During my recent trip to Gujarat for the FOAID event in Ahmedabad, for a talk about our practice in Goa, Grounded. I visited ‘Amdavad Ni Gufa’ where art meets architecture quite literally. This extraordinary art gallery designed by B. V. Doshi, houses the works of the famous artist M. F. Husain. Also known as the Hussain-Doshi Gufa, the design of the space perfectly complements the art in it. The curves, openings, and enclosures create a unique environment with light and shadow playing beautifully throughout the space.

Amdavad Ni Gufa was born out of a conversation between Doshi and Husain that took place thirty years before the project began. The design was a response to the climate, exploring the benefits of underground spaces. The tortoise shell-shaped roof was computer-aided and employed local craftspeople. Made from ferro-cement and then covered with a mosaic of waste tiles and broken cutlery. These tiles reflect sunlight and help keep the interiors cooler than the outside.

Source: ©Hussain-Doshi Gufa

For art lovers visiting Ahmedabad, Amdavad Ni Gufa is a must-visit. It’s not just about the art on the walls; it’s about the entire experience of being in this space. The Gufa leaves a lasting impression, offering a cool, peaceful environment like an ancient cave of modern heritage.

On 5th July, I had the opportunity to speak at a wonderful evening event at Ahmedabad, hosted by FOAID India and Design Perspectives India. The event brought together architects and industry leaders for a productive conference. One of the highlights of the evening was the opportunity to exchange thoughts with the immensely talented Vin Varavarn from Vin Varavarn Architects in Thailand.

During my talk, I shared the vision of Grounded Goa, our architectural firm that focuses on sustainable design. I explained our design process and gave the audience a look at some of our key projects, especially our Villas in Goa.

At Grounded, we combine rustic and contemporary styles to create buildings that reconnect people with nature and the simple joys of life. Our goal is to bring fresh air, natural light, and a sense of well-being into every home we design. Goa Villas by Grounded is a special part of our firm that builds unique and sustainable houses in Goa. We take care of everything from design to construction, ensuring that each house reflects our commitment to both beauty and sustainability.

Listening to other speakers and engaging with the amazing audience was truly enriching. A big thank you to Hiren Patel, Dipen Gada, and Grid Architects for attending the event, and a special thanks to Shraddha for the invitation. The evening was beautiful, and I walked away having learned so much.

Images sourced from Anupama Kundoo

Wall House in Auroville is an experimental house designed by sustainability champion Anupama Kundoo. The architecture employs a play in proportions to create comfortable yet dramatic spatial envelopes. The house is built entirely with locally sourced materials in new, innovative ways to create soothing, earthy spaces that respond to the warm, humid climate.

Wall House is predominantly constructed with the vernacular ‘Achukkal’ brick, once ubiquitous to the building landscape in Tamil Nadu. Known for their unique flat, thin profiles and their distinctive red colour, Achukkal bricks are typically made out of left-over silt that is collected from farmlands around. They are then shaped by hand and fired in clay ovens for strength and stability. The bricks are deemed to be extremely sustainable, given their long life, low cost of production, and the sparing amounts of energy use for manufacturing.

The earthy palette and warm finishes move beyond the brick walls and are found throughout the house. The august clay pot vault above the double-height living space and the innovative filler slab roof above the dining area are particularly worthy of mention.

Each facade of Wall House sports unique fenestrations that bring in fresh air and ample daylight. On one side, a series of louvered windows built out of local mango wood and completed with unpolished granite stone come into sight. On the other side, a series of pivoting ferrocement screens open the house to the verdant landscape around when open, and bring beautiful light and shadow patterns indoors when closed.