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Climate-Responsive Residential & Retreat Architecture

bySDM ArchitectsTakes projects across India; Visit office in Bandra West, MumbaiStarts from₹350 ₹ per sq. ft. of Built-up AreaView full gallery

Designing homes that harmonize with nature through local materials, passive cooling, and site-specific climatic integration.

A quiet corner of a house I designed in Pune, featuring a wooden pergola that creates a gentle transition between indoor and outdoor space. This design element provides shade while allowing natural light and greenery to become part of the living experience.

A sectional drawing of a wooden house designed for the outskirts of Mumbai. This illustration highlights my approach to climate-responsive design, showing how the roof structure and wall assembly are designed to handle heavy monsoon rains while maintaining ventilation.

A feature in the MidDay newspaper discussing my approach to sustainable homes. The article highlights my use of natural materials like mud and stone and passive cooling strategies to create energy-efficient residential architecture.

About Residential & Retreat Architecture

Our design process starts with a detailed climatic site analysis, studying sun paths and wind directions to ensure your home stays cool naturally. By integrating local materials like stone and mud with passive cooling design, we reduce the need for artificial climate control while creating a space that feels deeply connected to its environment.

Sustainable residential design in Mumbai & Pune — Approved by the tribe
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SDM Architects

Takes projects across India; Visit office in Bandra West, MumbaiStarts from ₹350 ₹ per sq. ft. of Built-up Area

We believe architecture is about shaping spaces that people actually feel connected to. Our team, led by Samir, blends hand sketches with rigorous technical study to turn ideas into buildings that stand the test of time. We are here to help you create a home that is both functional and rooted in the local landscape.

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An elevated view of the Lateral Verandah House, nestled within the lush landscape of Lonavala. The structure's fragmented form is a deliberate strategy to minimize its impact on the site and maximize its engagement with the natural environment and distant views.44
The unique timber frame structure of the Lateral Verandah House marks a natural pause on the sloping hill. This open verandah, overlooking the infinity pool, blurs the line between the built form and the expansive valley beyond, creating a space of tranquil contemplation.
The living spaces of the Lateral Verandah House are designed to open completely to the elements. The combination of a dynamic timber roof structure and heavy basalt walls grounds the home in its regional context while creating an atmosphere of lightness and connection to the outdoors.
An interior view of the Lateral Verandah House, where the structure itself becomes a piece of art. A tree grows through the deck, a constant reminder that the architecture is a guest on this land, designed to coexist with, rather than conquer, nature.

Designing Private Homes in Dialogue with Nature

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Malik ArchitectureTakes projects across India; Visit office at Ballard Estate, Mumbai
The Waghoba Ecolodge at dusk, overlooking a man-made lake designed to restore the area's biodiversity. The resort, built with adobe blocks from site soil, offers a tranquil experience of living in harmony with the forest near Tadoba Wildlife Sanctuary.5
A nostalgic photo from a house in Chettinad, designed in 2003. The doors and windows were sourced from the client's ancestral home, weaving family history and reclaimed materials into the fabric of the new building.
The "Prof's Residence" in Bengaluru, an early experimental project from 2003. It featured a universally accessible ground floor and a crocodile sculpture on its vaulted roof, serving as a laboratory for many of our design ideas.
The "Elephants by the Lake" residence under construction, framed by trees. The design uses exposed brick and creates large openings to connect the inhabitants with the natural beauty of the site.

Eco-Retreats and Sustainable Residences

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Biome Environmental SolutionsStudio in Vidyaranyapura; projects across Bengaluru & India
Buildings account for nearly 40% of global energy use. We focus on three key areas to improve energy performance: prioritizing passive cooling, choosing low-impact materials, and using surface-level interventions like green pavers.27
Passive cooling is our first line of defense against heat. Strategies like the deep slab projections and adaptive facades seen here reduce heat gain and enhance performance without relying on energy-intensive mechanical systems.
We choose low-impact, high-performance materials. Acetylated wood offers durability, moisture resistance, and a lower carbon footprint, making it a long-lasting and sustainable alternative to conventional materials.
Green pavers, made from recycled materials, are a simple but effective tool for urban cooling. They allow water permeability to reduce runoff and support vegetation, helping to mitigate the urban heat island effect.

Climate-Responsive & Sustainable Architecture

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Team3Takes projects across India; Visit studio in Lado Sarai, New Delhi
The living room ceiling appears to float above the walls, an architectural choice that enhances the feeling of height and openness in this Bengaluru home.16
Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the lush garden like a living work of art, making the landscape an integral part of the interior design.
A wooden deck extends the living space outdoors, creating a perfect transition zone for relaxation that is sheltered by a glass pergola.
Stepping stones cross a tranquil water body that wraps around the deck, while a vertical garden wall adds another layer of green to this serene outdoor space.

Homes that Breathe: Nature-Centric Architectural Design

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Mistry ArchitectsTakes architectural projects across India; Visit Design Studio in Indiranagar
An aerial view of the Lakeshore house, nestled within its 50 acre site on Lake Osman Sagar. The structure is designed to be a subtle insertion into the geological history of the place, respecting the rocks and trees that were there long before us.73
This Alibaug home is a response to the coastal, monsoon intensive climate. High, sloped solar fin roofs allow for thermal stack release and cooling, while deep verandahs create comfortable living spaces that keep moisture at bay.

Country and Lakeside Homes

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Spasm DesignTakes projects across India; Visit studio in Andheri West, Mumbai
Our "Pavilions in the Fields" project places three distinct homes within an expansive paddy field landscape. The design concept treats each house as a modern pavilion, creating a dialogue between the architectural form and the vast, unending natural scenery of Goa.22
The entrance to a pavilion home features a serene water lily pond, setting a tranquil tone. We juxtapose solid, earthy volumes with delicate, perforated screens, creating a play of solidity and transparency that defines the home's character.
The infinity pool of a pavilion home is designed as a sharp edge of water that meets the soft texture of the paddy fields. This creates a seamless transition from the curated space of the home to the wildness of the surrounding landscape.
A close-up view of the material palette for our pavilion homes, showing the interplay of textured walls, hanging greenery, and intricately patterned screens. These elements work together to create a facade that is both visually rich and passively cooled.

Private Residences Designed as Sanctuaries in Nature

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SAV Architecture and DesignTakes projects across India; Studios in Goa and London

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