Parijat House in Ahmedabad balances privacy and openness through layered courtyards and brick screens

Parijat House in Ahmedabad redefines maximalism as a measured accumulation of memory, craft, and seasonal colour. Designed as their own residence by architects Jhanavi Parikh and Jugal Bhatt, the 3,000-square-foot home reinterprets India Modern through a palette drawn from flora in bloom and a sensitive use of indigenous materials. Here, richness is not expressed through excess, but through continuity, where every element carries intention.

Colour unfolds as a living system. Amethyst pinks, sage greens, warm yellows, and earthen tones move through the interiors like a seasonal cycle, creating an atmosphere that feels both tactile and optimistic. Rather than dominating the space, the palette settles into it, allowing materials and light to shape the experience.

The entry sequence introduces the house through restraint. A compact vestibule slows movement and establishes a sense of transition. Kota stone flooring with fine inlay patterns grounds the interior in regional familiarity, while a handcrafted console with mother of pearl detailing and brass accents sets a tone that is decorative yet controlled.

Living and dining spaces extend as a continuous field, articulated through thresholds rather than partitions. Arched openings, turned wooden columns, and sliding glass and timber panels allow spatial flexibility while maintaining visual coherence. Light filters through sheer curtains, animating lime-finished walls, woven cane, teak surfaces, and brushed brass details.

At the centre of the drawing room, a suspended swing in brass and teak becomes both focal point and gesture of pause. Furniture remains elevated and light, preserving openness while reinforcing a sense of ceremony embedded in everyday life.

The dining area is anchored by a Pichwai-inspired Tree of Life artwork, introducing a symbolic layer that connects the interior to broader cultural narratives. Brass lighting, cane-backed seating, and handcrafted vessels complete a setting where daily rituals are quietly elevated.

The kitchen, framed by a soft arch, continues this dialogue between tradition and contemporaneity. Matte green cabinetry, patterned yellow tiles, teak details, and turned wooden elements create a space that is functional yet deeply rooted in Indian craft traditions.

Private spaces maintain the same layered approach. The master bedroom combines a teak four-poster bed with paisley textiles and subtle metallic finishes that respond gently to daylight. In the parents’ bedroom, the language becomes calmer, allowing floral motifs and material textures to emerge with clarity.

Across the house, references to flora and fauna appear as dispersed elements rather than dominant motifs. Birds, lotuses, and botanical patterns surface through textiles, wallpapers, and artwork, establishing a rhythm that reveals itself gradually. A dedicated temple space is integrated seamlessly within the plan, reinforcing spirituality as part of daily life rather than a separate domain.

What defines Parijat House is the precision with which familiar materials are handled. Teak, brass, Kota stone, cane, and handcrafted details are used not as decorative statements but as carriers of memory and continuity. Their presence reflects both personal narrative and architectural discipline.

In contrast to the pursuit of minimalism as a marker of luxury, the project proposes an alternative. It frames maximalism as clarity, where abundance is structured, and where architecture becomes a medium for inhabiting memory.

Project Credit

Project name: Parijat House
Design firm: UrbanNest Design Studio / @urbannest_designstudio
Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Area: 3,000 sq. ft
Year: 2026
Photo: Umang Shah Photography / @umangshahphotography