Responsive Design

On the outskirts of Gorakhpur, India, this residence designed by W5 Architects nestles amid mango orchards and teak trees. The volumes of the home have been shaped around the existing trees, creating shaded courtyards, open walkways, and seamless transitions between interior and exterior. This is architecture that is rooted in the soil, in the light, and in the craft of the people who built it. Rather than imposing itself on its context, it becomes part of it.

Local materials were sourced and crafted by local artisans, who were actively involved in the construction process. Load-bearing masonry, built with bricks from local kilns, reduced the use of concrete and steel, resulting in lower environmental and financial impacts. Reclaimed timber was transformed into custom furnishings, cabinetry, and sculptural details, while local artisans created decorative panels from reclaimed materials.

Designed to promote openness and continuity, the spatial layout features double-height volumes that connect the floors, allowing natural light to penetrate deep into the home and air to circulate freely, creating a fluid, interconnected environment. The house also includes a small retail space at street level, providing an opportunity for opening a neighborhood store. This prevents the residence from becoming detached from its surroundings, allowing it to establish a dialogue with the urban context while maintaining its character as a private retreat.

Also at street level, the living area features large openings that interconnect the various zones, creating a single, expansive living environment. The interiors are defined by a palette of warm, earthy tones, with brick and timber providing a counterpoint to concrete ceilings. The double-height living room is furnished with sofas and upholstered seating, with mid-blue cushions punctuating the red tones. Pendant lights provide soft illumination, while plants bring nature inside, merging the house with its surroundings. Outside, a large garden with a freeform pool offers a further place for relaxation, extending the experience of well-being from the house into nature.

A minimalist metal staircase against a full-height glazed wall leads to the upper floor, where the sleeping area comprises three bedrooms, each with an en suite bathroom. The colors of the bedrooms echo those used throughout the home but here are paired with a light-colored flooring. The meticulously detailed bathrooms feature vibrant shades of pink, light blue, and aqua green, conveying a sense of freshness and comfort.

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Responsive Design | © Atik Bheda, courtesy of W5 Architects

The bedrooms harmonize with the rest of the home with their exposed brick walls but pair them with a light-colored flooring.

Responsive Design | © Atik Bheda, courtesy of W5 Architects

The bedrooms harmonize with the rest of the home with their exposed brick walls but pair them with a light-colored flooring.

Responsive Design | © Atik Bheda, courtesy of W5 Architects

Outside, the project does not impose itself on the landscape but emerges from it, integrating with existing mango and teak trees. Not a single tree was removed during construction, with the building shaped around the existing vegetation to create courtyards, shaded outdoor spaces, and a seamless connection between interior and exterior.

Responsive Design | © Atik Bheda, courtesy of W5 Architects

The living area features plants and custom furnishings designed by W5 Architects, which help create an atmosphere redolent of the location’s personality and essence.

Responsive Design | © Atik Bheda, courtesy of W5 Architects

Spaces are organized to encourage openness and continuity. Large openings connect the home’s different zones, while double-height volumes link the two levels, allowing natural light to fill every room.

Responsive Design | © Atik Bheda, courtesy of W5 Architects

A floor-to-ceiling glazed wall reveals the metal staircase between the building’s two levels, allowing natural light to stream into the home.

Responsive Design | © Atik Bheda, courtesy of W5 Architects

Reflecting the project’s focus on sustainability, various reclaimed materials were used to create the home’s furnishings and decorative elements.

Responsive Design | © Atik Bheda, courtesy of W5 Architects

Reflecting the project’s focus on sustainability, various reclaimed materials were used to create the home’s furnishings and decorative elements.

Responsive Design | © Atik Bheda, courtesy of W5 Architects

The bathroom walls are divided into two bands: the lower band, including the floor, is finished in terrazzo that echoes the concrete ceiling’s color, while the upper band features earthy hues, creating a pronounced material contrast.

Responsive Design | © Atik Bheda, courtesy of W5 Architects

The exposed brick façades that define the residence continue inside, beginning with the spacious double-height living room.

Responsive Design | © Atik Bheda, courtesy of W5 Architects

Warm terracotta tones dialogue with the cooler grays of the unpolished flooring.

Responsive Design | © Atik Bheda, courtesy of W5 Architects

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