Upon stepping into this 1,500 sq. ft. home, a profound sense of warmth immediately washes over you – a direct reflection of the people who embody this space. The home is located in Sankaranpalayam, a small village in the Vellore district of Tamil Nadu. Designed by Ar. Nishanth Masilamani, Founder of Yaazh Design & Build, an architecture and design practice based in Chennai, this residence has been conceived as a refined urban sanctuary, where luxury is expressed through restraint and warmth is balanced with openness.
Sharing about the client’s brief and requirements, Nishanth says, “The client wanted a simple 2BHK home on a narrow site that would comfortably cater to their everyday needs. Their main requirement was to make the house feel open, airy and private despite being located in a densely built neighborhood with closely packed homes. They were also quite open-minded and gave us a lot of creative freedom throughout the process, which allowed us to explore ideas beyond a conventional home layout. This led to the introduction of courtyards, natural materials and passive design elements that bring in light, ventilation and a stronger connection to nature. More than just creating a functional home, the intention was to design a space that feels calm, grounded and deeply connected to its surroundings.”
The living area has been designed to feel open, expansive and deeply connected to the rest of the home. Upon entering the home, the courtyard immediately draws attention, anchored by a sculpture of Lord Ganesha that adds a strong spiritual and visual presence. Natural light entering from above transforms the atmosphere throughout the day, creating constantly shifting shadows. Grey oxide flooring has been used here to maintain a calm and earthy character. The furniture is minimal, with a low teapoy made from refurbished wood becoming a subtle highlight. The dining area is integrated with the kitchen in an open-plan layout to create a sense of spaciousness. Since the home sits on a narrow plot, avoiding rigid partitions has definitely helped make the interiors feel larger and more connected. The dining area naturally encourages interaction between family members while maintaining a seamless visual flow with the living space. “The kitchen is positioned to the left of the entrance and is raised by 6 inches to create a subtle level difference from the living room. It features both a regular window and a clerestory window that brings in soft northern light and provides views toward the entrance area. The kitchen flooring uses yellow oxide, creating a warm contrast against the grey oxide flooring in the living area”, adds, Nishanth.
The puja space is one of the most significant elements in the home. It is placed within the central courtyard and remains open to the sky. The intent is to create a spiritual yet dramatic experience where light becomes an active design element. At noon, sunlight falls directly at the centre of the courtyard, creating a striking visual moment around the Ganesha sculpture. The walls here feature handmade chapdi bricks with a cross-brick pattern, while yellow oxide flooring enhances light reflection and creates an almost floating effect. The home does not have a dedicated entertainment room. Instead, the living area functions as a flexible social space where the family can gather, relax, and entertain guests.
The first bedroom is connected through a small passage from the living area. Natural light enters from courtyards on both sides, making the room feel bright and airy. Foldable doors have been incorporated to create flexibility and openness. The second bedroom is deeply connected to nature and is surrounded by green spaces on three sides. It overlooks the sand courtyard, peripheral courtyard, and garden. A mud bed finished with cement and mud plaster adds warmth and strengthens the earthy design language of the home. The first bathroom follows a muted grey palette that complements the adjoining bedroom. The second bathroom features green terrazzo tiles that enhance the natural and earthy feel of the second bedroom. Both bathrooms have been designed to remain simple, functional, and aligned with the overall material palette of the home. “The outdoor spaces are an integral part of the design. The entrance pathway combines kota stone and grass to create a calming transition from the outside world into the home. A rammed earth wall separates the parking and entry areas, creating privacy while also acting as a defining architectural element. The second courtyard features sand, greenery, and playful rabbit sculptures, while the west-facing garden includes a central tree surrounded by lawn. These outdoor spaces strengthen the home’s connection to nature”, explains Nishanth. .
The colour palette is muted and earthy. Shades of grey, yellow, terracotta, brown, and natural green dominate the home. “These colours were derived from the materials themselves rather than being artificially introduced through finishes or paints. The palette helps create a warm, grounded atmosphere”, informs the architect. The house has been envisioned as an experience rather than just a built structure. Through courtyards, natural light, raw materials and open spaces, the design has created moments of pause, reflection and a stronger connection with nature. The project has also challenged the conventional architectural language of the area by introducing a more contextual and thoughtful approach to residential design. The intention was to use materials that age gracefully and feel connected to the local context. The home primarily relies on natural lighting. Courtyards, skylights, clerestory windows, and strategically placed openings ensure that natural light enters throughout the day. Artificial lighting has been kept warm and subtle to complement the natural materials without overpowering the space.
Sustainability has been approached through material choices and passive design strategies. The use of reclaimed wood, recycled pot tiles, locally made bricks, mud finishes, and natural materials helped reduce the environmental footprint of the project. The design also maximises natural ventilation and daylight, reducing dependency on artificial cooling and lighting systems.
“What stands out in Nilam is the way the home unfolds through courtyards, light and material, rather than relying on any loud expression. Each element is carefully thought through and closely tied to its context. One such detail is the sculpture placed in the passage, a woman with a bow and arrow. It has been introduced as a visual guide within the movement of the house, but also carries a deeper intent, shifting the narrative to portray strength and agency rather than conventional representation. As one moves further, the second courtyard adds another layer to this experience, where sand, greenery and rabbit figures come together to create an almost storytellinglike sequence within the home”, concludes Nishanth.
Overall, Nilam is less about isolated design elements and more about how everything connects, light moving across spaces, materials responding to touch and time, and small details coming together to create a home that feels rooted, calm and deeply experiential.
