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A HOME IN THE CLOUDS

by reD Architects

made with love in India

HOME IN THE CLOUDS | RED ARCHITECTS 3

Project Location : Garmal, Khopoli, Maharashtra

Architectural Firm : reD Architects

Principal Architect : Rajiv Parekh, Ekta Parekh, Maithili Raut,

Apoorva Shroff
Project Team : Rohit Jain, Shivam Patel

Plot Area : 7 Acres (3,04,920 sq. ft.)

No. of Rooms :7
Built-up Area : 30,000 sq. ft.
Timeline : Mar 2018 - Dec 2020

“The architecture of the house is an intersection between concrete and metal intended
to frame the splendid views of the Sahyadri mountains all around.”
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Location - Amidst the Sahyadris

The site is located on the outskirts of bustling
Mumbai, in the quiet of the Sahyadri hills. The
sweeping views of the Western Ghats in almost
any direction are the highlight of this otherwise
simple parcel of land.
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Integration of the panoramic views

The primary inspiration behind the design was to
capture and frame these picturesque landscapes. The
disruptive architecture manages to create spaces
of varying scales from monumental to cozy while it
integrates into the home, the nature that surrounds it.
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Distinguishing the Spaces

Two parallel concrete walls act as the main
axes cutting across the house that seamlessly
connects the three intersecting blocks which
serve the respective functions of public, private,
and recreational zones. Materials have been
strategically planned for the various blocks – glass
and steel for the public spaces, and slate stone for
the private spaces, both of which get anchored
into the concrete spine.
HOME IN THE CLOUDS | RED ARCHITECTS
Upper Level
• Living Room - 6.2 x 11.3 m
• Kitchen - 6.8 x 5.2 m
• Dining Room - 5.0 x 6.2 m
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Upper Level Planning
The house begins from the upper level, where
one enters through a circular driveway. This level
is more of a public area with spaces like living
and dining areas, the kitchen, and utilities. This
area is specifically designed in glass and steel to
capture the breathtaking views of the Sahyadris.
The circulation works in a way that as one moves
through the house, they feel as though the house
moves with them.
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The Entrance
The arrival is planned at the highest level under a
large canopy that appears like a wing framing the first
glimpse of this House in the Clouds. The floating lotus
pond at the entrance offers a breath of fresh air after
the long drive from Mumbai.
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The Circular Window

The circular reading window on the higher level is
a secluded reading corner keeping the user visually
connected yet hidden away within the thickness of
the wall. The dining room showcases a 10-foot long
terrazzo table, infused with recycled glass bits cast
entirely on-site. The pivoting fins connect the user to
the lower level of the house.
HOME IN THE CLOUDS | RED ARCHITECTS
Mid Level
• TV / Art / Pool Table Room - 22.6 x 6.6 m
• Gym - 5.0 x 7.7 m
• Bar with Staircase Space - 6.8 x 5.8 m
• Family Living - 6.1 x 13.0 m
• Swimming Pool - 6.5 x 20.2 m
• Master Bedroom - 7.6 x 4.3 m
• Kids Bedroom - 4.9 x 5.8 m
• Guest Bedroom #1 - 4.9 x 5.8 m
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Mid Level Planning
The three levels of the house hug the natural
terracing of the ground. Below the driveway is
a parking space along with a squash court and a
gym. There are spaces provided for recreational
activities like an art room, TV room, pool table,
family room, etc. The family den opens out to the
garden in front while the metal roof that partially
covers the pool catches its many reflections. Large
overhangs, verandahs, and the partially covered
swimming pool make the spaces usable despite
the extreme weather conditions of the region.
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Family Den
The Den occupies the heart of the house. The wall in the
background houses a fireplace and was built from stone
excavated on-site. Glimpses of the pool are seen mirrored
on the wine bottles that are nestled into the apron of the
bar, which utilizes the storage under the staircase to the
fullest.
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Steel Staircase
A perforated metal staircase is sandwiched between
two concrete walls that frame the mountain range in
the background called the ‘Duke’s Nose.’
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Master Bedroom
Large sliding windows in the master bedroom manage
to bring the outside in, seamlessly integrating the natural
landscape with the house. The structural members
were planned with column-free corners to facilitate
uninterrupted views of the Sahyadri mountains in the
background.
HOME IN THE CLOUDS | RED ARCHITECTS
Lower Level
• Guest Bedroom #2 - 7.6 x 4.3 m
• Guest Bedroom #3 - 4.9 x 5.8 m
• Guest Bedroom #4 - 4.9 x 5.8 m
• Guest Bedroom #5 - 7.0 x 5.1 m
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Lower Level Planning
The lower level is a complete private zone with
bedrooms and washrooms. Rocks excavated from
the site during construction were used to build
retaining walls and this strikingly added to the hill
station appeal of the home.
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Courtyards and the Intersection Spaces

