Timeless elegance

This Ahmedabad home by Blocher Blocher India Pvt. Ltd. blends classical modernism with sustainable principles in a sophisticated manner.

- Dushyant Shekhawat

Ahmedabad has a long and proud tradition of architecture in exposed concrete, enshrined in part by the contributions of stalwarts such as Le Corbusier and Louis Kahn. For this approximately 20,000 sqft home, Blocher Blocher India (Ahmedabad) continue this association, designing an expansive home with massive lawns, that manages to seem luxurious, even while replacing opulence with a simple austerity.

Hartmut Wurster, Head of Country at the firm, says, “I would describe the form of the house as classical modernism,” speaking of the block-like shape of the house’s two wings. “The style is timeless, which is an important factor. Rather than design something fancy which might be outdated in 10 years, it is preferable to build something which will stay relevant for many years.”

Sitting on a massive plot of nearly 161,460 sqft, this house is composed of two main blocks — the private block and the public block. To maximise the ample space, the house was situated to one side of the plot. Hartmut says, “The large plot size gave us room to create a play of open and closed spaces. It also allowed us to create ‘floating spaces’ where the interiors linked up with outside lawns.”

This large garden area also features a lily pond, and serves the important function of making the house seem luxurious. “In India, land is valued dearly, and it is highly desirable to have a garden this size,” Hartmut says.