Mahadev Residence
Architecture
A house that turns inward
A private residence designed within a dense suburban neighbourhood in Bangalore that balances privacy, daylight, and cultural traditions through carefully structured spatial planning.
Context
Located within a tightly layered suburban fabric in Bangalore, the house sits amidst a mix of residences, schools, commercial activity, religious institutions, and a nearby lake. The brief called for a family home that could respond to this active context while still offering a sense of privacy and retreat. Cultural considerations were also important, with the spatial layout aligned with Vaastu principles that informed the placement of key spaces such as the temple room and master bedroom.
Design Approach
The architecture adopts a subtly introverted strategy. The street-facing façade is articulated with concrete jali blocks that replace conventional metal grills, allowing airflow and daylight to enter while maintaining privacy and security. These shaded surfaces also help reduce heat gain.
Exposed concrete finishes reinforce the material language of the house while allowing the structure to remain visually expressed. Sunshades and carefully positioned openings further support passive shading and daylight control.
Spatial Experience
The house is organised across three levels with an additional office space on the terrace. The lowest level functions as a partially lowered stilt floor that accommodates parking, garden space, and staff quarters while remaining visually connected to the house above.
The entry sequence leads through an elongated foyer illuminated by a vertical wall of narrow openings and an overhead skylight. This filtered light becomes a recurring motif throughout the house. On the upper residential level, a family lounge opens onto a long north-facing balcony that introduces soft daylight while extending the living space outward.
