Cover A seamless flow in a family home in Navsari, India designed by Veeram Shah of Design Ni Dukaan
A seamless flow in a family home in Navsari, India designed by Veeram Shah of Design Ni Dukaan
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Emphasising local materials and architectural elegance, Veeram Shah of Design Ni Dukaan has created a contemplative space for a family to thrive in at the heart of Navsari, India
In the quiet town of Navsari, India, this sprawling family home spans 12,000 square feet, blending impeccable design with climate sensitivity. Conceived as a G+2 home with a choreographed sequence of living, gathering and private spaces, Veeram Shah of Design Ni Dukaan distilled his unique approach to design into this unforgettable project. “Even the smallest variation can alter how a space is experienced,” he mused. “Our role is to guide that balance, rather than impose upon it.”
From the beginning, the house was created to engage in a dialogue between cultural sensitivity and the necessities of modern living. While micro-level vastu considerations informed the planning, the architecture remains rooted in the elemental concerns of light, orientation and context.
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Above An emphasis on materiality and architectural forms in a Navsari, India family home designed by Veeram Shah of Design Ni Dukaan
Above The entryway of a Navsari, India family home designed by Veeram Shah of Design Ni Dukaan
An emphasis on materiality and architectural forms in a Navsari, India family home designed by Veeram Shah of Design Ni Dukaan
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Southern exposures are carefully moderated through patios and overhangs, while an 18-foot window system draws in diffused northern light, allowing the interiors to remain luminous throughout the day. “We think of the house as something that breathes,” shared Shah, “not just through air and light, but through the life it holds.”
Upon stepping into the space, one is immersed in an atmosphere of deep contemplation. A foyer and vestibule lead into the drawing and living areas, where shaded patios extend the rooms outward to create a seamless flow between the different rooms. Built-in baithak seating, integrated into deep window recesses, offers both repose and storage, in line with modern sensibilities. One of the most notable features of the space is the cantilevered staircase, its underside shaping an intimate passage that connects adjoining patios.
A seamless flow in a family home in Navsari, India designed by Veeram Shah of Design Ni Dukaan
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Materially, the home is grounded in the local materials that characterise Shah’s projects. Underrated varieties of Indian marble are used throughout the space, lending subtle variation in tone and texture, while sandstone pavers and granite ensure the outdoor surfaces maintain warmth over time. Custom-designed furniture is catered to the family’s distinctive needs over time, each piece in conversation with the overarching elegance of the Navsari, India home. “There is no need for adornment,” Shah mused. “If the architecture is resolved, the space can speak for itself.”
This sensibility extends to the other memorable pieces within the Navsari, India property. A woven ceiling installation by Priyanka Narula of The Wicker Story adds dynamic texture overhead, while bespoke lighting by Harshita Jhamtani and LBH casts inviting pockets of light throughout the space.
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Above The double-height ceiling in the living room of a family home in Navsari, India designed by Veeram Shah of Design Ni Dukaan
Above The stairway in a family home in Navsari, India designed by Veeram Shah of Design Ni Dukaan
The double-height ceiling in the living room of a family home in Navsari, India designed by Veeram Shah of Design Ni Dukaan
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In the double-height living room, a 12-foot artwork by Shahanshah Mittal anchors the imposing structure, complemented by a folding partition in Sujani textile by RaasLeela Textile. Elsewhere, cane-woven wardrobe shutters by Majja Design Studio and Jamdani panels by Glocal Weaves introduce layers of craft that feel rooted in both modern Indian design and its exquisite heritage.
Above The lounge celebrating materiality and architectural forms in a Navsari, India family home designed by Veeram Shah of Design Ni Dukaan
The lounge celebrating materiality and architectural forms in a Navsari, India family home designed by Veeram Shah of Design Ni Dukaan
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Above Lush greenery in a Navsari, India family home designed by Veeram Shah of Design Ni Dukaan
Above The guest bathroom in a Navsari, India family home designed by Veeram Shah of Design Ni Dukaan
Lush greenery in a Navsari, India family home designed by Veeram Shah of Design Ni Dukaan
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The Navsari, India home also features an unexpected transformation of a 14-degree south-facing slope, once planned for solar panels, into a mezzanine retreat. Here, a small bed, library, and a discreet window framing the sky create an intimate, deeply introspective space. “Sometimes the most meaningful spaces emerge from functional decisions,” said Shah. “It is about recognising those opportunities as they arise.”
Above The primary bedroom in a Navsari, India family home designed by Veeram Shah of Design Ni Dukaan
Above The bedroom in a Navsari, India family home designed by Veeram Shah of Design Ni Dukaan
The primary bedroom in a Navsari, India family home designed by Veeram Shah of Design Ni Dukaan
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Outdoors, the landscape is conceived as a tropical micro-ecosystem. Eschewing conventional lawns, the garden is planted with native species that offer shade and seasonal variation, while sand-filled pathways echo the textures of nearby Dandi beach. At its centre, a rainwater tank doubles as a platform for intimate gatherings, equally suited to quiet morning rituals or informal sunset celebrations. Altogether, the relationship between the Navsari, India house and its verdant landscape remains deliberately fluid, each framing the other in a continuous conversation.
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Credits
Photography: Ishita Sitwala
About
Celine first read Charlotte’s Web at the age of five–and she hasn’t stopped turning pages since. Her favourite authors are Mona Awad and Nat Cassidy. Besides writing for Tatler, she listens to BTS and spends time with her family.
Work
Celine took up secondary education with a major in English, graduating from De La Salle University in 2023. She advocates for female empowerment through creative expression by writing for Tatler Homes.
For story leads or inquiries, you may reach out to her via celine.dabao@tatlerasia.com.
