A deep sense of peace, a pause, a moment to unwind. In a fast-paced world, much of modern life is spent in pursuit of this elusive space of the mind. From within the urban chaos, most scramble for windows of escape, often in places untouched by the shadows of urbanisation—mountains, coasts and the countryside. Mr. Manimaran, a client of Chennai-based architecture practice Vy Architecture Studio, envisioned a similar retreat for himself and his family. Having spent their lives in Chennai, the serene village of Vedanthangal, Tamil Nadu, became home to their antithesis of artificially cooled air, plastic walls and fluorescent lights. Their hopes, in synergy with the architects' expertise, culminated in a residence rooted in climate and context. “The client’s story is that of a man caged in the walls of a city. Setting him free in this chosen land was our role as architects,” Vy Architecture Studio notes in an official press statement.

Vaazh, translates to ‘live’ in Tamil, a language spoken by majority of people in Tamil Nadu. Vedanthangal is a haven of unblemished vegetation and thriving aquatic ecosystems, and is characterised by a centuries-old bird sanctuary, which is also one of the oldest protected regions in India. Here, the rhythm of life is slower compared to the city's humdrum, and more receptive to nature’s cycles. “I am a workaholic, spending countless hours at the office. But when I come to this village, I feel a deep sense of peace,” the client says. Designing a home in a delicate ecosystem requires a sensitivity beyond aesthetics; it must be ‘a living home for living beings’, as the studio describes it. Drawing inspiration from indigenous mud architecture and the spatial openness of traditional courtyard houses, the sculptural residential design—emerging from the earth and melting into it—echoes local history while accommodating modern living needs.

Based in Chennai and Mahindra World City, Vy Architecture Studio is a young practice working with eco-parametric architecture, a design approach that fuses sustainability with data-driven innovation. Their work stems from ecological sensitivity and artistic expression, conceiving spaces that tread lightly on the land they inhabit. These tenets conspicuously steer the expression of the Vaazh House, where traditional building wisdom associated with Indian architecture intersects with contemporary techniques. With a minimal carbon footprint and deep contextual grounding, the home reflects the studio’s mission of creating buildings that address environmental challenges while embracing forward-thinking and radicality in the built environment.

The Vaazh House rests within a north-facing rectangular plot surrounded by a cluster of family-owned homes in Vedanthangal. The ‘borderless’ neighbourhood discards rigid demarcations, with the only perceptible threshold being the thinnai—a raised, covered veranda intrinsic to Tamil households. In these verandas, conversations brew, pets are fed and social bonds are nurtured. The house plan is segmented into three zones: communal spaces or thinnai forming the welcoming front, the living room and courtyard in the centre and private spaces such as kitchen and bedrooms unfolding sequentially. The linearly arranged spaces are visually linked to maintain a continuous dialogue across the home.

At the heart of the residential architecture lies its most defining feature: the courtyard. A sinuous, curving wall threads through this space. To the west, it shields interiors from the harsh sun; to the east, it extends upwards into the roofline, creating an opening that ushers in the morning sun and the rain. This perforated surface casts shifting patterns across the red oxide floor, animating it with dynamic shadows and movement. At its base, smooth river rocks collected from a nearby stream anchor the courtyard design in memory and place. However, the curve is beyond a sculptural element introduced for mere visual appeal; it functions as a play wall to climb up to the roof, where one can recline and watch the sky.

This organic element, along with the ground and the roof it weaves together, morphs into a three-dimensional recreational area. “The courtyard invites not just the family, but also birds, insects, dogs and cats, turning the home into a sanctuary for all. Here, the home celebrates the climate’s veracities—bare feet on cool, damp soil, raindrops from the open roof, stargazing at a clear blue sky—breathing life into the narrative,” reads the official release.

The silent, seemingly breathing, Vaazh House is emblematic of a return to what is essential—forsaking the sterility of urban life. The parametric architecture refuses to overpower its surroundings; rather, it aspires to dissolve into the textures and rhythms of its context. As ample light and air cascade through generous apertures, the raw and expressive materials allow time to leave traces on the house’s shell. Memory, openness and the client’s yearning for placidity echo through the sustainable design—bridging the mundane to nature, community and a more present way of being.