over 90 architects. By fusing architecture with landscape and materiality with responsibility, the studio creates spaces that interact and evolve with their surroundings rather than being imposed upon them. At Studio Symbiosis, design is not separated from performance, it is integrated into the ecological resonance of the building, forming harmony with nature.

designed by Studio Symbiosis, the project proposes a verdant vertical community

VERTICAL GARDENS FORM NATURE-CENTRIC PENTHOUSES

The spatial philosophy of Nivan Sky Gardens draws inspiration from the archetype of a traditional house with a front garden, reinterpreting it for a vertical context. Each residence, ranging from 130 to almost 700 square metres, is conceived as a self-sustaining module with an adaptable layout that allows the apartment to grow and change with its occupant. To ensure both openness and seclusion, the balconies are folded and articulated to create distinct outdoor zones, while integrated louvres provide privacy from neighbors without sacrificing natural light. These modules are vertically staggered to form generous planting pockets, reinforcing the project’s identity as a garden dwelling in the sky.

the development transforms the traditional residential tower into a vertical forest

The ground plane and clubhouse serve as a layered social infrastructure, activating the site with a blend of recreational and productive landscapes. Residents have access to sports courts, open playfields, an amphitheater, and organic farming plots, all embedded within the greenery. A central swimming pool, animated by cascading waterfalls, anchors the communal space. Indoors, the clubhouse consolidates wellness centers, a mini-theatre, and a rooftop café that overlooks the gardens. By integrating fluid circulation between these outdoor activity zones and the elevated amenities, the project successfully bridges the gap between the built environment and an active, nature-centric lifestyle.

the project bridges the gap between urban and nature-centric lifestyle

Nivan Sky Gardens repositions nature at the heart of high-density living

the reception lobby and other amenities on the ground floor serve as a layered social infrastructure

each residence is conceived as a self-sustaining module with an adaptable layout

integrated louvres provide privacy from neighbors without sacrificing natural light

the modules are staggered to form planting pockets, reinforcing the project’s identity as a garden dwelling in the sky

through a modular, staggered framework, the towers create a layered-shaded facade

every apartment is a penthouse with a terrace garden

project info: 

name: Nivan Sky Gardens
location: Hyderabad, India
design: Amit Gupta and Britta Knobel Gupta, Studio Symbiosis | @studiosymbiosisoffical
project lead: Sonal Dongre Jain, Vedant Sangal, Kartik Misra
team: Nitish Talmale, Akshay Kadoori, Dewesh Agrawal, Anjan Mondal, Chaitanya Goyal, Gaurav Gupta, Satpal Singh Chauhan, Harshi Garg, Aditya Sharma, Govinda Dey, Apurv Jain, Diksith S., Roshan Bhojwani
site area: 9.37 acre
status: under construction

The post nivan sky gardens by studio symbiosis convert penthouses into vertical forest in hyderabad appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Located on the outskirts of Mayiladuthurai in Tamil Nadu, India, Paati Veedu by Koodu Architecture is a compact rural residence developed under financial constraint and material limitation. Built on a 1,200-sqft site within a neighborhood of small houses and agricultural fields, the project is defined by reuse, adaptation, and resource-conscious construction. The house was constructed using 10,000 bricks accumulated over time by the client, forming the primary material basis for the design.

The existing foundation was reinforced with a plinth beam to support new load-bearing brick walls. The plan is organized as a single-story layout comprising a veranda, living room, kitchen, bedroom, and attached toilet. Circulation follows a simple sequence: the entrance foyer, which also functions as a pooja space, leads into the living area, from which the kitchen and bedroom are accessed. This compact configuration ensures clarity of movement and efficient spatial use.

all images courtesy of Koodu Architecture

Koodu Architecture selects Context-Driven Materials

Material selection by Koodu Architecture Studio draws directly from the agrarian context of the site. Mud-plastered walls provide a textured surface that visually aligns with the surrounding soil. Green oxide flooring references the tonal qualities of nearby paddy fields, incorporating subtle variations in texture. The oxide skirting includes imprints of paddy grains, while fragments of discarded marble from a neighboring construction site were cut into geometric floral patterns and inlaid into the floor surface.

