THE BRICK VAULT HOUSE

Vayupuri, together with its predecessor Sainikpuri , emerged in the 1970s and 1980s as a peaceful, green cooperative housing development. Originally envisioned for retired defence personnel, it gradually evolved into a well-regarded residential neighbourhood and, more recently, a vibrant, civilian-friendly community with
growing commercial activity. Its real estate market was historically shaped by end-users seeking independent
houses, builder floors, and generous residential plots. As commercial popularity increased and building regulations relaxed, the area began to absorb larger residential and commercial developments. This shift has placed greater pressure on a neighbourhood once defined by low-rise housing, mature tree cover, and infrastructure designed for a quieter era. The 760-square-yard site occupies a quiet corner plot at the intersection of two tree-lined residential streets. The design responds to this context by retaining and adapting the existing single-storey structure in line with the clients’ Vaastu requirements, while introducing new multi-height volumes to support contemporary living and social use.
A key project objective was to minimise ecological disruption. By preserving the original structural footprint, the intervention reduces excavation, concrete work, and disturbance to soil, plant life, and local biodiversity. The entrance is repositioned to the south-east corner through an opening made in the original exterior wall, which is intentionally left largely intact as a marker of continuity.
Heirloom elements, including teak wood panels from the couple’s ancestral home, were repurposed and reinterpreted to introduce warmth and memory into the house.
The lower floor accommodates a guest bedroom with an en-suite bathroom finished in local Tandoor sandstone and granite, alongside an entertainment area, a formal dining space, and an open-plan kitchen designed for both daily use and hosting.
A folded-plate staircase with salvaged teak wood balusters rises through a sunlit double-height volume, linking the levels with a strong vertical presence. The upper floor contains restful private bedrooms and a state-of-the-art golf simulation room tailored to the client’s interests. Above, a curved metal-and-wood staircase leads to the terrace through an elongated volume of light defined by handcrafted brick vaults.
These vaults, constructed without concrete or steel, span approximately 40 feet in length and 14 feet in width. Openings at both ends draw in daylight and frame expansive views of the sky, creating a contemplative transition between the interior and the terrace.
Sustainability measures are integrated throughout the project. Rainwater collected from horizontal surfaces is redirected to planter boxes positioned at the vault openings, supported by a drip irrigation system that reduces manual maintenance.
Solar panels on the terrace provide shade while generating electricity for common- area use and landscape lighting.

The material palette is deliberately restrained and regionally grounded, with Kota stone and granite flooring, brick-clad exterior surfaces for new interventions, and grit-wash finishes along the lower walls. Portions of the original exterior envelope remain intact, allowing the architecture to connect past and future through the present.
Overall, the project balances adaptive reuse with contemporary programme, preserving memory while responding to present-day needs. It seeks to reduce environmental impact, honour the clients’ cultural values, and create a home whose character is calm, enduring, and free from excess.