Our Signature Residential Designs
I design homes that are meant to be felt, not just observed. My 'Arivu' philosophy uses natural light, local stone, and your personal stories to create spaces that breathe and age beautifully.
A home should be a sanctuary, a space that feels both timeless and personal. Here, in the heart of the Padmaja Rao Residence, a traditional courtyard with a central swing becomes a place for quiet reflection and connection. The design uses earthy red oxide flooring, majestic wooden pillars, and a skylight that bathes the area in natural light, blending our rich heritage with modern living.
My design process always begins with a story and a sketch. In this video, I walk you through the initial thoughts for a twin house I designed for two of my mentors. I believe that understanding the site, the context, and the lives of the people who will inhabit the space is the foundation of creating a home that is both functional and soulful.
This is what my 'Arivu' or sensory design philosophy feels like in practice. At the Shashidhar Residence, every element is chosen to awaken the senses. The touch of cool stone walls, the sight of light filtering through the space, and the creation of quiet, comfortable nooks make this more than a house; it's an experience.
I love bringing the outdoors inside. This central courtyard at the Gifty Residence acts as the green heart of the home, visible from multiple levels. The combination of rugged stone walls, vibrant plants, and decorative floor tiles creates a dynamic yet peaceful core that fills the home with life and natural light.
Light is the most important material I work with. In the Gopal Residence, this sculptural skylight does more than just illuminate the double-height space below. It becomes a piece of art, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow throughout the day and connecting the home's interior to the rhythm of the sky.
This living room in the Gopalan Florenza apartment was designed to reflect the family’s Mangalorean heritage. The space features a wooden rafter ceiling and carved columns that evoke ancestral homes, while the comfortable, modern furniture makes it a practical space for daily life. It’s a blend of memory and modern comfort.
Color and light can create magic. For the Raghunath Farmhouse in Kotagiri, I designed this entryway screen using colored glass panes. As sunlight streams through, it casts a vibrant, shifting mosaic on the floor, turning the simple act of entering the home into a joyful and artistic moment.
The true measure of a home's success is how it feels to live in it. In this video, my client Shashidhar shares his experience of the Arivu home in his own words. Hearing him describe his favorite spaces, like the swing and the study, is a wonderful reminder of why I do what I do.
A home should be a reflection of your passions. For my client, a professor, a library was essential. I designed this floor-to-ceiling bookshelf at the Raghavendra Residence to be both a functional storage solution and a beautiful feature wall, creating a dedicated space for knowledge and inspiration.
Good design respects its surroundings. At the Raghunath Farmhouse, I created this large picture window to frame the breathtaking views of the Kotagiri hills. The home is designed to feel like a part of the landscape, offering moments of quiet connection with the natural world outside.
About Featured
I do not start with a plan, but with a sketch of your life. When I walk a site, I look for how the sun hits the rock and where the breeze enters. This process ensures that features like skylights or courtyards are not just for aesthetics, but actually cool your home and lower your energy bills. Every element is intentional, designed to make the space function for your daily routine.
Architecture is not just about the structure, it is about the experience. My 'Arivu' approach is built on a simple premise: a house must listen to its surroundings. If you are building in a rocky landscape, we adapt the masonry to that terrain. If you are in a city apartment, we use natural cooling methods like jali screens and wooden rafters to create relief from the heat and noise.
My practice relies on traditional materials that stand the test of time. I frequently use Athangudi tiles for their color and history, terracotta for its thermal properties, and lime plaster to help walls breathe. We often employ techniques like jack arch roofing and stone cantilevers to create unique geometries that feel modern yet grounded.
Whether it is a farmhouse in the hills of Kotagiri or a 3BHK apartment in Bengaluru, the goal remains the same. We focus on low-VOC paints, sustainable timber, and smart storage that hides the clutter of modern life. We avoid standard patterns because your life is not standard. By integrating natural light as a building material, we ensure your home changes with the rhythm of the day, making it a place of peace, not just a place to store belongings.
Kham Design
I am Chetan from Kham Design. My approach to architecture is simple: I listen to the land and to your stories. We create spaces that feel like home from the moment you step inside.
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