As material availability shifted during construction, the design adapted. When bricks became scarce, a large semicircular arched window was introduced in the living room. Fabricated in steel and incorporating leftover reinforcement stirrups, the opening increases daylight penetration and supports cross-ventilation. The patterned grill abstractly references natural elements such as water, sun, and trees, establishing a visual connection to the surrounding landscape.

Paati Veedu is located on the outskirts of Mayiladuthurai in Tamil Nadu, India

Paati Veedu employs Reclaimed Components

Reclaimed doors and windows were restored and fitted with stained glass, integrating reused elements into the structure. Wall niches were introduced along the exterior envelope, separated by glass to create protected nesting spaces for birds. These openings enable visual connection from the interior while maintaining separation.

The veranda roof is clad in reused Mangalore tiles and supported by a bamboo structural system in which paired poles are coupled to form a single load-bearing member. Rainwater is directed through a concrete gutter system into the garden during monsoon seasons, integrating climatic response into the architectural detailing.

Paati Veedu demonstrates how limited resources, reclaimed materials, and localized construction methods can shape a dwelling that responds to context, climate, and everyday use through careful planning and adaptive design.

reuse and resource-conscious construction guided the design process

mud-plastered walls reference the texture and color of the surrounding soil

rainwater is channeled through a concrete gutter into the garden during monsoon seasons

green oxide flooring reflects the tonal qualities of nearby paddy fields

the entrance foyer doubles as a pooja space

the openings enhance daylight penetration and cross-ventilation

reclaimed doors and windows were restored and fitted with stained glass

stained glass introduces colored illumination within the rooms

reclaimed materials and localized construction shape Paati Veedu

project info:

name: Paati Veedu
architect: Koodu Architecture | @koodu_architecture

lead architect: Arjun Govind
location: Tamil Nadu, India

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

The post thousands of reclaimed bricks shape rural residence amid agricultural fields in india appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Tropibox Kochi House is conceived by Tropical Architecture Bureau as a residence in Kochi, India, that translates personal memory into spatial organization. The client, a chef, sought to reinterpret the atmosphere of a modest childhood home within a contemporary architectural framework. Central to the brief was the creation of a generous kitchen positioned as the social core of the house, supported by intimate living areas and garden spaces that maintain a continuous relationship with the outdoors.

The house follows an L-shaped plan responding to the site’s sloped topography. An introverted exterior facade conceals an open internal arrangement structured around courtyards and controlled openings. Public functions are located on the ground floor, while private areas occupy a mezzanine level, establishing a clear vertical separation between communal and personal zones. A double-height dining space forms the spatial anchor of the project. Positioned at the center of the layout and illuminated by a circular skylight, it connects the kitchen, living areas, courtyards, and pool. This central volume organizes circulation while reinforcing visual continuity across interior and exterior spaces. Natural light enters through skylights, courtyards, and large openings, contributing to passive illumination and cross-ventilation.

all images courtesy of Tropical Architecture Bureau

Tropical Architecture Bureau uses Locally sourced materials

The material palette selected by studio Tropical Architecture Bureau combines locally sourced natural stone, cement plaster, wood, exposed concrete, and metal. This selection reduces transportation-related emissions while aligning with regional construction practices. The materials also contribute to thermal moderation and long-term durability. Wood is used extensively in doors, built-in furniture, and detailing, introducing warmth and tactile continuity. Black metal joinery and expansive glazed frames provide structural definition and visual transparency. Cane, textiles, and ceramic elements introduce softer textures, producing a layered interior environment that balances solidity with refinement.

