Concrete Memories: A Modern Multigenerational Home by Greyscale Design Studio

Heirlooms in Concrete by Greyscale Design Studio is a 5000 ft² contemporary residence in Bengaluru, India, that reinterprets multigenerational living for today’s rapidly transforming urban fabric. Designed in 2024 by lead architects Girish Mysore, Magesh Manohar, and Ninu Ahluwalia, the home balances emotional continuity with architectural innovation—honoring past memories while shaping new futures.

A Home That Evolves with Its Family

Located in an established residential neighborhood, the site previously housed a home that had sheltered two decades of family history. As lifestyles shifted and spatial needs grew more complex, the family chose not to simply renovate but to rebuild—a decision rooted in both sentiment and necessity. Their brief to the architects was nuanced: create a home that is modern, functional, and attuned to contemporary design sensibilities, yet deeply respectful of the emotional legacy of the place.

Heirlooms in Concrete responds with a sensitive architectural strategy that preserves the spirit of the original home while shaping a future-ready residence that supports generational coexistence.

A Twin House for Two Generations

To accommodate the evolving needs of an extended family, the architects envisioned a vertically layered twin home.

• Lower Floors – Older Generation: Close to the street and garden, these floors prioritize accessibility, rootedness, and social connectivity.
• Upper Floors – Younger Generation: Introverted and sky-facing, these spaces emphasize openness, privacy, and fluid movement.

This vertical division preserves autonomy while nurturing proximity, creating a model for contemporary Indian multigenerational living that blends independence with interdependence.

The Sculptural Courtyard Wall – A Moving Facade

One of the defining architectural gestures is the sculptural enclosing wall that wraps the courtyard. Originally imagined as sloped precast panels, the design evolved into a rhythmic sequence of alternating angles that animate the facade with shifting light and shadow. Made from raw, unfinished concrete framed in matte steel and accented with corten steel fins, the wall is both expressive and honest, embracing material imperfections rather than concealing them.

Behind its kinetic presence lies an intelligent system of sealed joints and concealed gutters, ensuring durability in Bengaluru’s monsoon climate.

The Courtyard as a Breathing Spine

At the heart of the home is a double-height courtyard, a reinterpretation of an age-old Indian typology. This central volume creates:

• Constantly diffused natural light
• Cross-ventilation across floors
• Visual and social interaction between generations

A pastel green swing with brass detailing hangs lightly within this space—an emblem of nostalgia and modernity coexisting. The courtyard becomes the family’s shared anchor for conversation, celebration, and everyday pause.

Materiality and Spatial Sensitivity

The architecture embraces a contemporary minimalism grounded in material clarity. Key design elements include:

• Stone and oxide flooring for thermal comfort
• Timber and metal accents for warmth and balance
• Cavity walls for passive insulation
• Skylights with mesh ventilators enabling hot air escape

All photographs are works of Anand Jaju