Rooted in Nature!

Raw and earthy, the Sienna House by SAGI Architects works in tandem with its surroundings for a picture-perfect rendition of a weekend home steeped in contextual and formal charm.

The 2500-square-foot weekend home in quaint Mahagaon, Pali perches on a 1.5-acre plot, against a gorgeous backdrop of the Western Ghats. Among the first houses in the upcoming Serenity Villas and Farms development, it sets the architectural character of the area. Visually, the home conveys openness and transparency with simple geometry and expansive spaces.

The abode looks inward, carving a sanctuary while reconnecting with nature. Warm, muted walls and reddish-brown Mangalore tiles blur the boundaries between built form and beautiful backgrounds. A four-foot high wall of local laterite stones demarcates this defined yet intimate space, espousing a ‘plot within a plot’ concept.

A straightforward configuration of three rectangular boxes houses three bedrooms, a living, and a kitchen. This is the largest possible arrangement of the modular plan. It can be replicated with ease. Just as easily, eliminating blocks can create a studio or one/two-bedroom home. To create this modular grid, a composite of prefabricated structural steel and load-bearing walls find expression. Cutting down on costs while employing locally sourced materials and techniques, the home underscores conscious design.

The designer envisions the 375-square-foot pavilion as a connector, overlooking the heart of the home — the pool. Despite the heavy rainfall and strong winds of the region, one can enjoy serene, misty views while being simultaneously both, shielded and exposed to the elements. Living rooms, bedrooms, and the kitchen flank the east-west axis.

Fostering natural ties, outdoor textures flow inside. Warm yellows, greys, and blues find expression. Clutter-free spaces, biophilic design, and lofty ceilings with full-height windows amplify expansiveness. The north-facing openings minimise heat gain, inviting natural light while enabling cross-ventilation. Natural pinewood English furniture expresses the homeowners’ penchant for classic pieces. Tandoor stone as flooring connects built to transitional zones. The sustainable approach extends to landscape design too, as indigenous shrubs and palms envelop the house in greens. Over time, natural vegetation or fruit orchards will take over the plot.

An honest manifestation of a weekend retreat that reconnects with nature, The Sienna House is a sight to behold.

Fact File:
Client: Serenity Villas and Farms
Design Firm: SAGI Architects, Mumbai
Principal Designer/Architect: Akash Dudhe
Built-up Area of project: 2500 sq. ft.
Carpet Area of project: 1900 sq. ft.
Project Location: Khopoli, Maharashtra
Photography credits: Ruhma Ukaye

Originally published at https://www.indiaartndesign.com on February 28, 2023.