Suspended between the public spaces to the north and
the residential block on the south, this metal structure
allows for the natural terrain of the ground to flow under
it undisturbed. The triangular courtyard is the center of
the house and manages to connect every space and
keep the scale intimate.
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East Elevation
One of the key aspects of the design intent was for the
user to experience varying scales from monumental to
cozy as they move through the home. The architecture
is disruptive in the context of traditional geometry and
program expectations but the visual connection of the
spaces allows for the occupants to remain connected with
one another as they enjoy different parts of the house.
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Section A-A
The structure is a simple intersection between concrete
and metal. The resulting interstitial spaces translate into
courtyards of various scales that may be habitable or simply
form vantage points. The high ceilings, large corridors, and
windows planned across each other keep the house cool
and ventilated with air that continuously funnels through.
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Section B-B
The home is oriented such that it allows for the southwest
breeze to funnel through the house, pretty much
guaranteeing that the user does not need to condition
the air even in the peak of summer. The large overhangs
on the west and over the pool make these spaces usable
throughout the year despite the extreme climatic changes.
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Section C-C
The rubric of the various levels of the house is derived
from the natural terracing of the land. The suspended
metal block and the cantilevered southern tip allow for the
natural terrain to flow under it uninterrupted.
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Structure and Materials

The concrete walls intersect the slate-clad residential
block connecting it with the rest of the house. The
local stone adds a layer of warmth to the otherwise
Spartan architecture. The structural members are
left bare to intentionally showcase the beauty and
intricacies of concrete intersecting metal. All the
load-bearing walls are built using stones found on-site
during excavation.
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Rainwater Reservoir
The project has addressed the basic infrastructure
challenges of water, weather, and electricity without
compromising on aesthetics or sustainability. One
of the biggest challenges about being on the top of
the mountain is the scarcity of water. The architects
used the topography to ensure that the lowest part
of the site was turned into a rainwater reservoir.
All roof drainage and site surface runoff were
channelized towards this plan to harvest water.
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Conclusion
The success of the architecture lies in the fact that
every corner one is turned to, the drama of the
house, and the view that it captures changes and
moves along. The structure is an ode to the beauty
of the mountains that surround it.
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Unique Material Applications

Facade Finishes
01 / Exposed RCC Windows
Windows: Schueco from Doors & Doors
02 / Slate Cladding
03 / Glass and Steel 01 02 03 Lighting:
Lighting Uniser, Lumens, Klove, Arjun Rathi
Sanitaryware: FCML
Bath Fittings:
Fittings Kohler from Aquaaris
Furniture:
Furniture Gulmohar Lane, Curiocity
Carpets and Rugs:
Rugs Jaipur Rugs, Cocoon Rugs
Wooden Flooring:
Flooring Listone Giordano from FCML
Air Conditioning:
Conditioning Daikin from Arctic Engineering
Marble:
Marble Terazzo from Classic Marbles

Key Contributors
Structural
Structural: Global Engineering Services
Flooring Materials Civil and Facade:
Facade Unique Concrete Technologies
04 / Stone Flooring
05 / Wooden Flooring Landscape:
Landscape Professional Landscape Designs
06 / Concrete Paver Tiles 04 05 06
MEP:
MEP Global Engineering Services
HVAC:
HVAC Arctic Engineering

Photo Credits Fabien Charuau

Partitons 07
07 / Wooden Pivoted Fins
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