Located along Ahmedabad’s Sarkhej–Gandhinagar Highway, The Aangan is envisioned as a sanctuary within the city, a home where nature and culture meet with quiet intention. Designed for the multigenerational Desai family, the residence draws from Gujarat’s architectural lineage while reinterpreting its traditions for contemporary living. Split across three levels, the home is organized along a landscaped North–South spine that brings light and air deep into the plan, supporting cross-ventilation in the region’s hot, dry climate.

At its core lies a sequence of courts, culminating in a double-height aangan centered around a Kamini tree. Daylight filters through a louvered skylight set within the butterfly roof, enabling passive stack ventilation and establishing a calm spatial anchor. Adjacent sits the Pooja room, reinforcing the home’s spiritual grounding. On the upper level, a stepped court inspired by Gujarat’s baolis becomes a place of gathering and pause. Throughout the interiors, craft traditions surface through Bandhani-inspired flooring patterns and jaali screens echoing the geometric logic of the Uttarayan kite festival.

Landscape and built form work in unison. Earth-banked sunken courts draw light and greenery into the basement while moderating temperatures across seasons, and native planting defines the gardens at both ends of the home. Locally sourced materials and traditional detailing reinforce the project’s regional grounding. Inside, a biophilic framework shapes each zone: water anchors the Pooja space, earthy palettes calm the private areas, and the kitchen expresses the element of fire through material and craft.

Environmental stewardship is embedded into daily life. A kitchen garden, composting facility, visible rainwater harvesting systems, and a 40 kW rooftop solar array together establishes a resilient and largely self-sufficient ecosystem. The Aangan emerges as a present-day expression of Indian domestic traditions, where climate, culture, landscape, and family life converge to create a living, breathing home.