Shilamay | Naman Shah

Shilamay.

A Home That Breathes, Plays, and Belongs..!

Set in the warm landscape of Ahmedabad, this home designed and inhabited by the architect and his family is an intimate experiment in how architecture can be both deeply grounded and joyfully alive. Built with locally sourced stone and finished with traditional lime plaster, the house draws from vernacular wisdom to stay naturally cool through the city’s harsh summers. The lime finish lends a soft, breathing quality to the walls as they age gracefully, holding traces of sunlight, shadow, and time. Every stone surface, both inside and out, tells a story through its changing texture as daylight moves across it.

Sustainability, for them, begins with memory. Every piece of wood in the home is reclaimed from his ancestral house, each beam and panel carrying the patina of family history. The tree trunk that stands proudly at the base of the staircase once fell in their driveway and now reborn as a sculptural centerpiece around which the house and life unfold. But what truly makes this home remarkable is its sense of play. This is not a house that stands still; it hums with the energy of its young inhabitants. A slide runs along the staircase, transforming a passageway into a moment of delight. Handcrafted critters climb the fallen tree, blending whimsy with craftsmanship. In the children’s room, climbing ladders and nets turn daily routines into small adventures. And by the dining area, a gentle stream of water flows through a sculptural installation, carrying rainwater and overflow of water tank from the terrace down to the garden.

The living room opens up to the sky through a sweeping glass roof, inviting the rhythm of the seasons into daily life. On rainy days, the family gathers to watch the droplets slide down the glass above them. Sometimes, curious monkeys clamber across the skylight, turning the ceiling into a living theatre of movement and mischief. The home’s design encourages interaction rather than restraint. Light pours in from every side, making artificial lighting almost unnecessary till late evening. The plants inside and out are not ornamental but integral to the architecture as they purify, soften, and animate the space. As one moves through the house, the line between built and nature blurs. The garden feels like an extension of the living room, and the living room, like a clearing within the landscape. For the family, this house is less a structure and more an ecosystem, one that mirrors their rhythms and personalities. It’s uncluttered yet warm, functional and full of surprises.

In the architect’s words, “I wanted the house to reflect who we are; our respect for the earth, our love for simplicity, and our belief that life, like architecture, is meant to be lived with a sense of wonder.” This home, built of stone and reclaimed wood, light and water, structure and spirit, stands as a quiet celebration of that philosophy. It’s a place where sustainability meets play, and architecture meets life.