Working within the constraints of an inherited RCC slab with limited load-bearing capacity, the project transforms a typically residual terrace into a vibrant living space, one that negotiates structure, landscape, and tradition with quiet innovation. At the heart of the design is the front linear covered space, a re-imagining of the traditional Indian veranda. Instead of merely framing the entrance or offering passive shade, this element is stretched across the entire front of the house. It becomes a dynamic threshold, a place of pause, transition, and community. This elongated veranda engaging with the landscape, harnesses prevailing winds, and floods the interiors with diffused natural light.
Its spatial generosity allows it to host gatherings and frame expansive views of the surrounding farmlands and hills — effectively blurring the line between inside and out. The house negotiates a six-foot level difference between two existing slabs. Instead of masking this shift, the design uses it to create a stepped amphitheatre at the core. These generously built-in steps serve multiple roles, such as seating, lounging, gathering, or quiet retreat, with the stairs transforming the transition into an active and engaging living space that transforms a circulation constraint into a performative living space. This central void weaves together the public areas — living room, dining space, rear terrace — into a cohesive spatial narrative.
Flanking this core, the private bedrooms are positioned for privacy yet remain visually tethered to the landscape. The dining area is strategically located to maximize rear-side views, in close dialogue with the kitchen and utilities, ensuring seamless everyday functioning.
Structurally, the entire house is constructed using mild steel (MS) fabrication, chosen for its lightness and adaptability. The MS framework sits delicately atop the old slab, with vertical supports aligned precisely along the original RCC beam lines and columns, maintaining the integrity of the base structure while introducing a new architectural language above.
GAZEBO is not merely a rooftop addition — it is an architectural response to constraints, a celebration of context, and an exploration of openness. The project reframes the idea of rooftop living — offering not just a shelter, but a spatial experience that is anchored, elevated, and deeply rooted in cultural memory.
Gallery:
Gallery (Drawing):
Project Details:
Name: GAZEBO on a Terrace
Location: Nagthane, Satara, Maharashtra
Area: 3,000 sq. ft.
Status: Completed (June 2025)
Typology: Residential Architecture
Designed by: Studio Montage
Design Team: Atharva Ghogale, Vivek Wanarase
Structural Design: Er. Vaibhav Nikam
Construction: Harida group of construction
Photographs: Pranit Bora Studio