Greenery is embedded directly into the architectural envelope through integrated planter systems. The planter construction includes a structurally supported base with layered components for plant health and water management. A growing medium sits above gravel drainage layers, with a perforated pipe system ensuring water circulation. An overflow control regulates excess water levels, and foundation chains provide structural anchoring where required. This layered system combines drainage efficiency, structural stability, and vegetation growth, allowing facade planting to function as both environmental buffer and architectural element. Through its spatial configuration, material selection, and integration of landscape systems, Tropibox Kochi House aligns domestic life with climate responsiveness and everyday use.

Tropibox Kochi House by Tropical Architecture Bureau in Kochi, India

an introverted facade conceals an open courtyard-centered interior

a generous kitchen forms the social core of the house

living areas extend toward garden spaces to maintain an outdoor connection

a double-height dining area anchors the spatial layout

large openings support passive illumination and cross-ventilation

the central volume links kitchen, courtyards, pool, and living spaces

a circular skylight introduces controlled daylight from above

wood detailing introduces warmth across doors and furniture

project info:

name: Tropibox Kochi House

architect: Tropical Architecture Bureau | @tropicalarchitecturebureau
lead architect: Ar. Uvais Subu
area: 3500 sqft
location: Kochi, India

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

The post circular green terraces carve through exposed concrete facade in india appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Encasa Archstudio completes its Vault House in Kerala, India as a three story tropical residence that brings exposed concrete vaults into dialogue with sunlight and greenery. Conceived for a multi generational household comprising a couple, their daughter, and parents, the home reflects a clear client ambition for a unique yet livable environment shaped by daylight, breezes, and plant-life.

Located in the heart of town, the house precisely negotiates level changes of its sloping site. A basement is woven into the terrain rather than concealed within it to create an additional layer of sunlit living space.

images © Turtle Arts Photography

the sunlit, underground swimming pool

The team at Encasa Archstudio designs its Vault House with a below-grade swimming pool and courtyard. Here, an arched grill above filters light while ensuring security, casting curved shadows that shift across cement surfaces throughout the day. An elongated cement bench reinforces the raw language of the project, offering a place to pause within an otherwise utilitarian setting.

The presence of water at this level sets the tone for the house, as light reflects off the pool and onto surrounding concrete, mediating the heaviness of the material. The courtyard planting softens the edges of the structure and introduces a sense of enclosure that’s both intimate and open to the sky.

the residence is shaped by four exposed concrete vaults

a koi pond at the home’s core

The Vault House’s ground floor is organized by Encasa Archstudio as a fluid living environment that includes two bedrooms, living and dining spaces, and a family area. Circulation moves easily between these zones, guided by sightlines and the presence of water at the center. The dining area forms the emotional core of the home, arranged around a koi pond that introduces sound, movement, and reflection into everyday routines.

On the first floor, Encasa Archstudio introduces two split levels. One level contains the child’s bedroom with an attached study, while the raised level houses the main suite.

A defining gesture appears in the form of face to face balconies positioned directly above the koi pond. A bedroom balcony cantilevers outward over the water, while another is enveloped in greenery. This arrangement creates a visual dialogue across generations and allows connection across voids while preserving seclusion. The spatial relationship between pond, balconies, and dining area creates a vertical thread that binds the house together.

grey cement textures and tropical planting define the atmosphere

four vaults of exposed concrete

The project takes its name from four exposed concrete vaults that define both structure and character. Left in an unfinished texture, the vaults reveal the marks of construction and the rhythm of formwork. Their mass is lightened by teak-framed glass windows that puncture the concrete shell, introducing transparency and cross ventilation.

