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Architecture

22-03-2026

Photographer : Atik Bheda

Text provided by Architect

Amidst the crisp tropical sun, salty breeze blowing from the Arabian Sea and under the tall peaks of the abundant coconut trees, the Grove House stands at the end of a sleepy by-lane off the main village road. Concealed from plain sight the property slowly reveals itself as you walk towards the far end of the narrow driveway. A deep porch with heavy plantation welcomes you without revealing much else.

As a weekend retreat, designed for a veteran sailor and his family, the Grove House intends to be a much desired catalyst for momentous family reunions and friendly gatherings at a stone's throw from Mumbai. Having spent the better part of their professional life on the high-seas, a desire to retire by the coast gravitated the family to Alibaug, filled with a dense grove of coconut trees and vibrant Gulmohars in the sea-side hamlet of Agarsure.

Invoking the nostalgia reminiscent of the childhood in their ancestral homes in Kanpur, Grove house beckons to recreate the sense of belonging that is native to a multi-generational home which the clients hope to cherish for years to come. A home away from home, envisioned as a fresh canvas to create new memories and relive the old ones. A feeling of true comfort of being in a place that indulges a mindful way of living.

Alibaug,Maharashtra,India

Architects	:	The Architecture Company
Area	:	5500 sq. ft.
Year of Completion	:	2025
Website	:	https://www.instagram.com/tac.architecture.mumbai/?hl=en

Dining to Living view of Grove House by the Architecture Company

Kitchen of Grove House by the Architecture Company

The house occupies the open western half of the 1 acre plot with the dense coconut grove to its east, preserving every tree that stood on the site before construction. The home is imagined as a three-sided open courtyard layout, with the pool house at a distance completing the forth side. The layout consists of two parallel wings with the living area and guest room on the west and the lower master bedroom in the east, connected by the semi-public spaces such as the covered verandas, kitchen and the staircase. Most of the public and private spaces open towards the north, facing pool house and lawn, drawing in the mellow, indirect light throughout the day.

With living-dining, kitchen, study and two bedroom suites on the ground level and two suites, family room on the upper level the house boast an area of approximately 5500 sq.ft. Hidden from plain sight, a steel staircase takes you up to the observation deck which offers 360 degree views of the surrounding landscape. The lower and upper decks, party lawn, an intimate gazebo and the pool house are tailored to host dinner parties, small and large. The tender coconuts from the grove are supplemented by a robust kitchen garden, growing gourds, pumpkins, chilies, tomatoes, okra and aubergines.

Staircase of Grove House by the Architecture Company

Staircase court of Grove House by the Architecture Company

Responding to the heavy Monsoon rains, the gable roofs over each block imbibe one of the vernacular roof profiles prevailing in the region. The deep roof overhangs compliment the large north openings to limit heat gain into the building. Tall trees on the west and south add to this cause. The house celebrates Indian stone flooring with an abundant use of Shabad slabs in the majority of the spaces. The interior design of the house is eclectic and elaborate mirroring the clients taste in timeless wooden furniture, textiles and décor. The palette effortlessly accommodates several heirloom furniture pieces from the clients' home in Kanpur, adding a strong layer of family's identity to the home. The indirect roof lighting and curated artworks are warm up the spaces making them unique.

The Grove house is a labor of love involving long and deep conversations with three generations over a span of 4 years that has now come to life. It is a home rooted in its surroundings and the local community while offering a perpetual haven for the family to find the time and come together to celebrate the smaller joys of life.