Kalrav Villa, designed VPA Architects, is a luxury home in Ahmedabad, India, that blends traditional elements with contemporary design while honoring its natural surroundings. Nestled among mature trees, its minimal footprint and bird-shaped eastern façade reflect a deep connection to the outdoors. The original photography is from Inclined Studio.

Quoted from VPA Architects. An abode to humans and birds alike; Kalrav house, which translates to the house of chirping birds, is nested within a thicket of previously existing and newly sapped trees. Facing the east, Kalrav (façade) opens up in the form of a ‘flying bird’. Following the position of the house, the intent is the least possible footprint taken up by the house. The form is shaped with glass as a façade supported by exposed concrete and lime plaster to flaunt the minimal, sleek, and earthy design. One is welcomed by the low heightened entrance pavilion into the house which unfolds two elevated seating rooms – private and formal- encompassed by water bodies, thus forming the ambiance of a floating island.

Further, these islands reveal a central, double-height stair shaft enveloping the landscape, and blurring the inside-outside of this abode. The initial steps are designed as carvings of ‘dhangadhara (local) stone’, quite a stair trek. While stepping up, stairs take sleek form from local teak wood and steel frame. This courtyard is elevated by the open ‘mandir’ space. The prayer room is thoughtfully designed to be surrounded by the landscape around the courtyard. Instead of confining the deities within walls, they’re established in the more breathable square.

On one side of this magnificent courtyard lie the semi-private spaces, the kitchen, dining, utility spaces, and so on. Whereas, the other side is private spaces including a bedroom at the corner and family seating.

An east-facing glass passage viewing the front garden encases the invigorating green landscape into the house. Glass-covered passages and balconies allow maximum involvement with nature around. Succeeding the picturesque view allowed by the passage lie two master bedrooms. Master bedrooms have a subtle underline of earthy tones and composed decorum furnished by lime plaster and neutral interiors.

Besides, these master bedrooms are elevated by the design of the roof which, not only forms ‘the flying bird’ façade but helps create an uplifted (floating) aura. Once more, the sleekness of glass and metal walls along with exposed RCC act as the rescue in accessorizing these bedrooms with the presence of the lush greenery as a backdrop.

The floating roofs are elevated at 1.5 height and are a steel deck construction with a concrete layer atop. It is further finished by tiles on top and with thermal insulation finished with timber wood as the ceiling. The timber ceilings impart a soft and warm feeling throughout. The concept of an open bath is induced with utmost importance given to privacy. Custom bathtubs are fashioned out of local stones (Rajasthan stone and black stone respectively) back dropped with a dry-clad stone wall.

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