A place where the relationship between human beings, spirituality and the environment is redefined harmonically: this is Sunoo Temple House, a house with a private temple in the courtyard and a green rooftop, which becomes part of the natural landscape, designed by Indian architect Saket Sethi.
Located on the outskirts of Mumbai, Sunoo Temple House is a prototype of houses that grow their own food and generate their own energy; it is surrounded by acres of paddy fields and with a garden not on the roof, but as its roof.
With its creepers all around the house like curtains, Sunoo Temple House turns out to be a magical place in which nature shapes indoor comfort too: the garden acts as a cooling blanket, protecting the house from the sun and keeping the temperature low and pleasant even in the hottest days.
Just a few steps away, the one-of-a-kind temple appears: shaped like an egg with a spiral structure inside, recalling an absolute indivisibility, and inspired by the galaxy, the temple is created using Bisazza mosaic tiles.
The interior design of the space is based on a seamless dialogue between interior and landscape, peppered with artifacts based on travel from Italy to Bali, and even the clients’ antiques.
The main sofa is John John from Poltrona Frau, while many of the other living room elements are repurposed and repolished old furniture, keeping with the idea of upcycling; the dining table is custom made and designed by Sethi using fabricated laser cut components, like a jigsaw puzzle fitting together.
Overall, the focus of the interiors is to keep character but not be overwhelming to compete with the views. Sethi declares:
“We all have to listen to nature and start somewhere, in whatever way we can. Even with a small plot of land, living sustainably is a viable option.”
