Nestled between a series of courtyards, verandahs and pockets of green plantations lies a serene family home built for a multi-generation family. This 5-bedroom abode uses local architectural features and water bodies to channel natural light and air in order to regulate optimal circulation and room temperature throughout the built form.

Every room of this residence faces a green lung directly: a courtyard, a balcony, a verandah or a patio while a quarter of the ground floor area is a double-height open space to evoke airflow. Built on a sustainable design model, mechanical ventilation and lighting is minimised as much as possible.

The green lungs

The house is distinguished by a plethora of green breathers, some of which open to the sky, others to the exteriors, and yet others to different inner spaces. Eastern sunlight filters through a narrow planter bed on the kitchen and breakfast spaces, allowing light while filtering out heat.

A vast courtyard and verandah screen off harsh southern and western afternoon light, while double height open to sky breathing spaces bring in abundant sunlight throughout the day.

The northern side is kept mostly open and glazed to let in cooler air. A water feature at the entry pays homage to ancient entrances by chilling in the scorching western breezes.

The ground floor’s core north-south axis is an open plan for domestic activity, and its double height links users to these breathing areas. A manicured yard in the centre of the house provides additional ventilation to the open central layout.

The domestic nest

This residence is approached from the west, passing through a verandah, an informal sit-out, and a water pond. A formal living room is distinct from everyday domestic rooms. The latter is a ground-floor open plan with an informal wash area, eating areas, lounge places, and the stairs.

A master bedroom, a second bedroom, and service spaces extend from the central core. Vertically, the majority of the central household core is distinguished by its eye-catching double height areas.

On the first floor, three further bedrooms and an office area sprout from this volume. Each bedroom is kept in its own corner of the house, allowing maximum seclusion and diverse views from each room. A separate office area overlooks the home entry from its own building at the plot’s south-western extremity, above a car porch.

Materials and colours

With a backdrop of such verdant greenery around the house, traditional tones of white and teak are balanced by more contemporary shades of beige and grey. Large beige marble slabs contrast with engineered teakwood parquet on the flooring. The same teak appears on the railings, doors, ceiling features, and window frames.

Further, this teak is also used for bespoke details like a room divider screen, an exterior ceiling canopy, highlight walls, a rotating TV panel, main entrance double door and the consecutive open space double doors, window blinds and the main gate.

These are interspersed with grey highlight walls, grey exterior patterned stone claddings, grey veneer in the study and black granite in the kitchen counter, courtyard flooring and the entrance verandah.

These are accompanied by subtle furniture items, accentuating rooms with a few selected pieces such as a crimson reclining couch. Light fixtures have been meticulously positioned, embellishing the home like a series of gems.

The exterior is adorned with a row of led lights on the ceiling canopies, which extend inside as lines of light, replicating the air flow patterns that go over the open area.

Outdoor spaces

The outdoor clings to the indoors on each side of the house, fusing the inside and outside very craftily. One can transition from the outer to the inner space smoothly from each side of the plot, just as in a clearing of a forest.

The house unfolds as a theatre, revealing a plethora of material palettes: handmade brass handles and metalworks, fabric screens made of vernacular block-prints, cabinet shutters tinted with indigenous patterns and colours that add a freshness to the woodworks; all enacting their own roles in the play.

Blue and yellow riots embellish the spotlight spots. A blue patterned wall in the ground floor office is complemented by a rustic wall mosaic in the uppermost table-tennis floor. With similar-colored shelving and custom-made seats, the library nook blooms. Native materials are framed over royal blue seats in the living area, and an artist’s contrasted black and white line art is gently placed on a goddess wall. The kitchen is maintained simple yet rustic, with the emphasis on the numerous scattered accents.

Each of the four bedrooms reflects the personality and character of its users.  Bathrooms and walk-in dressers remain spacious and functional, flooded with natural  light and rustic features.  

The third floor is an open play area; a well shaded terrace for sweltering summers and the monsoon, a home cinema with a bar to entertain guests and a table tennis lounge that unfolds as a party floor.

The long veranda that runs across the length of the living along with the garden view beyond creates a sensory experience. The courtyard is an integral part of this five-bedroom affluent abode. An articulated double height space with floor to ceiling glass expanse not only segregates the common and private spaces, but a vision to escapade. The large glass openings allow for splendid light and ventilation; creates an alluring pool view with sprawling green landscape all along.

The green toned courtyard features a seating area, complimented by the green vertical wall and natural hues of browns and blues outside provides for a cohesive connect. At the lower level, the courtyard opening to the wooden patio instils both visual and experiential quality.

Striking features of zaman villa are CNC engraved facades, exposed concrete cladding, large glass openings and lush green landscape. The exterior walls are adorned in grey and white hues. The large windows flood interiors with maximum light, creating a series of lively reflections of the surrounding landscape throughout the house.

The huge Italian marble infused with the wooden detailings allows for luxury. Greys, blues, crimsons and reds are seen in furniture and interior décor. The botanical feel with the green wall and potted plants compliments the colour scheme of ‘ Zaman Villa’.

A delightful secluded house in the lush green locality is a beautiful confluence of traditional and contemporary architecture. Functional, practical and glamorous, this 6950 sq.ft, 5-bedroom abode juxtaposes the material palette to create luxurious comfort for both indoors and outdoors alike.

Luxury can look and mean a variety of things, but with this luxury house floor plan, we define luxury as living in a constant state of elevated comfort while looking good. The green vertical wall and natural hues of browns and blues outside provide a cohesive connect. The courtyard opening to the wooden patio on the lower level instills both visual and experiential quality.

The slightly inclined long veranda that opens up to green landscape on all sides gives an elegant inside-out feel. The patio openings in the dining and living imbue the atmospheric and experiential quality of the spaces. The linear orientation of bedrooms along the passage away from the semi-private areas ensures the much-needed privacy of the client. The long passage anchors a wooden ceiling and large windows with a harmonious wooden finish complimented by the palette of natural browns and lush green outside.

The project has a sloped roof over the flat roof for better insulation. Floor-to-ceiling windows enrich the interiors’ soft tone, featuring a view of lush green surroundings. The large windows allow the play and control of natural light and ventilation across various spaces.

The material palette includes American Walnut Veneer and Burberry Beige Italian Marble completed with brass accessories. Curated interior décor, potted plants, soft furnishings and concrete textures introduce a vibrance against the white walls. The abundant use of wood in bedrooms not only brings a traditional touch but exhibits a calm and soothing vibe thanks to the colour scheme used across the space.

Restricting the material palette to marble, wood and brass against the backdrop of white walls adds modern elegance to ‘Inaayath’.