k.n. associates blends indian heritage + contemporary design
In Vadadora, India, K.N. Associates unites traditional Indian design and local Rajasthani craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics for their palatial exposed brick and RCC ‘R-House’. The three-level bungalow is home to a devout multi-generational family, bringing together spaces of privacy, communal gathering, and quiet worship to curate a conscious lifestyle in line with its inhabitants’ ritualistic traditions and practices.
Throughout the project, the architects weave curious artistic interventions and intricate finishes, strengthening the home’s relationship with its culture and heritage. K.N. Associates’ design enforces Vastu principles to establish spatial harmony through five basic elements guiding the furniture, décor, and interior layout design. Further boasting an earthy material palette, the ‘R-House’ optimizes natural finishes of local stone, wood, granite, and exposed brick to root the structure in its traditional context and create an enduring, spiritual space.
a 20-feet diameter glass cutout serves as a vibrant backdrop | all images by Tejas Shah
rcc, rustic wood + exposed terracotta bricks define the home
Infusing Indian heritage along the ‘R-House’ contemporary brick and concrete façade, K.N. Associates weaves traditional jaalis (perforated stone screens), jharokhas (projecting enclosed balconies), and pergolas on open terraces. Along the porches and balconies, wooden columns, arches, and brackets salvaged from old structures in local Gujarat create a jharokha with intricately carved details contrasting the unornamented geometric volumes defining the exterior. Moreover, the home comprises a series of voids, a dynamic variety of stepping horizontal lines, and private, open, and semi-open spaces arranged to create a C-shaped footprint nestling a courtyard. This semi-open area serves as a buffer between the living rooms and the garden, to be enjoyed in conducive weather.
‘For this devout Rajput family, obeisance to the Gods upon entering the home as well as leaving was an ingrained ritual, integral to their age-old traditions,’ explains K.N. Associates. Integrating this daily ritual, the architects devised a Vastu-compliant layout, weaving idyllic spaces of prayer and reflection throughout. Leading up to the entrance of ‘R-House’, wide ‘floating’ steps pass by a metal cowherd sculpture created by Avinash Gondaliya. Stepping through the home’s entrance, visitors and inhabitants are met with an open worship room flanked by a serene waterbody and separated from the adjacent family room by an insulating, L-shaped brick jaali.
idyllic spaces of prayer and reflection weave throughout the Vastu-compliant layout by K.N. Associates
eclectic sculptures + interventions infuse a distinct character
From the living room, unobstructed views of the garden bring elements of the natural outdoors inside. Sourced locally from Ahmedabad and Vadodara, an antique wooden swing and jharokha, alongside other curated aspects of furniture and décor, instil local flavor across the brick, concrete, and granite interior. For example, an arrangement of masks forms a curious display along the brick wall. Meanwhile, a polished green Kota teamed with its yellow cousin in a leather finish lay across the granite floor in a pattern imitating a carpet.
Connecting all floors of the ‘R-House’ in a bold artistic expression is the round pièce de resistance cut-out window, set with blue, yellow, and green textured glass, which forms a vibrant backdrop to the living space. Measuring 20 feet in diameter with metal supports clad in wood, the statement artwork filters in soft, diluted light, expressing a delicate geometrical pattern that carries through the diagonal lines of the surrounding RCC walls. Adjacent to the staircase, K.N. Associates suspends a 16-feet-tall art installation by Hemanshi Patwa which further exudes color into the space through its large lotus leaves of blown glass.
the worship room is flanked by bodies of water and separated from the living room by an L-shaped brick jaali
The first floor hosts three bedrooms and vast common space in reclaimed wood. Supported by double-height beams, the open space utilizes a large window and is protected from the sun by motorized blinds sandwiched between glass. The parents’ master bedroom opens out onto the garden below, with an intimate porch supported with antique wooden pillars and topped by a pergola. Inside, the bedroom features refined finishes, including a wicker ceiling, brass etching on the traditional bed back, and louvered wardrobe shutters. The second floor comprises a gym, a guest bedroom, and a home theatre with exposed brick walls and a wooden base. Exhibiting artworks embracing Indian heritage and culture, the rear wall has been painted with monuments of Baroda, while another wall displays a collage of children playing marbles.
the master bedroom’s intimate porch is supported by antique wooden pillars and topped by a pergola
the C-shaped footprint nestles a semi-open courtyard connecting the living areas and garden
celebrating Indian heritage, ‘R-House’ integrates jaalis and jharokhas with rustic wood
wide floating steps lead to the entrance of the home, passing by a metal sculpture of a cowherd
a series of voids, dynamic stepping horizontal lines, and private, open, and semi-open spaces compose the home
project info:
name: R-House
location: Vadadora, India
architecture: K.N. Associates
lead architects: Narendra Joshi, Pritesh Patel
photography: Tejas Shah
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edited by: ravail khan | designboom
