Requirements — family, site, and design goals

This note captures the people, place, and priorities that shaped the earliest design decisions for Advait.

About the owner family

Yogesh is an IT professional working in the fintech domain. Namrata was also an IT professional; today she takes care of home and family, is a practicing and learning student of Hindustani classical singing, holds a keen interest in Indology, and contributes to free and open-source software. Their daughter, Rujula, was born in 2012 and is currently in school.

Yogesh is a triathlete and loves cycling, running, and swimming. That naturally influenced the choice of location: a quiet, nature-rich setting. The site is near the backwaters of Khadakwasla Dam, at the base of Sinhagad, along the Sinhagad–Panshet road. This is planned as a weekend home rather than a primary residence.

The family is also actively involved in art and yoga (both Yogesh and Namrata are yoga instructors), and Rujula is currently pursuing Bharatanatyam.

Requirements

• Eco-friendly: prioritize earth-conscious methods and materials.
• Economical: build efficiently without compromising long-term durability.
• Materials-first approach: lime, soil, stone, and Mangalore tiles; minimal use of concrete and steel only where structurally necessary.
• Longevity: aim for a home that can last 100+ years with proper maintenance.
• Spaces:
  • one large hall for recreation and gatherings
  • a central courtyard for daylight and ventilation
  • a kitchen
  • two bedrooms
  • a small study space
  • a small private balcony/terrace on the top
  • at least one double-height volume (rare in typical city construction, but valuable for light and spaciousness)
• Orientation and Vastu: align with Vastu Shastra where practical, but prioritize geography, sun path, and prevailing wind direction.

Core design (evolving)

The core design evolved over many iterations. This section will capture the stable elements once the early versions are documented here.