Cover A tranquil flow between the indoors and the outdoors in a Karnataka, India home designed by Thomas Parambil Architects
A tranquil flow between the indoors and the outdoors in a Karnataka, India home designed by Thomas Parambil Architects
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In celebration of sustainability and simple yet intentional design, Thomas Parambil Architects designed a family's holiday home in Karnataka, India to work in tandem with its waterfront environment
Where the river meets the Arabian Sea in Karnataka, India, this holiday home rejects the usual conventions. Instead of taking inspiration from the stunning vistas across the water, Thomas Parambil Architects takes a more nuanced approach that balances climate responsiveness and a more restrained design story.
“When I first engaged with the site, I felt that it didn't need a loud architectural gesture,” designer Parambil reflected. “It already had a strong presence—the meeting of the river and the sea, the open skies, the coastal light. My philosophy has always been to respond rather than dominate.” This emphasis on architectural humility is first seen in the Karnataka, India home’s unconventional east-west orientation. Paired with a natural material palette and an emphasis on raw textures, the holiday home is an undeniable celebration of wabi-sabi philosophy.
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The garden area overlooking the sea in a Karnataka, India home designed by Thomas Parambil Architects
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Another important consideration in designing the home was the natural slope of the land, with the road sitting slightly higher on the western edge and the site gently descending eastward. “Rather than seeing this as a challenge, we saw it as an opportunity to embed parts of the structure into the terrain and keep the visual impact from the road minimal,” shared Parambil.
As a result, Parambil maintained the home’s sleek, uninterrupted appearance from the street, while the parking and service areas are nestled well below the ground. Another point of consideration was the Indian climate, where year-round coastal sunshine places a greater emphasis on orientation and shading. With generous overhangs on the eastern and western axes, the Karnataka, India home maintains views of the nearby seas while minimising the glare of the sunlight.
Above The dining room and stairway in a Karnataka, India home designed by Thomas Parambil Architects
Above Twilight views of the outdoors in a Karnataka, India home designed by Thomas Parambil Architects
The dining room and stairway in a Karnataka, India home designed by Thomas Parambil Architects
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The holiday home’s open layout unfolds with clarity, blurring the boundaries between the living room, dining area, kitchen, and bar. “These areas embody the essence of home, so why confine them within walls?” Parambil asked. Within the main living space, furniture works together rather than standing out individually. “Since the living, dining, kitchen, and bar are designed as one continuous volume, the placement of each element had to subtly define its function without breaking the openness,” Parambil explained. “The layout allows movement and conversation to flow easily across the space, without rigid separations.”
Between the common areas and bedrooms lies the home’s most central fixture: a pool and a versatile corridor that functions as a verandah and deck. This connecting spine separates private and social zones whilst remaining open and experiential.
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Above A tranquil bedroom in a Karnataka, India home designed by Thomas Parambil Architects
A tranquil bedroom in a Karnataka, India home designed by Thomas Parambil Architects
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In contrast, the bedrooms retain their status as sanctuaries of privacy and contentment. The material palette features natural wood, warm tone and textured finishes to create a deep sense of cohesion in each space. For Parambil, beauty “lies in simplicity and authenticity—in allowing materials to age and settle into their environment.”
Above A tranquil flow between the indoors and the outdoors in a Karnataka, India home designed by Thomas Parambil Architects
Above A tranquil flow between the indoors and the outdoors in a Karnataka, India home designed by Thomas Parambil Architects
A tranquil flow between the indoors and the outdoors in a Karnataka, India home designed by Thomas Parambil Architects
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One element Parambil is particularly fond of in the Karnataka, India home is how light moves through the house during the day. With an open layout, the mood of the interiors shifts effortlessly through the day and into the evening, establishing a quiet dynamism through time. “Here, you’re always visually connected to something: another person, the water beyond or the sky. That openness gives the home its emotional quality,” Parambil mused.
As the project came to a close, Parambil shared a celebratory hope for the evolution of the holiday home within its distinctive environment. “I appreciate the restraint in detailing,” Parambil shared. “There’s no excess. The materials, proportions and layout are intentionally uncomplicated. For me, that simplicity is what allows the home to feel timeless rather than trend-driven. More than any single feature, it’s this quiet consistency—in light and openness–that defines the character of the house.”
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Credits
Photography: Justin Sebastian
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.
