When the clients approached us, they had a unique vision- a blend of colonial and traditional elements that exuded grandeur, tradition, and elegance. Our team at Design Thoughts Architects, known for our versatility in creating dream villa designs across various architectural styles, was thrilled to take on this project. The fusion of colonial and traditional styles in this project is not just a design but a unique concept that we are excited to share with you, promising to intrigue and excite you with its innovative blend.
Project Name: A Colonial Retreat Amidst the Urban Neighbourhood on Sarjapura Road
Studio Name: Design Thoughts Architects
Location: Sarjapur Kodathi Gate
Plot size: 70’ x 140’
Plot facing: East
Our clients were clear about their desire for a design that would stand the test of time, blending seamlessly with the vibrant city of Bangalore. This timeless quality was a key consideration in our design process. It ensured that the villa would symbolise elegance and sophistication, reassuring them of lasting value for their investment and instilling a sense of confidence in the enduring beauty of the design.
The clients’ clear vision for their residential villa, a Spanish colonial style with a touch of traditional features, set the tone for our design process. This vision was not just a starting point but a guiding light that we followed to create a villa that perfectly reflects their unique taste and preferences, making them feel deeply understood and respected.
The clients, hailing from a banking background and having two kids, had specific requirements for their residential villa. These included a central courtyard planning, Vastu compliance, a swimming pool, a home theatre, a garden, large bathrooms, walk-in closets, an indoor-outdoor connection, a gym, landscaping, and a library. We took these requirements to heart, ensuring our design met and perfectly catered to their unique needs and preferences, making them feel deeply understood and valued.
The clients were also specific about using Athangudi tiles, Mangalore roof tiles and specific colonial elements like a double colonnade, decorative columns, cornice details and sloped roofing. These elements will be incorporated in a way that respects the colonial style while adding a unique touch to the design.
Getting started
Our designers first made a list of takeaways from the first design discussion and then embarked on a comprehensive research of the many colonial design elements. This research was crucial in understanding the nuances of the colonial style and how we could incorporate them into the design. As the clients wanted to solve five-car parking in the frontage, we had ample space to design a grand entrance, a significant feature of the colonial style.
From the grand entrance, we move to a nicely decorated foyer with a verandah. The clients were inclined to include wet and dry landscapes within the interior spaces, too. We included an interactive jalli with a landscape and water feature in the living area. A Buddha wall art like a mural also welcomes this guest area.
From here, we move to a much larger living space that opens to the family’s private living and bed spaces. There is one main bedroom on the ground floor, while a spacious open kitchen-dining and a second kitchen are also zoned here. From this second kitchen, we can move to the rear of the site through the landscaped deck. This plan is also a fusion of open planning features with enclosed planning for specific home spaces.
On the first floor, the master plan has the same layout as the ground floor; other than this, there are two bedrooms, a home theatre, a gym, a library, and family space, excluding the skylight areas. As we go further up the terrace floor, we notice a small covered seating area and other utilities.
Notable features in this residential villa we loved designing:
- Interior-exterior connection – Bringing water features and landscape within the home interiors, adding garden views, jalli walls, interior decks and courtyards.
- Large bathrooms – The designs for the bathrooms and toilets were unlike the regular layouts, as we designed large bathrooms of 18’ x 12’ for the bedroom.
- Multiple courtyards and skylights – We added a large skylight for the courtyard, smaller skylights for the Pooja room and internal staircase, and a lush landscape on the ground floor. This skylight, too, has traditional patterns.
- Different plan layout – Unlike the usual residential villa planning, we designed decks, balconies, a gym, a home theatre, lounge spaces within the bedrooms, and family spaces.
- Fusion of Spanish and classical elements – We used intricate grills, Corinthian pillars, Mangalore roof tiles, Athangudi floor tiles for the Pooja area and elements like interior wooden swing, mural details and many more in this villa design.
Visualising the classic interiors
As we observe intricate elements in the exteriors, a similar reflection for the interiors is also inevitable. The residential villa is set in a spacious planning, so lavish interiors with classical elements are a way to match the exterior looks. One significant element that we included in the interiors is the arch forms for opening shelves and doors. The headboard details, wardrobes, grill details, colours and textures exude grandeur for a traditional feel.
As the client also wanted to explore levels within the planning, we also introduced differences in textures and materials. For example, the library on the first floor has a level difference of one step from the family area. We could differentiate and demarcate this with varied floor materials for this area.
We explored and enjoyed applying various styles, textures and materials to conclude the visualisation of this residential villa.
Conclusion
As we end exploring this interesting classical villa design, you get an idea of how we go about designing at Design Thoughts Architects. We get more excited when clients come up with challenging designs that involve intricate designs, a fusion of architectural styles, and exploration of materials like this residential villa design.
To explore ideas for choosing a unique architectural style for your dream villa designs. Connect with our designers today to know more, and also look at our other blogs for design inspiration.
