Emphasising local materials and architectural elegance, Veeram Shah of Design Ni Dukaan has created a contemplative space for a family to thrive in at the heart of Navsari, India
In the quiet town of Navsari, India, this sprawling family home spans 12,000 square feet, blending impeccable design with climate sensitivity. Conceived as a G+2 home with a choreographed sequence of living, gathering and private spaces, Veeram Shah of Design Ni Dukaan distilled his unique approach to design into this unforgettable project. “Even the smallest variation can alter how a space is experienced,” he mused. “Our role is to guide that balance, rather than impose upon it.”
From the beginning, the house was created to engage in a dialogue between cultural sensitivity and the necessities of modern living. While micro-level vastu considerations informed the planning, the architecture remains rooted in the elemental concerns of light, orientation and context.
In case you missed it: Intentional collecting: exploring intuitive curations by Dawn Zhu of Thaddaeus Ropac Gallery
Southern exposures are carefully moderated through patios and overhangs, while an 18-foot window system draws in diffused northern light, allowing the interiors to remain luminous throughout the day. “We think of the house as something that breathes,” shared Shah, “not just through air and light, but through the life it holds.”
Upon stepping into the space, one is immersed in an atmosphere of deep contemplation. A foyer and vestibule lead into the drawing and living areas, where shaded patios extend the rooms outward to create a seamless flow between the different rooms. Built-in baithak seating, integrated into deep window recesses, offers both repose and storage, in line with modern sensibilities. One of the most notable features of the space is the cantilevered staircase, its underside shaping an intimate passage that connects adjoining patios.