--- title: "Hikari House Meerut: Sustainable Compact Home Architecture" description: "Discover Hikari House in Meerut, a masterclass in compact residential design. See how we use light, modular screens, and passive cooling to create open, airy homes." canonical: https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects/facade-design-material-innovation/project-spotlight-hikari-house-meerut last_updated: 2025-09-16 --- # Hikari House: Compact, Light-Filled Living in Meerut Tribe Verified · Context-sensitive architecture across Meerut and NCR By [SIAN Architects](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects) · Takes projects across India; Visit studio in Derawal Nagar, Delhi · ₹180 per sq. ft. (estimate) Part of [Facade Design & Material Innovation](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects/facade-design-material-innovation). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects/facade-design-material-innovation/gallery) Designed for a dense Meerut neighborhood, Hikari House proves that compact footprints can still offer generous, breathable living. We focused on light, airflow, and a custom modular screen to balance privacy with openness. ## Photos and videos - [Video: This video tells the story of Hikari House, from its context in old Meerut to the concept of resourceful, small-scale living. It shows how light courts and a modular facade create a home that is compact in size but generous in experience.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/bd922ad2-9e1d-4821-9ee9-b1a947f38b8c) - ![The facade's cast-concrete screen, assembled like Tetris blocks, mediates light, airflow, and privacy. This close-up shows how the geometric pattern frames a view of a nearby temple, connecting the home to its urban markers.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/dd89be42-c05e-4efd-ac2a-91cbb0f3abab) - ![The cement block screen acts as an editor, curating views of the city. Here, it frames a distant temple dome, extending the sense of space beyond the home's physical boundaries and creating a stronger connection with the surroundings.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/a841ce59-86f9-4a42-a8ab-336307092eb8) - ![A view from the terrace, where the modular cement screen creates a play of light and shadow. The addition of bougainvillea adds a touch of color and nature, softening the concrete structure.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/6a9cb2cf-e8f4-4fc6-9d2d-c2adfedc266a) - ![This architectural section drawing reveals how Hikari House functions spatially. Strategic cut-outs and courtyards are introduced within the narrow footprint to draw in light and support cross-ventilation, turning constraints into opportunities.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/46d70ed2-eefc-49fa-a7c9-79d2e8ec772c) - [Video: This video documents the journey of Hikari House from a concept to a lived-in space. It shows how the facade, built with simple 8x8 inch cement blocks, responds to its context by filtering light and creating a buffer from the street.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/90c4ab98-f68f-4299-ad07-a6fde7a0a261) - [Video: Hikari, meaning 'light' in Japanese, was the guiding principle for this home. On a small 20x60 ft plot, we used central light courts and a minimal material palette to create functional, breathing spaces for two families, all anchored by a simple pinewood staircase.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/8265ff11-e61d-4f2f-ae77-2c1851f894da) - ![This image of the Hikari House balcony showcases our process of experimentation. The geometric screen, checkered flooring, and potted plants come together to create a functional and aesthetically pleasing urban space, proving that innovation can flourish even on a small scale.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/4657485d-2fd9-4540-9c53-da91893bcf09) ## About Project Spotlight: Hikari House, Meerut On a tight 20x60 ft plot, we could not just build walls. We had to build a system. We designed a modular cement block screen that acts as an editor for light and privacy. It filters the intense street-level chaos into a soft, diffused glow inside, while framing specific city views, like the local temple dome, to make the internal spaces feel expansive rather than enclosed. ### Architecture within Constraints Designing in an urban infill context requires a shift in perspective. You cannot treat a 20x60 ft plot like an open villa. At Hikari House, the challenge was to create breathing room where none existed. We utilized strategic cut-outs and courtyards to force a dialogue between the internal volumes and the sky. This isn't just about making rooms look bigger; it is about passive cooling and ventilation, ensuring the house remains comfortable