A REBELLION AGAINST URBAN DISCOMFORTS
Architecture + Design|April 2024
Crafted by Snehal and Bhadri Suthar of Grid Architects, Vanessa Villa in Aluha, Gujarat, emerges as a private Biophilic retreat, akin to a surrealist dream-seamlessly melding light, air, and greenery to demonstrate architectural excellence and ecological harmony
Ankita Rathod
A REBELLION AGAINST URBAN DISCOMFORTS

This isn't just a weekend home; it defies discomfort with a surreal elegance. Strategic design battles the region's heat, embracing native materials for sustainability. Flexibility reigns supreme, tailored to exacting family needs. Custom furniture, hewn from natural materials, heightens coherence and charisma, akin to surrealist sculptures adorning an enigmatic landscape. In essence, Vanessa Villa, a name inspired by the homeowner's granddaughter, stands as a bastion of comfort, intimacy, and conscious living-a testament to design prowess in perfect sync with nature's rhythms.

Located in a serene, gated community, the villa sprawls over a plot spanning 30,000 square feet, with a built-up area of 7,347 square feet. Nestled away from the bustling city, it resides in the tranquil outskirts, a mere 10-minute drive from Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat, towards Aluha. Boasting more than three-quarters of lush greenery, the landscape is adorned with native drought-friendly plants abundant in Western India, including badaam, gulmohar trees, neem, banyan, mango, and peepal, creating a harmonious blend with the natural surroundings.

Boasting of a generous floor plan, one is welcomed by a sprawling indoor swimming pool and a vast backyard garden adorned with a charming gazebo and natural rockfall seamlessly blending into the surrounding landscape. Inside, the ground level features a well-appointed kitchen, dining area, living room, and a guest bedroom, complemented by two internal courtyards and courtyards attached to two bathrooms. Upstairs, two additional bedrooms, including a master suite with a private deck overlooking the garden oasis, along with two more inviting terrace spaces for relaxation and enjoyment.

This story is from the April 2024 edition of Architecture + Design.

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This story is from the April 2024 edition of Architecture + Design.

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