The Red House, Bhugaon

Red House Built Up Area : 1,200 sq.ft.

Location: Bhugaon, Maharashtra

Cost: Rs. 50,00,000/-

This project involved the sensitive expansion of an existing residence, focusing on a design that harmonises with the lush, wooded site rather than competing with it. The extension adds significant living volume while maintaining a porous relationship between the indoors and the surrounding landscape.

The primary objective was to expand the home’s footprint—adding a spacious ground-floor verandah, a new living room, and an en suite bedroom—without disrupting the established ecosystem of the site. The architecture is defined by its “tree-first” approach, where the built form respectfully tucks into the existing canopy, allowing mature trees to remain integral to the spatial experience.

Materiality & Palette: The Red House extension utilises a deep terracotta-red paint finish to exposed RCC and local bricks that anchors the building within the earthy tones of the site, complemented by traditional sloped tiled roofs that provide both thermal comfort and a timeless aesthetic.

The Verandah: A deep, wrap-around porch serves as the heart of the ground floor connecting th older and newer blocks, offering a transitional “outdoor room” that remains shaded and ventilated throughout the day. As seen in the drawings, the new addition is meticulously stitched into the existing structure, creating a cohesive flow between the old and the new and the existing vegetation while providing access to a new bedroom and sprawling rooftop terrace.

Vertical Expansion: The new RCC and exposed brick structure introduces a new living area on the ground floor overlooking the site.  A bedroom with a verandah over this living room on the first floor is designed to capture views of the treetops and beyond and maximize natural light.

The Red House is built towards the back edge of the plot away from the road. The tallest point of the new extension shows up as a flash of red above the trees, making for a delightful view from the street with the internal pathway leading to it gently giving way to the full extent of the welcoming verandah and stepped profile of the extension as you approach it.