even during the intense heat of a Meerut summer. ### The Facade as a Living System We moved away from traditional glass-and-concrete boundaries. Instead, we developed a modular screen using 8x8 inch cement blocks, arranged in a custom Tetris-like grid. This facade does the heavy lifting: it provides the necessary privacy from the street, breaks the harshness of the direct sun, and permits constant airflow. It changes throughout the day, catching shadows in the morning and glowing from within at night. ### Design for Daily Rituals Architecture matters only when it supports the life lived inside it. By anchoring the central circulation around a pinewood staircase and using light as a primary material, we created a home that feels warm and connected. Whether it is the way light hits the floor in the morning or the way the balcony garden softens the concrete edges, every detail is intentional. This project is a testament to the idea that thoughtful design, rooted in local material and simple geometry, can transform the most constrained urban setting into a sanctuary. ## About SIAN Architects We are Surbhi and Deepanshu. At SIAN Architects, we treat every building as a conversation between the land and the people inside. We mix old-school construction tricks with fresh, experimental ideas to create homes that don't just sit on the land, but breathe with it. [See all of SIAN Architects's services](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects) ## More from Facade Design & Material Innovation by SIAN Architects - [Featured](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects/facade-design-material-innovation/featured) - [Project Spotlight: Urban Oasis, Hapur](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects/facade-design-material-innovation/project-spotlight-urban-oasis-hapur) - [Material & Form Exploration](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects/facade-design-material-innovation/material-form-exploration) - [Eco-Sensitive & Wildlife Architecture](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects/facade-design-material-innovation/eco-sensitive-wildlife-architecture) - [Our Studio & Recognition](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects/facade-design-material-innovation/our-studio-recognition) ## More services by SIAN Architects - [Residential Architecture & Design](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects/residential-architecture-design) - [Urban & Public Realm Design](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects/urban-public-realm-design) - [Commercial & Hospitality Architecture](https://mytribe.in/sianarchitects/commercial-hospitality-architecture) ## Similar work from other experts - [The Kadambini Residence: Minimalist Brick Home Design in Nagarbhavi](https://mytribe.in/archemist_architects/turnkey-residential-design-build/project-showcase-the-kadambini-residence) by Archemist Architects · Turnkey Residential Design & Build · Takes projects across India; Visit Design Studio in Rajajinagar - [House Belaku: Modern Brick Architecture in Bangalore](https://mytribe.in/4site_architects/interior-architecture-design/house-belaku-a-play-of-light-and-brick) by Chandrakant S. Kanthigavi · Interior Architecture & Design · Based in Jayamahal, Bengaluru; Takes projects across India - [Small Plot Architecture: Designing Grand Homes on Compact Footprints](https://mytribe.in/kamatrozario/residential-architecture-interior-design/the-big-little-house-making-small-spaces-grand) by Kamat & Rozario Architecture · Residential Architecture & Interior Design · Takes projects across Bengaluru & India; Visit Studio in Ulsoor - [The Light House: A Modern Multi-Generational Home Design](https://mytribe.in/sjk_architects/architectural-design-residential/the-light-house-a-multi-generational-home) by SJK Architects · Architectural Design - Residential · Based in Colaba, Mumbai; Projects across India - [Thoughtful Private Residence Design](https://mytribe.in/studio_thirdspace/urban-design-master-planning/private-residences) by Thirdspace · Urban Design & Master Planning · Based in Pune & Belagavi; Master planning across India - [Residential Projects: Spaces Defined by Light and Material](https://mytribe.in/studioarray/architectural-design/residential-projects-spaces-for-living) by Studio Array · Architectural Design · Takes projects across Delhi NCR & Lucknow; Visit studio in Sector 76, Noida ## Book To book SIAN Architects, message mytribe on WhatsApp: [Chat on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/916360004054?text=Hi%2C%20I%20saw%20your%20work%20on%20Hikari%20House%20and%20love%20your%20approach%20to%20compact%20living.%20Would%20love%20to%20discuss%20a%20project%20with%20you.) 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