It’s almost New Year’s, which means metropolitan cities are going to become unbearable hotch-potches ridden with traffic, noise, litter, and overenthusiastic gen-z (not to give away my age) filling the streets. If you’re an introvert like I am, then all you want to do is go off the grid, cocoon yourself in a luxurious abode, and disconnect from the world. This is your sign from the universe to take the plunge and design that dream holiday home you’ve always wanted. And who better to seek advice from than the winners of the Holiday Home Awards at ID Honours 2024 — leading architects and designers from India? With an impressive body of work and versatile home ideas, they prove that building holiday homes is not just about escaping from reality; it’s about seeking refuge in silence, nature, and the pleasures of slow life.
Gujarat homes by Khushboo and Smit Vyas, Studio 4000
Spearheaded by Khushboo and Smit Vyas, Studio 4000 is an architectural practice based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Dedicated to building aesthetically-pleasing structures that are made in unity with local artisans and craftspeople, the firm has become a renowned name in the field. They were one of the winners of the ID Honours awards this year, under the Holiday Home Design category. Featured here are two projects: the first being House at Gulmohar Greens, Telav, Ahmedabad, Gujarat: a suave, curved home doused in marble and plenty of natural light. The second is called Weekend House at Aalloa, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, and is defined by rustic brick exteriors and cozy dark wood interiors, making it an idyllic home to curl up in.
Altitude by Tony Joseph, George Seemon, Mohandas P, Rajesh KA, Anupama, Poonam Noufal, Harish M., Stapati
Mesmerising and luminous, this is Altitude by Stapati, an architecture practice established by Tony Joseph in 1989. The firm’s architecture emerges from a sensitive understanding of the context; one where the evolution of design is firmly rooted in the region’s traditional narratives, while interpreting the elements in a modern context. Nestled in the enchanting Wayanad hill-station, this home is owned by industrialist Ashique Thahrir, and is located with 650 acres of tea, coffee and cardamom plantations. Ideal for that luxurious getaway, the resulting home has a series of eclectic and experimental structures and a high-end alternative accommodation concept.
Reflections by Shabna Nikhil & Nikhil Mohan, THOUGHT PARALLELS architecture
Founded in 2000 by principal architect Nikhil Mohan, THOUGHT PARALLELS architecture is a Kerala-based architectural firm. Their design philosophy is defined by an urge to be relevant, an absence of a monotonous style, and attention to detail in design. Here’s a selection of their project “Reflections”, which won the Holiday Home Award at ID Honours 2024. Spanning over 2100 sq ft, this river-view weekend home was exclusively designed for the Kallada family. An impressive, stoned pathway leading to the living room begins at the ground floor. The living room gives a scenic viewpoint of the river and is embellished with personalized furniture, fibreglass planters, macrame wall hangings, relics, and antiques. The windows scale from floor to ceiling, allowing the residents to relax, soak in some sunshine, and enjoy the magnificent river and its connecting landscapes. The living room leads to the outside, from where fresh air rushes in and out to awaken the building.
Villa Uma by Samuel Barclay, Erica Barclay and Saleem Bhatri, Case Design
This gorgeous getaway is Villa Uma, worked on by Case Design, a firm co-founded by Samuel and Erica Barclay, with Saleem Bhatri as a partner. Based in Mumbai and having projects in India, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, Case Design is an architecture and design practice committed to exploring the design process through acts of making. Tucked away in a rustic, gravel road in Satirje, this villa is spread across a one-acre plot and faces the distant hills of Kankeshwar. Constructed from a combination of locally sourced materials, the primitive concrete frame was erected using left-in-place shuttering formed by brick and black basalt interlock. The rough-hewn texture of the exterior protects the smooth, mottled walls of the softly pigmented interiors as lightweight steel supports the thin, corrugated sloping roofs.
House of Gardens, Hyderabad, by Kanan Modi, Kanan Modi Associates
Here’s paying tribute to the House of Gardens by Kanan Modi Associates, a Hyderabad-based interior design firm founded by the eponymous designer. Known for its high level of design and detailing, the firm’s portfolio includes a wide project range – from corporate, hospitality, retail, automotive, education and luxury spaces to product design, bespoke light fixtures, exclusive surfaces and contemporary furniture pieces. Although located on a busy street, this 10,000 sq ft home allows one to switch off from the hustle and bustle of daily life, and acts as a holiday home perched within the heart of the city. Witness its grandeur, and how modern curvatures and monotonous colours make it seem more expansive, and connect the home’s fundamental framework to greenery and natural elements.
