Indian architecture firm 23 Degrees Design Shift has designed a five-bedroom weekend retreat, encircled by a moat, near Hyderabad, India.
The house, named Antriya, measures 1,350 square metres (14,530 square feet) and serves as a holiday home for a multi-generational family. It is set within a five-acre property in Muchintal, on the outskirts of Hyderabad.
To safeguard the home from snakes and other wildlife, 23 Degrees Design Shift designed a moat-like channel around the building. Inside this protected perimeter, the two-storey, five-bedroom house is anchored by three substantial khammam sandstone walls that define its structure and character.
“The entire house is essentially shaped by three linear stone walls, which establish a sense of orientation, privacy, and intimacy through their relative proportions,” explained the studio.
The first sandstone wall runs parallel to the main communal and entertainment areas. On the ground floor, this wall borders an open, veranda-style seating space that extends to an outdoor conversation pit. Above, a secondary lounge and the principal bedroom are accessed via a sculptural spiral staircase.
The second sandstone wall bisects the home, separating the kitchen, living, and dining areas from four en-suite bedrooms on the ground floor.
The third wall projects outward from the main house toward the driveway and serves as the structural core of the adjacent pool house.
