The Stepped Haven

Proposed ground floor plan of The Stepped Haven, with living, dining, kitchens, guest bedroom and gazebo around the entrance foyer

Double-height dining space at The Stepped Haven, with the timber cantilevered staircase against the stone wall and glass pendant lights above

The process

The Stepped Haven under construction, looking up at the stepped concrete slabs and formwork props

Steel staircase being installed against the brick wall inside The Stepped Haven during construction

Workers carrying material up the folded-plate staircase in front of the stone-clad feature wall

Aerial view of The Stepped Haven nearing completion, wrapped in scaffolding among the surrounding houses

Type: Professional work
Location: Bangalore
Category: Residential
Style: Modern + contemporary
Scope: Architecture + Interiors
Built-up area: 20,000 sft
Designation: Lead project architect for Stapati Bangalore

Aptly named "The Stepped Haven", this project is an 18,000 sft massive four-storey home designed by Stapati Bangalore, for a family of four with ample terraces and lush green spaces. The intent behind the design was to create a living experience that resonates with the personality of the clients, whilst being sustainable in terms of material usage.

Thus, the house is a creative combination of natural stones, marbles and wood, which govern its design language. Another key feature of the abode is the four-storey metal louvered screen that not only provides privacy, but also creates an interesting drama of light and shadows throughout the house.

The exterior

Close-up render of the stone screen façade at The Stepped Haven, with the angled fins framing views of the interior

The Stepped Haven at dusk, with lit terraces and the vertical metal screen seen through the trees

Render of the cantilevered stone-clad terraces at The Stepped Haven, overflowing with planting

The landscape

Garden lawn at The Stepped Haven with a boulder, lush planting and the slatted gazebo beyond

View from under the louvred pergola at The Stepped Haven to the stepped water feature and garden

Sunken seating court at The Stepped Haven framed by agaves, tropical planting and a stone wall

Planted courtyard at The Stepped Haven framed by columns under a slatted canopy, with dappled shadows on the fluted wall

Timber-decked terrace at The Stepped Haven lined with dense planting beneath the wooden soffit

Lily pond and cascading water feature at The Stepped Haven beside the cantilevered upper floor

A glance inside

Living room at The Stepped Haven with a timber-lined ceiling, a sculptural chandelier and a black marble media wall

Prayer room at The Stepped Haven with Tanjore paintings, a hanging brass lamp and a carved tree motif on the walls

Master bedroom at The Stepped Haven with a green channel-tufted headboard against a sculpted timber wall

Covered terrace outside the master bedroom at The Stepped Haven, with outdoor seating and sliding glass doors

Spa room at The Stepped Haven with a palm-print ceiling, green marble vanity and a stone-clad wall

Library under the staircase at The Stepped Haven, with suspended steel shelving and walnut cabinets

Music room at The Stepped Haven with a red acoustic wall, guitars, a keyboard and a vinyl collection

Bedroom at The Stepped Haven with a timber-panelled headboard wall opening onto a planted terrace

Living room at The Stepped Haven opening onto a planted terrace through full-height sliding glass

Bedroom at The Stepped Haven with a tropical mural headboard, green panelling and a red rug

Study corner at The Stepped Haven with an open steel bookshelf, a round mirror and a blue sculptural chair

Formal living room at The Stepped Haven with alabaster chandeliers and cane armchairs before the louvred façade

Lounge at The Stepped Haven under a coffered timber ceiling, with a smoked glass chandelier and planted balcony beyond

Rooftop entertainment area at The Stepped Haven with a card table, bar counter and open deck

Home theatre at The Stepped Haven with tiered recliners, a red modular sofa and timber acoustic walls

Home gym at The Stepped Haven with spin bikes and weights beneath a timber ceiling, opening onto the garden

Games room at The Stepped Haven with a covered table, suspended linear light and a window full of banana plants

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Details

Dark-stained timber ceiling meeting a sandblasted stone wall, beside a rough-cut black stone vanity with a matte black basin

Coffered oak ceiling with deep crossing beams, photographed during construction

Smoked glass tiered chandelier beneath the coffered oak ceiling, with a fluted walnut cabinet and planted balcony beyond

Faceted straw-marquetry headboard wall with a suspended white disc pendant light

Folded-plate steel staircase being installed against the travertine wall, still braced with timber props

Recessed oval wall light glowing within walnut and woven-fabric wall panels

Games room display wall with steel open shelving and a glass cabinet holding billiard cues and balls

Linear crackle-glass pendant hung beneath the oak ceiling, before a backlit round mirror and linen blinds

Cluster of alabaster tube pendants beneath a warm timber ceiling, in front of a large abstract artwork

Book-matched fluted black marble wall above a low oak sideboard and a turned walnut stool

Library under the staircase with walnut cabinets and suspended steel shelving lined with books

Steel and walnut bookshelf wall with integrated lighting, styled with books and ceramics

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Bathroom at The Stepped Haven with twin basins on a black marble vanity against a geometric stone-tile wall

Bathroom at The Stepped Haven in green marble, with a walnut-fronted vanity and a glass shower enclosure

Powder room at The Stepped Haven with a black vessel basin on a rough-cut stone plinth and grey marble walls

Bathroom at The Stepped Haven with a green marble feature wall, a floating walnut vanity and a window onto planting

Bathroom at The Stepped Haven clad in fluted brown stone, with a carved stone basin and black fittings

Bathroom at The Stepped Haven with a glass mosaic wall, a floating basin and walnut door beside slate-grey walls

The Loom