concept
‘Om Winter Retreat’ is envisioned as a long-awaited place of return—a home that anchors memories, evokes belonging, and gently signals coming back, always. Designed as a vacation retreat for a Non-Resident Indian client, the house is conceived for both weekend escapes and extended annual stays. Rooted in the familiarity of vernacular Indian homes, the project emphasizes simplicity, warmth, and a deep connection to everyday rhythms. The home is imagined as a place where time slows down, seasonal changes are observed, and indoor and outdoor living merge naturally to create a sense of comfort, nostalgia, and quiet retreat.
design
The single-bedroom home is wrapped in brick-clad walls, with a large verandah forming the heart of daily life—welcoming guests and framing views of the changing day. The plan includes a living room with an attached powder toilet, a kitchen with a washyard, and a bedroom with an attached bathroom. Interiors finished in Kotah stone provide a subtle, grounded tonality, complemented by the warm palette of RCC compound walls, brick cladding, and Rajula stone in the landscape. A repurposed handcrafted Persian blue door becomes a focal point against the brick façade, while contemporary interiors are layered with eclectic wooden furniture. The terrace, accessed via floating RCC steps from the load-bearing wall, features built-in planters with cascading Vernonia creepers that soften the brick surfaces. The landscape prioritizes planting over lawn, with a bosquet of fruit-bearing trees, vegetable-growing squares reflecting the client’s culinary interests, a corner pavilion for tea and breakfast, a water fountain tray, an outdoor barbecue counter, and covered car parking—together shaping a mindful, lived-in retreat that seamlessly blends architecture, landscape, and lifestyle.