Five mango trees around this house, which was designed by Blurring Boundaries’ Shriya Parasrampuria and Prashant Dupare. The house is a wonderful example of sustainable living, constructed with locally sourced bricks, marble, and repurposed tiles.
Ajay Gharat was certain that he wanted a “home which was in sync with nature” when he made the decision to construct a house for himself. He wanted a place where he and his wife and children could run freely and feel connected to nature, like a second house nestled in the middle of wilderness.
As an Ayurvedic physician, I have centered my work on the natural world. Therefore, I was certain that nature would be a major influence on home design,” he says in an interview with
He wanted an architect who shared his vision, even though he was committed to creating a natural paradise in his house.
An organic dwelling surrounded by mango trees
Ajay desired to build a house on a plot of land in Pen, Raigad. The architects were astounded by the plot of land’s natural beauty.
There were five mango trees and an abundance of vegetation on the site. We made sure not to touch the mango trees when we were designing the house. Prashant says, “We wanted to design a house that covered the most ground and flowed through the land without disturbing the surrounding nature.”
Each area flows naturally into the next thanks to the open floor design and connected rooms that provide adaptability and flexibility.
We wanted to make use of every available space because the client desired a backyard where he could engage in organic gardening and the area we were provided was not very large. We were able to create more space for the kids to run about because of the house’s open layout,” Shriya continues.
The house, which has two bedrooms and a dining, kitchen, and hall area, was constructed using the natural materials and earthy colors that Ajay had desired.
Speaking about the origins of the house’s name, Asmalay, Ajay describes it. “The irregular distribution of our house gives it a distinct rhythm; it is neither square nor rectangular. According to him, this uniqueness has three meanings.
First, “Asma” means uneven, and “laya” implies rhythm or flow, which reflects the design of the house. In Marathi, “Asma” signifies “ours,” while “alai” means “house,” signifying “our house.” Finally, writing it as “A S S M” in English signifies our family: Megha, our eldest child, Swaraj, our youngest child, and Ajay, who is me, and Swara, who is my wife. The “A A” is derived from “Chakla,” which connects everything. He asks, “Isn’t that sweet?”
For this specific project, we chose to use bricks that were purchased locally and use very little cement. This was carried out in an effort to reduce the carbon imprint that building construction leaves behind, according to Shriya.
Natural arches, exquisitely carved brick walls, and enormous windows that combine indoor and outdoor spaces make up the house.
According to Prashant, “we purposefully left the brick exposed so that the beauty of the bricks shows.”
A load-bearing glass wall along the stairs is another feature that makes the property stand out. “For the structure, we requested that the customer gather used beer bottles. Utilizing repurposed materials in the house is the concept behind the wall. The bottles were repurposed to create a stunning wall, which glows magnificently in the evening light, according to Shriya.
