soham

Soham – The solace of solitude

Located in Surat, one of India's vibrant cities, the contemporary and sophisticated 5-bedroom abode is home to a family of six near the Tapi River, which balances minimalist design with an exquisite touch created by the materials and natural earthy tones. The dwelling's cuboid form consists of a punctuated void creating a uniform composition with the spatial arrangement of spaces to minimize vertical expansion with numerous floor plates and also to employ the maximum amount of functional area on the ground floor. The layout of the design relies on northern and southern axes, and the placement of windows are thoughtfully planned to control transparency and seclusion. The brick cladding wall stands out with profound boldness, which blends the external façade, treated with a distinctive combination and variations of textures including black tiles, black granite, Indian green marble, and Rajasthani stone carved with arched niche. Parking, foyer, guest room, utility area, servants’ room, wash area and the central dining area which connects the open kitchen and dynamic living room are situated on the ground floor. The transition from the entrance consists of a water body leading towards a semi-double height foyer which continues to the passage area followed into the living room, which is 22 feet tall and features a skylight to create a sense of openness, to light the space without artificial light during daytime, and it generates an interactive link between the floors. Furthermore, it also elevates the sensory perception to the first floor, embraced by the mandir and private zone on the rest of the floor plate which consists of the master bedroom, kids’ room and grandparent’s room. The master bedroom reflects their individual personalities with the integration of greyish and brownish hues along with opulent metal elements. Vertical fins solely cover the balconies of the bedroom on the first floor and the entertainment area on the second floor, offering screening from the sunlight which diffuses into the interior spaces. The kid’s bedroom is mainly subtle with soft pastel tones on the white background. The grandparents' room has classic wooden molding and a neutral colour scheme of light beige and grey shades. It features an elongated balcony opening towards the street on one side and society on the other. To build a connection with the neighboring green landscape, the wall is treated using the green wall technique. The exquisite details of the furniture and the harmonious balance of the material palette contribute to enhancing the play of transition between spaces. With each transition, a new experience is generated by means of physical and visual sensibilities. Ascending to the third floor, which is dedicated to recreational spaces that include a spacious jacuzzi area with a deck and lounging area, a theatre room inspired by the lunar landscape embedded in LED light and the subdued colour scheme woven with wooden accents which invite the sense of warmth and calmness to unwind from the bustling city lifestyle, and also a semi-open terrace to host gatherings. The Italian flooring, glazed tiles, printed glass, metal finishes, and veneer sheets are all identified to ensure that they aesthetically complement adjacent elements in the composition. This design yields comfort and fosters symphony between the spaces to create the narration of the textures, tones, materials, volume, details, and elements, resulting in a functional and experiential home where the family finds tranquility to stay with each other