yinjispace

INTERIOR
SJK Architects
PHOTOGRAPHY
Niveditaa Gupta
EDITOR
Gina
Collection

Nagpur, a city in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, experiences exceedingly high summer temperatures that often cross 40 degrees Celsius. Located within a dense, gridded urban neighbourhood in this city, the Light House is designed as a contemporary private residence for a multigenerational family that cherishes the value of togetherness. The house sits on a tight plot of 38 m by 23 m adjacent to the site of the family’s earlier residence, a two-storeyed bungalow which had become insufficient for their growing needs. SJK Architects was commissioned to design a simple home that would anchor both present and future generations, offering a timeless space where family bonds could grow stronger over time.

Hailing from north India, the family — the grandmother, her two sons and their wives, and three grandchildren — held deep nostalgia for ‘havelis,’ large residences with communal courtyards (chowks), projecting balconies (jharokhas), and intricate brick or stone lattice screens (jaalis) vernacular to many western and northern regions of India. These climate-responsive dwellings, along with the timber-based ‘wada’ residential architecture more predominant in Maharashtra, served as an inspiration for the design of the new house. Tempering the harsh heat and inviting gentle, controlled light into the interiors was a primary design consideration.

The six-storeyed volume is designed to maximise the use of the buildable site area. An eight-foot-wide, linear atrium slices through the volume centrally, with its proportions derived from detailed studies of scale and sun movement throughout the seasons. The atrium draws in diffused light to the lowermost level, where the family’s informal living area is planned. This space forms the social heart/core of the residence, and facilitates aural and visual connections across all levels. The more private functions, such as the bedrooms, are planned towards/along the tree-lined site periphery, and accessed via interactive semi-private corridors around the central atrium; the corridors are designed as mini-galleries, displaying curated art within carved niches.

Vertically, the programme is split such that each generation enjoys its own space and privacy on the first four levels. The fifth level is designated as the guest entertainment zone and features expansive living and dining areas that can host large gatherings of around twenty people each, while the topmost level hosts a spa, jacuzzi, and gym within a recessed, fully glazed structure capped by a hipped roof. A deck lined by vegetation surrounds this structure, crafting a secluded retreat with splendid city views.

The grandmother’s suite and main kitchen are planned on the ground level, facilitating direct access to outdoor spaces designed as dining, lounging, and garden areas — respecting her desire to remain rooted to the earth and participate in cooking and gardening. An office suite on the same level ensures that the family’s personal conversations can play out in the central informal living area without any interruptions.

The three upper levels are dedicated to the older son’s family, the younger son’s family, and the grandson and his future family, respectively. Each comprises two master bedrooms at the southwest and southeast corners with walk-in-wardrobes and ensuites, along with a guest bedroom, formal living room, pantry, and a shared family terrace along the north, looking onto the garden designed on the site of the older bungalow structure. The bedrooms are enveloped in 8-feet-deep balconies that expand the perception of space within the narrow bedrooms, and serve as a heat and rain buffer. One-third of the balcony area is customised into jharokhas positioned differently across levels, creating a dynamic facade. They are furnished as per individual needs and are designed with the provision of being fully air-conditioned, if needed.

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