House of Greens: Biophilic Design in Bengaluru
This project is my tribute to Bengaluru’s heritage as a garden city. We designed this home to dissolve the boundaries between your living space and the landscape, creating a sanctuary where you can breathe, even in the heart of the city.
This film captures the essence of the 'House of Greens'. It shows how the home integrates with its lush surroundings, creating a sustainable and peaceful sanctuary for the clients, who are nature lovers themselves.
The arrival experience at the 'House of Greens' is designed to be a journey. You pass under a mango tree and through a landscaped nook, with a cantilevered portico guiding you toward the entrance, immediately immersing you in a serene, green environment.
The entrance pathway is lined with stone pavers and lush greenery, leading you under a wood-clad portico. The illuminated nameplate, 'Nemmadi' (meaning peace or tranquility in Kannada), sets the tone for the entire home.
The double-height living area is the heart of the home, designed as an open pavilion. With its tall wooden doors fully opened, the space becomes an extension of the garden, blurring the line between inside and out.
This view shows the seamless flow of the living space, with the indoor swing, comfortable seating, and natural materials creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The mezzanine level above maintains a visual connection across the home.
The master bedroom terrace feels like a private garden, even though it's on the first floor. We designed this space to connect directly with the lush canopy of the neighborhood trees, creating a true sense of being nestled in nature.
Inside the master bedroom, a nature-themed mural and warm wooden floors complement the view outside. The design ensures privacy while maximizing the connection to the private terrace and the morning sun.
About this collection
To maintain a comfortable temperature without relying solely on air conditioning, we implemented passive cooling techniques like stack effect ventilation and double walls. We also chose wood-look stone flooring for the living areas; it provides the aesthetic warmth of timber but is durable enough to handle daily life with pets without scratching.
Creating a home that truly breathes requires more than just adding potted plants. In the 'House of Greens' project, my design philosophy revolved around the intersection of built and unbuilt space. I did not want the house to stop at its boundary wall. Instead, we framed views of the surrounding neighborhood trees, making the greenery feel like an extension of the living room.
The Construction Philosophy
I focus on material honesty. I used locally sourced laterite stone and natural granite, which age gracefully and anchor the home to the Namma Bengaluru soil. The facade features cantilevered terraces that serve a dual purpose: they provide shaded outdoor seating and act as structural planters. This allows the building to participate in the landscape, creating 'gardens in the sky' on the upper levels.
Technical & Practical Details
- Passive Cooling: By integrating skylights and courtyards, we encourage natural airflow. The layout forces air to rise and escape, keeping the interiors cool during summer months.
- Seamless Flow: The double-height living pavilion features ten-foot tall wooden doors. When fully retracted, the inside becomes an open pavilion, erasing the threshold between your sofa and the garden.
- Vaastu & Customization: I integrated structural Vaastu requirements into the planning phase, ensuring the flow of energy aligned with the client's preferences without compromising the modern, open-plan aesthetic.
Every project I take on starts here—with a conversation about your site’s unique sunlight, your memories of old Bangalore, and how you want to live. If you are planning a home where the indoors and outdoors feel like one, let’s discuss the possibilities.
Chandrakant S. Kanthigavi
I am Chandrakant, and my work is rooted in the belief that a home should feel like nature’s hug. I do not follow cookie-cutter trends; I design spaces that evolve from the specific needs of your family and the natural landscape of your site.
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