Quarry House was conceived as an open-plan residence that conveys a sense of vast interior space while maintaining an unbroken connection to the outside from every space. Designed by Crest Architects, the home derives its identity from the raw integration of exposed concrete and multiple stone types, allowing the material palette to remain visibly honest in its finish. As Principal Architects Vishwas Venkat and Vikas MV explain, “Minimalism is never about removing elements. It is about understanding materials deeply enough to let them speak with clarity.” Rather than being concealed or treated as surface, the weight and texture of these materials become defining spatial qualities, ultimately lending the residence its name.

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Despite occupying a generous 6,650 sq ft plot, the ground floor footprint was restricted to 2,500 sq ft as per the client’s requirement. This limitation became the primary driver for the design, resulting in multiple overhangs across the upper floor to accommodate spatial requirements without expanding outward. “Design does not begin with freedom. It begins with constraints,” note the architects, “What you create within them defines the strength of the architecture.” Stacked volumes rise from this compact base, forming a series of cantilevered projections that create additional usable space while simultaneously framing views of the surrounding landscape. The 18 ft cantilevered guest room exemplifies this strategy, extending outward to function as a canopy for the car parking below.

The ground floor is planned as a fluid arrangement of formal and semi-formal living areas along with a TV room, allowing for uninterrupted visual continuity between interior spaces and the exterior environment. This openness is anchored by the pooja room, delicately positioned above a tranquil water body. Backed by a concrete wall and illuminated by natural light from above, the space serves as a quiet retreat within an otherwise continuous spatial layout. A sliding partition allows it to remain visually connected to the formal living area when required.

Positioned at the heart of the residence, the cantilevered metal staircase functions as both a structural and spatial element, gently defining the living and dining areas while maintaining the openness of the plan.

Strategically positioned skylights introduce natural light deep into the interior spaces, allowing seasonal changes and variations in sunlight to alter the tonal quality of exposed concrete surfaces throughout the day. As the architects observe, “Architecture should not feel the same at every hour. It should respond to time, light, and season, making everyday living quietly transformative.” Around the building, stone steps and pathways extend into a tropical landscape, merging built form with site. The northeastern water body further enhances the spatial experience by introducing reflection and stillness into the open areas surrounding the house.

Although conceived as a minimalist residence, the project involves significant structural complexity and careful spatial negotiation. The perceived simplicity of the form is the result of precise material use and a deliberate response to constraints. Rather than relying on enclosure, the design frames openness through suspended volumes, controlled light, and calibrated connections between built and natural elements.

Viewed in this light, Quarry House is not defined solely by its mass or materiality, but by the way it balances restraint with extension while maintaining a continuous dialogue between interior and landscape.