These vaults give the residence a strong silhouette while shaping interior volume. Light slides along curved ceilings and emphasizes their geometry. Like the swimming pool, tropical plantings around and within the house further balance the weight of the concrete.

teak-framed windows puncture the concrete vaults

face-to-face balconies encourage visual connection between bedrooms

tropical plantings balance the heaviness of the concrete structure

a floating staircase links all floors with visual continuity

soft sunlight slides along the curved ceilings to emphasizes their geometry

a basement level integrates a swimming pool and sunlit courtyard

project info:

name: Vault House

architect: Encasa Archstudio | @encasa_archstudio

location: Kerala, India

lead architects: Sulaiman Javad, Jasim Jaleel

completion: 2024

photography: © Turtle Arts Photography | @turtlearts_photography

The post encasa archstudio shapes a tropical house with four interlocking concrete vaults appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Minimalist Architecture & Design Studio organizes PROJECT RESIDENCE_BB 214 in Ludhiana, India, as a composition of restrained volumes and calibrated voids. The design emphasizes spatial sequencing, proportion, and the controlled use of daylight, allowing the experience of the house to unfold gradually through movement and changing light conditions.

The residence is structured as a series of layered masses that negotiate openness and privacy through setbacks, screens, and spatial shifts rather than solid partitions alone. Circulation becomes a means of revealing the architecture incrementally, with filtered daylight entering indirectly and producing subtle variations across surfaces throughout the day.

A vertically connected living space forms the core of the plan. Within this central void, a sculptural stair operates as a spatial connector between levels, integrating circulation into the architectural framework. Double-height volumes expand the interior vertically while framing selective views of the sky and surrounding landscape.

all images by Nakul Jain

Minimalist Studio experiments with Light, shadow, and scale

The material palette is limited and tactile, consisting primarily of concrete, stone, light-toned wood, and textiles. These materials are applied with attention to proportion, surface continuity, and junction detailing. Edges and transitions are carefully resolved, reinforcing clarity of form over decorative treatment. Built-in furnishings and custom elements are integrated into the architecture, maintaining consistency across spatial and functional components.

Private areas are positioned deeper within the plan, where reduced openings and moderated light levels create a more enclosed atmosphere. Bedrooms are defined by subdued contrasts and controlled illumination, providing spatial separation from the openness of shared living zones.

Throughout the project by Minimalist Architecture & Design Studio, architectural expression is guided by measured interventions. Light, shadow, and form are used as primary design tools, establishing a cohesive residential environment shaped by proportion, material continuity, and spatial restraint.

the house reads as a composition of stacked planes and recessed volumes, balancing openness and enclosure

layered slabs extend domestic life into shaded, open-air spaces

layered facade articulated through solid and void, creating depth, shadow, and visual privacy

a filtered threshold where screens soften daylight and mediate the exterior edge

large openings frame views and light, dissolving boundaries between interior and exterior

neutral materials and soft light shape a living space defined by restraint

a sculptural staircase rises as a central element, shaping movement and visual connection across levels

light enters indirectly through a calibrated opening, animating the interior with shifting patterns and shadows

a linear passage framed by screens and glazing, allowing movement, light, and air to flow through the house

vertical circulation is treated as an experiential pause, with light guiding movement

concrete and stone define the primary structural surfaces, while light-toned wood introduces material contrast

custom-crafted furniture elements echo the project’s material palette, reinforcing a cohesive spatial language

project info:

name: PROJECT RESIDENCE_BB 214

architect: Minimalist Architecture & Design Studio | @studio.minimalist

area: 6870 sqft

location: Ludhiana, India

lead designers: Samridh Aneja, Anima Aneja

design team: Samridh Aneja, Anima Aneja, Arshdeep Singh, Abhijeet Kalsi, Karishma Narula

interior design: Samridh Aneja, Anima Aneja

interior styling: Minimalist Architecture & Design Studio

structure: Thirdspace Consultants

lighting design: Studio Lightscapes

acoustic design: Anterbox

landscape design: Asl Landscapes + Minimalist Architecture & Design Studio

automation: Akubela

visualization: Infinity Studio, Minimalist Architecture & Design Studio

PMC: Ayush Taneja

suppliers: Tapmasters, Deluxe Lights, Kashish Furniture, Naveen Bharat Furnishings

