House of Greens: Sustainable Biophilic Home Design
A home that breathes. This project, known as 'Nemmadi,' merges living spaces with nature, creating a peaceful sanctuary that honors Bengaluru's legacy as the Garden City.
The "House of Greens" is nestled in a quiet, leafy neighborhood, designed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding trees and become a part of the landscape.
The name of the house, "Nemmadi" (meaning peace or tranquility in Kannada), is displayed on a simple, elegant nameplate against a board-formed concrete wall, reflecting the home's core philosophy.
The entrance walkway is a gentle transition from the street to the home. Lined with stone pavers, lush plants, and a vertical green wall, it immediately immerses you in a natural, calming environment.
The main living area is conceived as a pavilion, with a double-height ceiling and large openings to the garden. The space combines natural materials like wood and stone with modern comforts, centered around a traditional Indian swing.
A view from the upper-level family area вниз into the living pavilion. This visual connection between floors creates a sense of openness and ensures that the garden is a constant presence throughout the home.
The architecture uses cantilevered slabs to create shaded outdoor spaces and balconies. This view shows the connection between the ground-floor living area and the upper-level bedroom, both opening to the greenery.
The master bedroom terrace is a private retreat that feels like it's on the ground floor, despite being elevated. It's the perfect spot for morning tea, surrounded by the sounds and sights of nature.
About this collection
We achieved that seamless indoor-outdoor feeling by using large, 10-foot tall wooden doors that fully retract, turning the double-height living area into a pavilion. It is not just a window, it physically opens the home to the garden, using passive cooling to naturally regulate the temperature without constant air conditioning.
Designing in a dense neighborhood requires a shift in perspective. Instead of creating a house that turns inward, we focused on framing the existing neighborhood greens. The House of Greens utilizes a 50x80 ft plot in South Bengaluru to create a vertical connection between built and unbuilt spaces at every level. By integrating cantilevered slabs and internal courtyard gardens, we ensure that every room—from the study to the master bedroom—feels like it is touching the landscape.
Material & Technique
We chose a raw material palette—exposed wire-cut brick, laterite stone, and board-formed concrete—to keep the aesthetic grounded and honest. This is not just a stylistic choice. Concrete serves as a muted background for the greenery, and it is a cost-effective structural element for tight budgets. We avoid standard laminates and heavy plasters. Instead, we use leather-finish black granite and polished wood to mimic the textures of nature.
Practical Living
Our clients, who are doctors, needed a space of respite. We used a 'void' design, keeping the living-dining core completely open-plan to encourage air circulation. The pavilion concept means that on good Bengaluru days, the house physically disappears into the garden. It is a low-maintenance approach that relies on natural light and ventilation, not just complex climate control systems. This is architecture that respects the climate and the city's heritage.
Chandrakant S. Kanthigavi
I am Chandrakant. I grew up in a greener version of Bangalore, and my work is a personal attempt to bring that old peace back into our homes. I do not believe in fixed blueprints; we build by listening to your memories and the site's unique potential.
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