Studio Saransh weaves Brutalist Home Around nine Neem Trees
Studio Saransh’s MS House in Ahmedabad, India, is a brutalist home that revolves around the nine mature neem trees of the site, preserving them as central elements that shape the spatial layout, architectural form, and material palette. The influence of nature is evident from the moment one approaches the site. The boundary wall winds around a tree trunk to preserve its growth, and a downward-curving branch near the entrance lobby makes this connection stronger. The brutalist aesthetic manifests strongly in the exterior, where bold geometries of the concrete facade disappear quietly within the green foliage. Square punctures within the shell of the residence and deep chamfered window sills further maximize this effect, allowing diffused light to cast playful shadows. The wooden-strip textured concrete mirrors the textures of the trees, softening the visual presence of the structure.
all images by @ishifishy
Nature softens the Brutalist Form of the ms house in india
At the heart of the house is a double-height central bay that embraces a neem tree. This space, oriented East-West, is where the family gathers for morning tea and meals under the canopy. ‘The central bay is more than just a design element—it is the soul of the house,’ explains Malay Doshi, principal architect at Studio Saransh. It anchors two wings: the front housing the living room, verandah, and garden, and the other accommodating the guest room, kitchen, and ancillary spaces. ‘Every element of this house is shaped by the site’s natural context and the family’s needs, embodying our belief that a good design must seamlessly integrate function, individuality, and environment,’ adds Kaveesha Shah, the principal interior designer of the Ahmedabad-based studio.
On the upper floor, the central bay transitions into a study area overlooking the dining space below. Each space establishes its own relationship with the trees outside. The architects position the master bedroom directly above the living room, opening to a shaded balcony that overlooks the trees. Occupying the quieter rear wing, the daughters’ bedrooms offer views of the backyard. The second floor serves as a social terrace with a family lounge, bar, and powder room, creating an inviting space for gatherings above the neem canopies.
wooden-strip textured concrete mirrors the textures of the trees
Materials that Connect Inside and Out
Concrete and lime-plastered walls combined with grey Kota flooring create a cohesive design that ties the interior and exterior of the MS House together. The living room incorporates smooth-polished plywood cast concrete surfaces and ethically sourced Valsadi teak paneling, with ribbon windows framing the views of the foliage outside.
The dining area houses a custom wooden table by TDW with rosewood detailing that mirrors the linearity of the concrete and Kota pattern, while teak and wicker chairs from Mistry at Finest pair with a parametric suspension lamp designed in collaboration with Andlabs. The living room is designed to function as two seating clusters: one featuring a custom sectional sofa set and an iconic Eames chair with the Arco lamp from Flos, and the other with a more formal setup featuring custom-designed fabric lamps and an abstract art rug from Jaipur Rugs.
square windows puncture within the shell of the residence
Personal Spaces with Distinctive Characters
The bedrooms reflect the personalities of their occupants, with the master bedroom, finished in ply cast concrete and Kota flooring with terrazzo detailing, featuring a custom four-poster bed with stone pedestals and wooden posts. Contrasting tones saturate the daughters’ rooms—one with graphite shades, the other with sage green walls and green marble-infused terrazzo flooring.
The bathrooms introduce their own design narratives. The master ensuite is bathed in natural light from two skylights: a circular one above the sink and a square one hidden in the shower. The black powder room on the terrace, featuring full-height glazing, overlooks an array of Champa trees, creating an illusion of a private courtyard.
Beyond merely preserving the neem trees, MS House takes advantage of its orientation to maximize natural light and ventilation. Heat gain is reduced through laminated double glazing, deep shaded openings, and cavity walls. The solar-powered roof of the gazebo enables the house to run on solar energy, meeting 70-80% of its needs, while lime-plastered walls eliminate the need for plastic-based paints, ensuring an eco-friendly approach. Additionally, with materials used resourcefully—leftover timber is repurposed into custom tables, while marble remnants form a console in the drawing room, ensuring minimal construction waste.
the boundary wall winds around a tree trunk to preserve its growth
at the heart of the house is a double-height central bay that embraces a neem tree
here is where the family gathers for morning tea and meals