carpentry: Sr Interiors

manufacturers: HANS GROHE+ FIMA CARLO FRATTINI, ART-N-GLASS, ASTRONEA ITALIA, Arte, Cortizo, Daikin, Flos, NILAYA ANTHOLOGY, Norisys, SCIC ITALIA

tiles: Kronos

photographer: Nakul Jain

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

The post an interplay of restrained volumes and voids composes residence_bb 214 in india appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Ethereal Whisper, developed by Project 51 A (h), is a residence in Karimannoor, Idukki, India, designed for a couple who returned to Kerala after years in Canada in search of a slower, land-connected life. Set at the natural high point of a two-acre rubber plantation, the house occupies an existing clearing and responds to the site’s contours, climate, and rhythms of plantation living rather than reshaping them.

The semi-circular plan follows the terrain, organizing spaces around a central living core where cooking, dining, and gathering merge into a single, open volume. Three bedrooms extend outward with varying orientations, balancing openness and privacy, while a triangular bedroom introduces contrast within the radial layout and frames views of the surrounding areca groves. A skylit washroom draws soft daylight from above, enhancing the sense of calm within the interior.

Ethereal Whisper is a residence by Project 51 A (h) in Karimannoor, Idukki | all images by Prasoon Suresh

Project 51 A (h) composes a breathable outer skin for the home

Studio Project 51 A (h) employs porosity as a defining architectural principle. Instead of conventional windows, locally fabricated perforated metal panels and semi-circular corrugated sheets form a breathable outer skin, allowing cross-ventilation, filtered daylight, and visual connection to the landscape. A shallow water body traces the curve of the western veranda, functioning as a passive cooling element and a reflective threshold between inside and outside. The sloping roof folds low toward the ground, helping the structure merge into the plantation setting.

Construction used locally available materials and low-impact techniques. Walls are built using mud interlock bricks to reduce cement consumption and speed up assembly, while a poured-earth wall provides thermal mass and tactile depth. Reclaimed Mangalore roof tiles and reused floor tiles extend material life cycles, and the floor concrete incorporates shredded plastic waste, transforming discarded material into a structural resource.

the radial poured earth wall anchors the circular movement

integrating climatic responsiveness with local craftsmanship

The project was executed largely with local labor and craftsmanship, reinforcing contextual knowledge and construction familiarity. Ethereal Whisper is conceived as a dwelling shaped by land, material reuse, and climatic responsiveness. Through its porous envelope, radial planning, and grounded material palette, the house supports a slower, attentive way of living, an architecture that filters, adapts, and remains quietly embedded within its plantation landscape.

a sloping roof folds low toward the ground

mud interlock bricks reduce cement use in construction

the open kitchen overlooks the surrounding landscape

the folded perforated openings invite daylight into the common areas

the central living core combines cooking, dining, and gathering

the master bedroom opens towards an enclosed courtyard

filtered light rays pour into the double-height common space

oriented openings frame views of the surrounding areca groves

a red arch door marks the entry to the residence

the triangular bedroom contrasts with the rest of the circular movement

a skylit green washroom draws daylight from above

project info:

name: The Ethereal Whisper

architect: Project 51 A (h) | @project_51_a_h

location: Karimannoor, Idukki, India

photographer: Prasoon Suresh | @prasoonsuresan__

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

The post a semi-circular porous brick house stands amid rubber plantation in india appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Curtain House, a private residence by Zero Studio, occupies a tightly packed urban fabric in Kerala. Designed for a plot edged by adjacent homes and everyday street activity, the project addresses its dense context through surface and light rather than setback or enclosure. Its presence along the street stands out for its facade of metal screening, a permeable outer layer which allows breezes and filtered sunlight.

