Fact File
Location: Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
Size: 1070 sq m
Principal Architects: Sanjeev Panjabi and Sangeeta Merchant
Photography by: Umang Shah

Black Bastion House by Spasm Design Architects is a stone structure comprising two sizeable granite projections with voluminous living spaces cradled in between. Located in the city of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, which has a mild climate throughout the year, cooled by the breezes from the Nilgiris, this home was located at the end of a leafy tertiary street on the Race Course road. The patrons, a lovely couple, well-travelled and with great taste, had saved an image of Spasms’ work in 2014 and called it “fav architects.” Needless to say, the first proposal was accepted in principle, and the journey began. The body of the building is two black bastions of dark local granite stone, with an airy pavilion-like double-height living space cradled in between.

The local granite stone is highly sustainable due to its direct use from quarry to site application, lowered maintenance costs over the years, sheer endurance against the elements, and performance as a thermally stable material. Stone buildings have historically outperformed buildings made of other materials. Generous room sizes and heights give the home an understated elegance. The focus is on the back garden, which is what the sort of U-shaped plan conjures. The bathrooms are all in white Indian marble and are sized as expansive rooms. The windows are all custom-made out of metal with bespoke brass hardware, and the doors are made of salvaged wood in elegant proportions with polished oils. This home seeks to create a refined, understated, and elegant atmosphere for the family. It’s also a delight when a pride of peacocks visits!