SAMAM House: A Peri-Urban Bengaluru Home That Redefines Living Through Landscape, Animals, and Spatial Flow

A Peri-Urban Residence in Bengaluru Designed for Humans, Animals, and Spatial Fluidity

Located in the northern peri-urban edge of Devanahalli, Bengaluru, SAMAM House by ma+rs is a thoughtfully planned private residence that reimagines everyday domestic living through spatial clarity, landscape integration, and budget-conscious design. Designed for a family of four along with their three dogs, the project responds sensitively to both human and non-human inhabitation, creating a home where indoor and outdoor life coexist seamlessly.

Site Context and Design Intent

The house is situated on a typical 60’ x 90’ residential plot, a common condition in Bengaluru’s expanding suburban fabric. Rather than maximizing built footprint, the architects strategically retained a significant portion of the site as open landscape. Both the front and rear setbacks are transformed into gardens, offering continuous outdoor zones for the dogs to run freely while also acting as visual and climatic buffers for the interior spaces.

The core design intent was to create shared spaces for humans and animals alike, while maintaining privacy, comfort, and spatial hierarchy. This approach positions SAMAM House as an example of pet-friendly residential architecture that does not treat animals as secondary users but as integral occupants of the home.

Linear Planning and Spatial Organization

The architectural layout divides the built volume into three linear blocks aligned along the north–south axis, separated by open-to-sky and semi-open zones. This linear planning strategy enhances cross-ventilation, daylight penetration, and visual connectivity across the site.

1. Private Block The first block accommodates the private functions of the house. Two bedrooms are positioned on either side of a strong east–west central axis, each opening onto private sit-outs on both floors. These transitional spaces allow residents to engage with the outdoors while maintaining intimacy and privacy.
2. Green and Circulation Block Acting as the spatial and climatic buffer, the second block houses a central green courtyard, along with the staircase and essential services such as the powder room, utility area, and electrical room. This zone introduces natural light and ventilation deep into the plan, while also reinforcing the house’s connection to landscape.
3. Public Living Block The third block contains the public and social spaces—living, dining, and kitchen—organized within a large, nearly double-height volume. This expansive space opens directly onto the backyard, dissolving the boundary between interior and exterior and enhancing spatial fluidity. The visual continuity allows daily activities to extend effortlessly into the garden, reinforcing the indoor–outdoor living experience.

Indoor–Outdoor Continuity and Spatial Experience

A shaded walkway and entrance patio lead into the house, gradually transitioning visitors from the street into a calmer, more private environment. Once inside, the clear axial organization guides movement and sightlines across the house, culminating in expansive views toward the rear garden.

The careful orchestration of open courts, sit-outs, and landscaped zones ensures that nature is always within reach—visible, accessible, and experiential. This strategy not only benefits human occupants but also provides freedom of movement for the dogs, supporting an inclusive and empathetic design philosophy.

Material Palette and Budget-Conscious Construction

Designed and executed within a tight budget, SAMAM House adopts a restrained and honest material palette. The architects focused on durability, low maintenance, and local availability to ensure long-term sustainability.

• Exposed concrete slabs reduce future maintenance and eliminate the need for false ceilings or frequent repainting.
• Clean white walls enhance daylight and create a neutral backdrop that emphasizes spatial proportions.
• Vitrified tile flooring is used indoors for its durability and cost efficiency.
• Locally sourced Sadarhalli granite defines the outdoor flooring, grounding the house within its regional material context.

This humble palette not only controls construction costs but also allows simple materials to express their inherent textures and qualities. The result is a calm, uncluttered architectural language that prioritizes space, light, and movement over ornamentation.

A Contemporary Peri-Urban Home

SAMAM House stands as a compelling example of contemporary residential architecture in Bengaluru’s peri-urban landscape. Through its linear planning, integration of landscape, and inclusive approach to living with animals, the project demonstrates how thoughtful design can elevate everyday domestic spaces—without excess or extravagance.

By balancing function, climate responsiveness, and emotional comfort, ma+rs delivers a home that is both pragmatic and poetic, rooted in context while responsive to evolving lifestyles.

All photographs are works of  Atik Bheda