The vertical metal screen that wraps the front and side elevations. During the day, it casts narrow bands of shadow across floors and walls. After dusk, interior light passes outward, giving the house a subdued glow that hints subtly at occupation without exposing views inside.

images © Prasanth Mohan

a home filled with sunlit gardens

Inside Zero Studio’s Curtain House, spaces are oriented away from the street, and the plan shifts focus to courtyards and landscaped edges. Living, dining, and kitchen zones share a continuous volume, organized around internal green pockets and a long water element that cools the air and slows movement through the house. The architects shape double height spaces to draw daylight deep into the interior and allow rooms to remain evenly lit across the day.

Materials remain restrained throughout. Exposed concrete ceilings and walls carry the structure honestly, while wood flooring introduces warmth underfoot. Sliding glass panels open living areas to planted perimeters. Instead of decoration, the interior atmosphere relies on its textural materials and plant life throughout.

a layered metal screen filters light, air, and views across the street edge

the climate-responsive curtain house

Across the day, Curtain House’s facade by Zero Studio performs as a responsive surface. The metal curtain modulates glare during peak sun while preserving cross ventilation, an essential consideration within Kerala’s humid climate. Vegetation along boundaries and terraces contributes additional cooling and visual relief, extending green surfaces vertically through the house.

The project demonstrates how careful layering can reconcile privacy with openness in a dense setting. With its screened courtyards and inward-facing rooms, the space remains responsive to climate and everyday to lend a calming domestic environment.

vertical slats cast shifting shadows that move slowly across concrete and wood surfaces

living, dining, and kitchen spaces share one continuous open volume

an exposed concrete structure gives the interiors a quiet tactile presence

timber floors add warmth beneath the cool weight of the ceiling slabs

the plan turns inward toward courtyards that bring daylight deep into the home

plants line the perimeters and terraces to temper heat and soften edges

project info:

name: Curtain House

architect: Zero Studio | @zerostudioofficial

location: Kochi, Kerala, India

completion: January 2025

photography: © Prasanth Mohan | @prasanth.mohans

The post zero studio wraps its garden-filled curtain house with skin of metal screening in india appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Perched on a steep hillside overlooking Naggar valley in Himachal Pradesh, India, Eila is an art retreat that functions as an extension to the terrain rather than a static object. Designed by MOFA Studio, the project champions fluid architecture through advanced computational design, realizing a structure that mimics the landscape. The site’s masterplan adopts a stepped strategy that preserves topsoil and rainwater runways, organizing the resort as a gradual, terraced descent. The resulting pod-like volumes, crafted from lightweight steel and thin concrete shells, appear to grow out of the slope, embodying a high-performance response to complex topographical constraints.

Eila, Tree of Life resort, is an art retreat perched on a steep hillside in India’s state of Himachal Pradesh | all images courtesy of MOFA Studio

mofa studio challenges through five-dimensional fluidity

Founded in 2007 by architect Manish Gulati, MOFA Studio is a collective of optimistic non-conformists who prioritize possibility over rigid systems. The practice operates through a five-dimensional framework – Spatial, Ecological, Social, Temporal, and Systemic fluidity – to ensure architecture responds to life rather than dictating it. By integrating AI as a creative collaborator alongside a dedicated research cell, the studio optimizes environmental performance while maintaining human intuition. This systems-led approach allows the multidisciplinary team to resolve complex constraints through efficient detailing. The landmark Elia project reflects the MOFA Studio’s nearly two decades of innovation in non-conformist, systems-led architecture. 

MOFA Studio designed the project to champion fluid architecture through advanced computational design

elia’s biomorphic shells and visual instruments

The architecture of Eila is defined by its biomorphic shells, where pod-like cottages extend across the sloping site to capture 360-degree views of Naggar valley below. These lightweight steel and concrete volumes act as insulated enclosures that reduce energy loads while maintaining a low-carbon footprint. A defining gesture of the design is the treatment of openings as visual instruments. These windows and skylights are positioned to pull in the exterior, deep into the interior life. Each aperture frames the valley as a living mural, ensuring the architecture remains in constant conversation with the mountains.

