Exposed cement walls, polished Kota flooring and bare concrete make this home by Khosla Associates a lesson in 'less is more'

“The homeowners wanted lots of natural light, cross-ventilation, the use of local materials, and a relationship with nature,” says Sandeep Khosla, one half of architecture and design firm Khosla Associates, who, along with the other half, Amaresh Anand, was commissioned to construct a two-storey bungalow in Coimbatore.A wide, slatted gate opens to reveal an entrance courtyard, sheltered by a precast concrete pergola designed to act as a shading device against the harsh Coimbatore sun. Underneath, a short flight of steps guides visitors up to the main door. Meanwhile, to the right of the pergola, a driveway slopes down to the basement car park.

The main door opens into a grey-shelled living room. Polished Kota stone clads the floor, holding a mirror to the room’s tour de force: a double-height concrete wall that rises up to a roof flanked by skylights.

“The concrete wall divides the living and dining areas. At its highest point, a cutout allows the skylights to project the arc of the sun between morning and afternoon, and bathe the wall with an ever-changing dance of natural light,” says Khosla.On the other side of the concrete wall is the dining room, which continues the grey Kota stone and cement palette established by the living area.A twelve-foot live-wood table takes centre stage, while mid-century-style chairs serve as a classic complement. The room leads out to an intimate courtyard (visible here) with casual al fresco seating.

The installation comprises 109 wooden handloom shuttles filled with fuchsia thread and mounted on a brushed brass base. Khosla and Anand especially designed it for the home.

A sleek black bar occupies a corner of the living room, overlooking the main garden.

“The owners entertain frequently, so the public spaces flow into each other quite seamlessly,” notes Anand.

Flooring: Living Elements; pendant lamps: Louis Poulsen; bar stools are custom-made

.The kitchen, an open-plan design, lies just beyond the living room. It appears almost like a seamless extension, thanks to its timber and exposed cement walls, and unfussy vanilla cabinetry. Brass pendants add a metallic sheen to the muted surroundings.

The first floor hosts a family lounge, as well as the master bedroom and two children’s bedrooms.

“The private spaces were deliberately designed upstairs to create a spatial demarcation from the common areas below,” says Anand.

Despite the continued dominance of grey, the family lounge achieves a warmer vibe by way of the timber ceiling and the carpet, which echoes its woody hues. The sleek wooden furniture and golden sunlight that funnels in through the rectangular skylight add to the bright, cosy ambience. With its own pergola-covered terrace, it offers generous views of the east garden.

The living room opens to a wooden deck that spills out into the east garden.