5 Most Stunning Traditional Homes In India As Featured On Buildofy

What unites most of the traditional Indian homes featured on Buildofy, such as a Nālukettu-inspired courtyard residence in Kerala, a mural-adorned four-bedroom dwelling in Lucknow, and a Wada-style mansion in Kolhapur? They all stand as a testament that contemporary architecture in India is not entirely divorced from vernacular motifs and materiality. Rather, these homes serve as canvases for multi-generational design, thoughtful restoration, and spatial storytelling. Explore five homes from our repertoire that demonstrate how history can be both reinterpreted and adapted for the bustling suburbs of modern life.

#1  Thotti Mane, Bengaluru

“We wanted to keep the house very traditional, but modern in all its amenities. The very first line we drew on paper was for the courtyard, and the entire design evolved around it.” - Alkove-Design

Of this Bengaluru family’s childhood memories, the most vivid are the summers spent in their grandparents’ ancestral estate. So when it came time to design a home of their own, the architectural references of sprawling Chettiar mansions felt like a natural path to follow. Nestled against a tree-lined sloping road, Thotti Mane is a 2,400 sq. ft. Chettinad-style homestead that privileges transparency above all else. Its primary living spaces gather around the central courtyard (or thotti in Kannada) while open terraces weave a seamless dialogue between indoors and outdoors.

“Once you walk into this home, you see a small Tulsi Vrindavana and five steps climbing up through columns made of Sadarahalli granite,” shares Komal Mittal, Pune-based architect and co-founder of Alkove-Design. Inside, the home unfolds like a trove of heritage features and cultural souvenirs. Chettinad influences of the family’s hometown are expressed through Athangudi tiles at the entrance and load-bearing columns that anchor the sunken courtyard. A reclaimed teakwood swing with brass accents adds an heirloom touch, while clay roof tiles, patterned cement, and Jaisalmer stone define the material palette in a refreshingly neo-vernacular way. Every element has been deliberately chosen to resonate with the clients’ personal history, making the home not just a place to live but a deeply contextual expression of identity.

#2  The Home Where Time Stands Still, Thrissur

“This home is built on the principles of Thatchu Shasthra, which means living in harmony with nature. It is vernacular Kerala architecture at its finest.” - Temple Town

A closer look at the ancient joinery techniques prescribed in Thatchu Shasthra reveals the essence of Dravidian architecture: the belief that every structure has a life of its own, with a soul that exists in harmony with its surroundings. It was this philosophy that guided a family of five in Thrissur, Kerala, as they envisioned The Home Where Time Stands Still modelled upon Nālukettu architecture. Framed by an arched ‘padippura’ threshold and a ‘poomugham’ verandah lined with red-oxide seating, their dream blossomed into reality under Meera Pyarelal, Founder and Creative Director of Temple Town, who translated their vision into a residence steeped in history.

While traditional touches such as sloping roofs, clay tiles, and white tropical walls define the character of this 5,000-square-foot home, it is far from devoid of modern comforts. Hybrid in its sensibilities, the residence is finely attuned to Kerala’s climate, shielding walls from heavy monsoon rains while ensuring cool interiors during the harsh summer months. Teakwood furniture lends both warmth and sustainability, designed to endure for generations and preserve the continuity of customs and childhood memories.

#3  The Ramayana House, Lucknow

“Valmiki’s Ramayana is made up of different chapters, or ‘kaands’. We have taken certain characteristics of the chapters and matched them to the purpose of spaces inside this house.” - Envisage

Craftsmanship, culture, and a personal connection with their homeland. Collectively, these are pronounced markers of a spatial story. This is the impetus behind The Ramayana House, an immersive four-bedroom residence in Lucknow, in which all the rooms are placed in a way that they recreate the events of the Hindu epic Ramayana. A vibrantly painted console in the entrance foyer sets the tone with illustrations from Devdutt Pattanaik’s Sita. Further on, the floor of the passage is graced with a mosaic that artfully recalls the foliate textures of undergrowth, while a sumptuously detailed Madhubani mural depicts jungle scenes from the odyssey.

Upon walking through each of the rooms, a poetic amalgamation of groin vaulting, ornate murals, and Chettinad columns unfolds. This 6,000-square-foot dwelling, designed by Envisage, has been developed to bring together bespoke elements of Indian origin and the finesse of artisans from Saharanpur and Moradabad. The Ramayana House is an embodiment of its owners’ journeys and their cultural origins.

#4  Sawantancha Wada, Kolhapur

“Wadas are part of Maharashtra’s rich and cherished architectural heritage, reflecting the pride of the Marathas, their religion, culture, traditions, and holistic values.” - Art N Space Studio & AG Design Studio

Located in the picturesque village of Ujalaiwadi, Maharashtra, Sawantacha Wada is a grandiose residence that mirrors the homeowners’ appreciation for both travel and heritage. Drawing from the palaces of Rajasthan and the fortresses and courtyard mansions of the Marathas, Kolhapur-based practice Art N Space Studio has composed a symmetrical floor plan. The Wada-style inward typology is elevated by panoramic views of Rajaram Lake, framed through a series of balconies and jharokha windows.

The living room ceiling showcases exposed wooden beams and rafters, infusing the space with rustic charm. Vintage furniture pieces, from richly upholstered sofas to hand-carved wooden coffee tables, lend an old-world, palatial feel. A staircase crafted in Sagwan teakwood, Sheesham wood canopy beds in the private suites, and a constellation of classical chandeliers scattered throughout the abode together create a bridge between past and present, distilling the very essence of Maharashtrian culture.

#5  Savita Vadi, Vadodara

“Our client had a strong connection with Tamil Nadu, so when we began building this home, we thought it was appropriate to stick to the Chettinad style.” - Crest Architects and Interior Designers

The cross-pollination of regional styles is what makes Indian architecture so mind-numbingly diverse to experience. Reminiscent of yesteryear Chettinad villas, this homeowner’s brief to Crest Architects and Interior Designers was both nuanced and emotionally resonant. They sought to reappropriate customised mosaic tiles, tall Burmese columns, and a central courtyard, with inward-facing balconies strategically placed to entrench the family within their cultural lineage. The result is Savita Vadi, a 5,400-square-foot dwelling that reconciles Tamilian sensibilities with its bucolic setting of mango trees and open farmland on the outskirts of Vadodara, harmonising nostalgia and the principles of Vastu with the spirit of community living.

Heavier traditional elements such as Chettinad pillars, red sandstone benches on the verandah, rust-coloured terracotta roof tiles, and elaborate MS railings with glass inserts are balanced by a minimalistic, fresh palette of vitrified tiles, gypsum false ceilings, and custom-made hanging lights, ushering the home into the modern era. The vision was to create something unpretentious and welcoming, yet fully attuned to the needs of a family of six, a homestead that evokes a profound sense of belonging.

Conclusion

Cumulatively, these five traditional homes in India stand as enduring reminders in an increasingly post-modern landscape, where automation and visually striking minimalism dominate. They blend indigenous craftsmanship, contextually responsive design, and passive cooling techniques. As Indian cities continue to grow upward with gleaming high-rises, perhaps the remedy to clinical, alienating architecture lies not in how many people we can accommodate, but in how rooted we make them feel.