Sculpted Exteriors & Dynamic Facades
We believe an exterior is never just a skin—it is a story. Our designs respond to the site, using organic forms, perforated screens, and natural textures to create buildings that feel alive.
The exterior of the House of Veils is defined by solid, smooth-flowing walls and dramatic overhangs. These powerful forms contrast with the filtered light from screened facades, creating a language of soft, secret spaces that unfold progressively.
Our Moira Homes project in Goa is inspired by its sloping site. The design features inclined reveals and large overhangs for privacy and shading, allowing the homes to sit lightly on the landscape with minimal excavation.
The facade of the Moira Homes features large overhangs with inbuilt planters. This design choice allows diverse greenery to become an integral part of the built scape, extending the landscape vertically along the building's exterior.
A view of the Moira Homes development, showing how the structures are nestled into the sloping terrain. The angled forms and earthy materials help the buildings merge with the wet, tropical landscape of Goa.
The Moira Homes at dusk, where the architectural forms are silhouetted against the sky. The design works with the natural slope, creating a mix of apartments and homes that feel grounded in their environment.
A detail of the sloping facade at Moira Homes. The angled concrete forms are not just an aesthetic choice; they are a functional response to the climate, providing shade and creating protected outdoor spaces.
These Vagator Villas, currently under construction, represent a new typology of homes with soft edges and earthy finishes. The curved forms and large glass openings are designed to blend seamlessly with the Goan outdoors.
About this collection
We do not design facades for aesthetics alone; every curve, screen, and overhang is a deliberate response to the sun, privacy, and wind. Whether we are using perforated brickwork to filter harsh sunlight or carving concrete forms to passively cool a home, our exteriors are engineered to make the building breathe while grounding it deeply in its unique landscape.
Architecture as a Response to Context
Our approach to building exteriors begins with the site itself. We do not impose a form; we listen to the topography. On sloping terrains like those in Goa, our buildings follow the natural grade, requiring minimal excavation while creating dynamic rooflines that nestle into the earth. This is the essence of our tropical modernism: creating homes that sit lightly on the land.
The Mechanics of Our Facades
We treat the building skin as a functional element. By utilizing computational design tools like Grasshopper, we generate facade systems that offer tangible benefits:
- Passive Cooling: Our use of brick or wood screens and perforated walls is a calculated strategy. These elements filter direct heat while allowing air to move freely, drastically reducing the need for artificial cooling.
- Privacy & Light: We utilize recessed vertical courtyards, angled concrete reveals, and deep overhangs to manage the tension between street-facing exposure and private retreat. This creates soft, secret spaces where you can enjoy the outdoors without sacrificing intimacy.
Material Honesty
For us, materiality is the soul of the facade. We prefer the honest expression of locally sourced brick, stone, and cast-in-situ concrete. We avoid overly polished finishes, preferring textures that age gracefully in tropical conditions. When we design a brick screen, we are not just creating a pattern—we are crafting a filter that shifts and changes as the sun moves across the sky, bringing the building to life throughout the day.
SAV Architecture and Design
We are SAV, a team of architects bouncing between London, Mumbai, and Goa. We treat architecture like poetry, obsessing over every line from the first sketch to the final brick on-site. We build spaces that hug the land, hide secrets, and tell a story with every angle.
Looking for a specific design style?
Explore our other architectural focus areas or specific design services.
More services by SAV Architecture and Design