5 beautiful Chennai homes that blend modernity and traditional Indian design

Though each distinct in appearance, what each of these Chennai homes have in common is a knack of combining nostalgia with the practicalities of modern living. This is evident in their rustic material palette, antique decor items masterfully put together, and a keen reverence for traditional South Indian architectural elements such as the ubiquitous courtyard. Read on for a tour of some of the most beautiful homes in Chennai.

现代钦奈家建立的崇拜仪式

Seeking a fresh start, a family in Chennai demolished theirhomefor a clean slate on which they could build anew. Linking their old and new abodes is an expansive Nagalingam tree, considered auspicious for its fragrant flowers that resemble the hood of anaga(cobra), which is commonly associated with Shiva. “It was important to our client that the tree retained a prominent position in the garden,” explains Amaresh Anand, partner and principal designer at AD100 firm Khosla Associates. The new, 12,000-square-foot home—christened “Nagalingam Veedu” (the house with the Nagalingam tree)—was thus built in a C-shape around the northeast garden where the tree stood, its design a modern take on the traditional courtyard home commonly seen in South India and Gujarat. “We located the puja room and tulsi plant in the same auspicious direction to facilitate their daily rituals,” he adds.

Glazing installed across the home ensures a sense of openness and connectivity between the spaces, which include a formal living room; dining and bar; family room; informal dining area; three bedrooms; study; private terrace; verandahs; and other ancillary rooms. The decor embraces a modern Indian aesthetic with custom-made furniture, handicrafts and artwork by local artists. “The architectural shell and the materials used determined the choice of art and colours,” says Sandeep Khosla, founder and principal, Khosla Associates. -Nicole Newby

Also read:Warm, simple and free, this Chennai home embraces the relaxed energy of the seashore

2.一个周末回家切nnai that evokes memories of an idyllic childhood

Recreating the aesthetic of the Sherene John's grandmother’s home in Nagercoil near Kanyakumari, where she spent many carefree holidays during school vacations, thisweekend home in Chennaihas been designed by Nivedha Sarathy and Priyadharshini Sarathy of Think Design Consultants LLP, with interiors by Krishnamithra Rajan of Form and Function.

“Contemporary construction materials have been used, although the aesthetic is of a bygone era,” says Priyadharshini. The homage to the earlier style is relevant and has been customized, making the home not only contextual, but a showcase of the cultural heritage of the owners. “We did not just mindlessly replicate the courtyard of Nalukettu houses in Kerala, which gets enough rainfall to create a micro-climate. Chennai is humid, so our courtyard is smaller,” says Nivedha.

Filled with several charming objects which tell a story, the spaces are redolent with history. “I didn’t want an elaborate space. It had to have a country style, since we grow our own rice, fruit and vegetables. Our family history is tied to agriculture and this is a fully functioning farm with cows and chickens,” says John. “Moreover, the bungalow has furniture which has been passed down in my family, so it’s filled with memories.” -Devyani Jayakar

Also read:3 Pondicherry homes with the most spectacular architectural details

3. A Chennai bungalow inspired by the spirit of thegullies

The gullies of Chennai served as inspiration for architectural practice ED+ Architecture for ahouse这是一个新的构建,重塑现代livi形象ng using materials and planning that were contextual to the city, Located in the middle of Seaward Road, a quiet residential neighbourhood on Chennai’s seafront, a home was built for a newly-married couple on a linear 39 x 93 feet plot of land. There is no forgetting that this is a seaside house, and with that brief in mind, architects Ammaar Chowdry and Mridula S. Chowdry designed a home that was airy and open, and extended itself to its tropical surrounds of palms, bougainvillaea, and plumeria.

Deep inquiries into the couple’s living patterns and correlating that with a quintessential “gully” located in the older parts of the city, the “great room” or triple-height living-dining-kitchen layout opens itself into a linear garden with a view of the water’s edge. Ammaar describes the lower level as “a spirited space designed to draw the family together, where conversations take place overdinner, people lounge around while listening to the hissing sounds from a pan as a hot dosa is being made”. The house comprises three levels that were staggered by five feet on either side, resulting in the creation of windows projecting out from each level onto the“gully”as one would experience in traditional streets. The “great room” was a core where the family could centre themselves while still being immersed in the flurry of activities around them. -Ashna Lulla

4. A contemporary home in Chennai that celebrates South Indian architectural traditions

This 3,500-square-feethome in Chennai, composed of two solid volumes raised on stilts, is intuitive, comfortable and an ideal haven for its dwellers. Raghuveer Ramesh (the design lead for the project) and Sharanya Srinivasan, partners at Studio Context Architects were the creative minds behind the project. “The site is in a relatively low lying area, and is prone to flooding. This led us to design a structure on stilts,” says Ramesh. The home features a grand stairway accentuated by lush landscape, that welcomes guests inside. “Our clients—a young family of three—wanted an open yet secure home for their daughter to grow up in. The brief was to design the home keeping in mind a modern aesthetic woven intricately together with the concepts of a traditional regional house.”

The residence has been planned around its nucleus: thecourtyard. It draws inspiration from the traditional South Indian 'mutram' or courtyard. All spaces are designed around this central sphere in various ways—be it by physically traversing through it to access different spaces or being visible from all areas at all times. The living, kitchen, dining and bedrooms overlook the courtyard at different levels. -Shruti Omprakash

5. A Chennai beach house that will transport you to Bali

When Ashish Gupta and Shweta Gupta decided to renovate their second home in Chennai, they approached The Auburn Studio. The brief was something quick and easy to execute so that it could double up as an exotic personal getaway for the homeowners. The 6,500-square-footbeach housenow has minimalist interiors, raw exposed finishes, unique art pieces and plenty of handcrafted furniture. The breathtaking views of the vast pool accentuate the décor here.

Sushmitha Ramesh, Principal Architect, explains: “The elements of luxury and rusticity combine well in this home. The key influence here is a bit of Wabi Sabi which meets tropical modernism.” The grey-on-grey monotone palette with cement finished floor tiles, grey walls and a grey ceiling, is complimented by custom-made furniture, reupholstered in sand tones. While the colour palette is muted, the materiality of the space too underlines the vibe of a tropical get-away with raw and natural finishes. For example, all the lighting fixtures in the house were handmade with cement, wood, or bamboo finishes.

The highlight of this home is the sunken living room, a structure that Auburn Studio envisioned and created. The large living area was used to create a ‘conversation pit’ which is three steps beneath the level of the home and faces the pool. Once seated, the regular swimming pool appears at the eye level rendering the illusion of an infinity pool. -Bindu Gopal Rao

Also read:5 homes where art and fine craftsmanship reign supreme