Biomorphic shells – pod-like cottages – extend across the sloping site to capture 360-degree views of Naggar valley below

Rather than décor, art is treated as the core at Eila, integrated into façade screens, interior murals, and the choreography of the site. Under the art direction and interior styling of the client, Shri Rama Shankar Singh, a renowned educationist in India and his daughter, Palak Singh, the interiors reflect a lived-in curatorial approach that embeds creativity into daily rituals. The journey begins at the Gate of Confluence, a stone-inscribed pavilion, leading to the Kitaabkhana (library) where light filters through jaali and embroidery-frame lamps. This art-led threshold transitions into communal spaces, including an open-air amphitheatre and a heated infinity pool aligned with the horizon. Even the masterplan is displayed as an artwork, reinforcing the premise that art, architecture, and life occupy a single, continuous field.

the site’s masterplan adopts a stepped strategy that preserves topsoil and rainwater runways

architecture with local materiality and ecological absorption

Its materiality leans heavily on local sourcing to reduce transport emissions and embed the retreat within regional construction cultures. The lightweight frame and thin shell system minimize material intensity, allowing the resort’s profile to remain visually quiet against the sensitive Himalayan backdrop. MOFA Studio conceived the concrete shells with the potential to host local landscape growth over time, suggesting an architecture that is not finished at handover but is gradually absorbed by the ecology. This origin story, born from a 20-year collaboration between Manish Gulati and Shri Rama Shankar Singh, represents a constant questioning of form until every line resonates with the landscape’s history and spirit.

the resort is organized as a gradual, terraced descent, starting with the Gate of Confluence pavilion

rather than décor, art is treated as infrastructure at Elia

the Kitaabkhana (library) where light filters through jaali and embroidery-frame lamps

Shri Rama Shankar Singh and Palak Singh curate the interiors to reflect creativity as daily rituals

each aperture frames the valley, ensuring the architecture remains in constant conversation with the mountains

Manish Gulati, Principal Architect and Co-founder of MOFA Studio

project info:

project name: Eila

design studio: MOFA Studio I @mofa_studio

design team: Manish Gulati, Shri Rama Shankar Singh (patron/curator), and Palak Singh (art direction)

location: Naggar Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India

The post eila by MOFA studio realizes biomorphic art retreat in india through fluid architecture appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

In the gardens of Sunder Nursery in New Delhi, Aranyani presents Sacred Nature, the inaugural edition of the Aranyani Pavilion, on view from February 4th to 20th, 2026. Conceived as an annual architectural commission, the pavilion, designed in collaboration with T__M.space, marks the first time the conservation and creative initiative translates its ecological research into a built, walkable structure. ‘The Aranyani Pavilion explores sacred growth through geometry and material. It emerges from a dialogue between digital design and physical craft, allowing the architecture to grow from its context rather than be imposed on it,’ the architects tell designboom. ‘The spatial trajectory is intentionally slow, encouraging reflection and a quiet awareness of material, landscape, and movement.’

The spiral structure is built from upcycled Lantana camara, an invasive shrub introduced to India through colonial trade routes in the eighteenth century. Now covering more than 13 million hectares and threatening large areas of forest, lantana is recast here as a structural lattice, fabricated by Ekarth Studio. Above it, a living canopy of more than forty native plant species, including edible, medicinal, and culturally significant varieties, forms a functioning microhabitat.

all images by Lokesh Dang, courtesy of Aranyani

‘sacred nature’ by t__m.space guides visitors along a spiral path

Set within the historic landscape of Sunder Nursery, the pavilion by T__M.space takes the form of a spiral walkthrough installation. Its spatial logic draws from India’s sacred groves, community-protected forest sanctuaries that functioned as early biodiversity reserves long before modern conservation law. As visitors follow a continuous, inward-moving path, the architecture modulates light, shadow, texture, and sound, echoing the layered rhythms of a living forest. The journey culminates in a central shrine anchored by a stone monolith, recalling the ritual cores of sacred groves where stone markers traditionally signify a symbolic meeting of earth and sky.

