Rekha's Residence

In collaboration with Susliv, the project underwent a detailed thermal comfort analysis. Their recommendations informed the sizing and placement of windows and openings—balancing the need to control harsh daylight while ensuring maximum natural illumination across the day. This synergy between spatial design and environmental analysis ensures that the house remains comfortable with minimal mechanical intervention. The material language reinforces a sense of permanence and tactility. Compressed earth blocks, left exposed on the exterior, form the primary construction. Inside, all walls are finished in authentic lime plaster, worked using traditional methods. Structural systems are treated as opportunities for craft: filler slabs span above the pooja and kitchen, while two shallow domes—crafted by artisans from Rohtak in Haryana—crown the master bedroom and dining area.

The private residence in Hadapsar, Pune, sits on a compact site and unfolds through a sequence of split levels that establish a clear hierarchy of spaces—public in the front, semi-private in the middle, and private at the top. The entry begins with a car park and the more functional spaces—kitchen, dining, and pooja—set at the ground level. From here, the house gradually rises, with each level revealing new volumes and relationships to light, air, and landscape. Seven steps above lies the central courtyard and living area, flanked by two bedrooms. These spaces form the heart of the house, designed with generous volumes and large north-facing windows that allow for glare-free daylight. This is where the family will spend most of their time, gathered in a space that feels both grounded and open. A further series of steps lead to an open terrace overlooking the street, and then to the master bedroom with its adjoining library/study. The master bedroom at the top, together with the courtyard and living area, benefits from carefully placed clerestory windows that capture the morning sun and channel it deep into the home. The split-level arrangement works hand-in-hand with passive design strategies—drawing cool air from the east and allowing warm air to rise and escape through higher openings, creating a natural cycle of ventilation.