Exterior view of Kayaka by RGP Design Studio
Exterior view of Kayaka by RGP Design Studio
Verandah of Kayaka by RGP Design Studio
The entry sit-out plays with levels,one platform marks the approach to the main door, while another steps down into a seating deck with a traditional wooden swing, beside a reflective water body. This creates a microclimate of restfulness right at the threshold of the home.
At the back, a more open deck looks out to the landscaped garden and the Nandi, giving the home an extended sense of grounding, especially during evenings.
Sitout alongside waterbody of Kayaka by RGP Design Studio
Living room of Kayaka by RGP Design Studio
At the heart of the house lies a double-height living room, a volume that plays with light, scale, and symbolism. A skylight casts shifting patterns of sunlight through the day onto a striking artwork depicting the Samudra Manthan—the mythological churning of the ocean. The mural, created at the client's interest, forms a visual and symbolic core of the home.
From the ground, one sees the Devas and Asuras locked in motion, while higher up, a glowing image of Lakshmi emerging from the ocean sits aligned with the master bedroom window, subtly connecting mythology, architecture, and movement within the home. The changing daylight animates this wall like a story unfolding.
Living room of Kayaka by RGP Design Studio
Courtyard with skylight of Kayaka by RGP Design Studio
The home’s flooring is laid in Jaisalmer stone, a conscious choice for its ability to cool interiors in the hot coastal climate. The golden warmth of the stone ties all the spaces together, offset by patches of printed tiles that subtly trace a visual line between the puja room and the Nandi courtyard,a sacred and grounding outdoor space visible from multiple vantage points.
Passage to dining area of Kayaka by RGP Design Studio
Dining of Kayaka by RGP Design Studio
A wooden staircase, anchored by a traditional timber column, serves as both a sculptural feature and a circulation spine. Brass railings accentuate the warmth of the wood, lending the ascent a quiet sense of dignity. Beside the staircase and adjacent to the dining area, a wash basin sits atop a raw, hand-carved Krishnashiley stone—its organic texture grounding the space in natural beauty. Above, a brass-framed mirror is delicately suspended from the ceiling, while a narrow slit window between them offers a framed glimpse of the garden beyond. This thoughtful composition transforms a simple utility into a serene, tactile experience.
Dining of Kayaka by RGP Design Studio
Staircase of Kayaka by RGP Design Studio
Bedroom 1 of Kayaka by RGP Design Studio
The master bedroom features a gently sloping roof and a direct visual connection to the Samudra Manthan wall below. A custom wardrobe stands out with fabric panels printed with Krishna artwork originally visualized and created by the client bringing a deeply personal and artistic presence to the space.
The guest bedroom opens onto a charming balcony adorned with handcrafted wooden columns and kadchiils (traditional railings). A wooden bench rests here, a nostalgic pause point where the clients often spend time in conversation, making the space feel intimate and reflective of their daily life.
The third bedroom includes a cozy mezzanine loft tucked beneath a dramatically sloping roof. This split-level nook, designed for reading and study, makes full use of the room’s vertical volume, offering both function and a quiet sense of retreat.
Bedroom 2 of Kayaka by RGP Design Studio
Balcony of Kayaka by RGP Design Studio
Seating space at balcony of Kayaka by RGP Design Studio
Dusk light exterior view of Kayaka by RGP Design Studio
The front façade is a composition of **earthy materials**—a **custom brick jali wall** forms both a visual shield and thermal buffer for the southwest side. Patterns in this wall vary subtly to let light in at different times of day. This is balanced by exposed concrete look, teak wood windows, and a traditional wooden bay window, nodding to vernacular detailing without pastiche.
What makes Kayaka stand apart is not just how it looks but how it came to be. Every corner carries the imprint of multiple hands: clients, carpenters, masons, local artisans, and designers working in tandem. From material sourcing to fine-tuning details on site, the process was hands-on, iterative, and deeply involved.
“As an architect, I see design not as a solo act but a shared journey. Kayaka is what happens when clients bring their memories, when craftsmen bring their skill, and when every decision is made with thought, not trend.”
Dusk light exterior view of Kayaka by RGP Design Studio
Kayaka is a home with a large heart. It shows what’s possible when you root design in context, collaborate with intention, and let the home evolve from the people who will live in it. It doesn’t try to be loud. It just tries to be honest. And that—like its name—makes it meaningful.