Founded by conservation scientist and creative director Tara Lal, ecological restoration and creative arts initiative Aranyani has worked across diverse ecosystems, from the Himalayas to the Aravallis, through its field arm, Aranyani Earth. The pavilion extends this practice into the urban realm, using architectural form to make ecological processes legible and experiential. ‘Aranyani is named after the forest goddess, who appears in the Rigveda. That we have forgotten Aranyani, and can name more products than forests or trees or springs, says a lot about the times we’re living in,’ Tara Lal shares with designboom. ‘The restoration work we do at Aranyani, this pavilion, and the ten-day programme that will follow, is a small way of calling her back.’

Aranyani presents Sacred Nature in the gardens of Sunder Nursery in New Delhi

building with lantana as a technical and ecological act

Beyond its symbolic charge, the pavilion is also a demanding technical exercise. Spanning nearly 600 square meters of ground, with a footprint of 200 square meters and an inner space of approximately 100 square meters, the structure required thousands of lantana branches to be sourced, sorted, and assembled. Its bamboo framework provides tensile strength and structural clarity, while the lantana lattice acts as a porous skin, allowing air, light, and sound to pass through.

Lantana, typically cleared or burned, is neither disguised nor aestheticized. Its presence is deliberate, structural, and unresolved. By placing invasive material in direct dialogue with indigenous planting above, the pavilion stages restoration as a layered, ongoing process rather than a finished solution.

Aranyani Pavilion is on view from February 4th to 20th, 2026

a pavilion with an afterlife

Sacred Nature, named after the forest goddess of the Rigveda, one of India’s oldest sacred texts, also operates as a platform for discussion and exchange. A public program of talks, workshops, performances, and guided tours extends the ecological and decolonial themes of the pavilion, bringing together voices from environmental activism, architecture, business, and the arts. Speakers include environmental activist Vandana Shiva and historian Sathnam Sanghera, alongside practitioners working at the intersection of ecology, design, and cultural production.

After its presentation in New Delhi, the Aranyani Pavilion will be permanently installed at the Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls’ School in Jaisalmer, an award-winning example of climate-responsive architecture by Diana Kellogg Architects. There, it will function as a living classroom for students and researchers. Its edible and medicinal plants will be transferred to community-led environmental projects in Delhi, including the Basti Gardens of Hope in Nizamuddin and Swechha’s urban forest initiatives, extending the material life of the pavilion into local landscapes and communities.‘This installation is inspired by sacred groves I travelled to, and I hope it invokes in you what those groves invoked in me: wonder,’  Tara Lal tells us.

a living canopy of more than forty native plant species forms a functioning microhabitat

the spiral structure is built from upcycled Lantana camara

designed in collaboration with T__M.space

its spatial logic draws from India’s sacred groves

the architecture modulates light, shadow, texture, and sound

echoing the layered rhythms of a living forest

a central shrine anchored by a stone monolith

recalling the ritual cores of sacred groves

beyond its symbolic charge, the pavilion is also a demanding technical exercise

the structure required thousands of lantana branches to be sourced, sorted, and assembled

the Aranyani Pavilion will be permanently installed at the Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls’ School in Jaisalmer

project info:

name: Aranyani Pavilion 2026: Sacred Nature

architect: T__M.space | @t__m.space

location: Sunder Nursery, New Delhi, India

dates: February 4th – 20th, 2026

lead architects: Tanil Raif and Mario Serrano Puche

client / initiative: Aranyani | @aranyanilife

founder: Tara Lal

fabrication: The Works

natural material construction: Ekarth Studio

sound design: Gaurav Raina and Komorebi

photographer: Lokesh Dang | @lokesh.dang

The post living canopy of native plants tops aranyani’s upcycled lantana pavilion in india appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.