Overlapping, sunlit Spanish archways feel like something special; a kind of hypnotic convergence that draws you into an illusion of never-ending depth, as perspective recedes infinitely towards a vanishing point. “While this home’s language is Contemporary Mediterranean, its foundation draws from the spatial and climatic logic of vernacular Tamil homes,” begins Ar. Shammi Ameer Shareef of Tales of Design Studio, who designed the 4,600 sq. ft. Layered Villa in Tiruppur as an eclectic reimagining of grand rural haciendas. The Spanish Colonial-inspired façade folds itself like a paper plane, counteracting side thrust through a mesmerising adaptation of medieval Gothic buttresses jutting out along the ‘thinnai’ verandah, brise soleil fins across the gaping maw of windows, and gabled rooflines enlivened with interlocking barrel tiles.

“In Tiruppur’s industrial heartland, where the rhythm of textile mills sets the tone, Layered Villa offers a quiet counterpoint. Shaped by stillness, proportion, and cultural memory, the home reflects the clients’ vision for a contemplative retreat,” shares Ar. Shammi Ameer Shareef of Tales of Design Studio.

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The bones of this four-bedroom residence are fortified with an emphasis on a clear, sequential progression of spaces. A deft inclusion of liminal, transitional zones emerges at the forefront; the Spanish Revival portico becomes an uncanny body double for a built-in ‘thinnai’, with the unexpected addition of fins lending structural support and a dynamic interplay of light. The design choices follow suit with a worldly, multicultural flair. Italian marble sprawls underfoot, imbuing the interiors with a silky-smooth, luxuriant feel, while soft eggshell and stonewall grey walls with cool blue undertones prevent the home from absorbing excess radiation.

A Fluid, Layered Sensibility

The layout imitates ripples expanding within an aqueduct-like volume, intersecting and branching out to loosely segregate the living room, family lounge, dining space, and kitchen. “A central spine organises the plan, sequencing public, semi-public and private zones in measured progression,” Shammi explains. “Movement and pause are carefully choreographed, echoing the layered flow of Tamil dwellings.” Spanning the length of the floor plan, a litany of arches telescope into one another, mimicking the trajectory of flowing water across the space.

In the grounded, double-height living room, arched windows featuring Art Deco grilles flood the space with soft, diffused light through fluted glass; mustard-yellow sofas huddle around a round, solid wood coffee table with a coastal touch of rattan. Here, every edge curves and billows as if softened by the river of time, from recessed niches for trinkets and small ceramic vases to abstract, textured wall panels. Striking an equilibrium between rich Indian heritage and mid-century modern functionality, an ornately carved accent cabinet in a weathered honey finish adds just the indulgent spin the otherwise restrained décor needs.

A Study in Textural Continuity

Another elegant design intervention that eventually resonates as a leitmotif throughout the home is the use of warm wood, which, to the designers, was perhaps one of the most bohemian flourishes, working like a charm against the crisp, muted pastel walls. It manifests as a series of reclaimed balusters mounted as wall art, in the Nordic-style table where the family congregates for their daily meals in the dining area, in slatted headboards that anchor the bedrooms, and even articulated as half-moon accents snugly wrapping columns like a sleeve.

Moulded into side tables, chairs, and ergonomic cabinetry, the footprint of wood is extensive but never overwhelming. In the staircase leading up to the first level, folded teakwood unexpectedly transitions into concrete topped with supple Italian marble, an alchemy of materials that takes you on a sensorial roller coaster. Upstairs, the library recalls a predilection for visually striking shapes, with a curvilinear sofa, dramatically steeped ceilings, and a sleek Sputnik chandelier.

The Dizzying Verticality

In the private quarters, the saga of balanced textures and audacious, sweeping contours seems to carry on uninhibited. By extending the height to the peak of the gables, the rooms evoke a sense of verticality, making the spaces feel capacious, almost double-height. This architectural gesture does more than amplify scale—it reinforces the Mediterranean character of the home from within.

Floor-to-ceiling aluminum joinery draws the eye upward, accentuating the volume and suffusing the rooms with light. Even in these convivial, cosy bedrooms, the design maintains a sense of unmistakable refinement, offering the family a serene retreat intimately connected to the home’s overarching sculptural clarity.

A Climate-Responsive Oasis 

Layered Villa emerges as a sprawling yet masterfully orchestrated home, beating in sync with the rhythms of Tamil vernacular living. Open-plan spaces frame shifting glimpses of the landscaping, while deep overhangs temper the interiors without dimming the light. A semi-circular water body graces the verandah, recalling the rainwater-harvesting ‘oorani’ ponds that once punctuated folk communities.

Even under the fierce southern sun, the house stays cool—its wide verandahs, lofty ceilings, and sloped roofs shedding heat in gentle succession. Bougainvillea, heliconias, and frangipani unfurl in tropical bowers, filtering light, guiding breezes, and offering privacy. Each layer peels back to reveal a home in tune with its surroundings, content to endure through time.