Rooted in contextual sensibilities, House by the Grove, also known as KAVU, fosters a quiet synergy between people, space, and nature. Envisioned as a weekend retreat for a family of three, the residence is set within the tranquil landscape of Magadi on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Nestled on a sprawling two - acre site, the house occupies a modest footprint that embraces an existing grove of trees and boulders — emerging as a mindful counterpoint to the city’s expanding urban fabric

The three-bedroom home is composed of two rectangular volumes—an entrance block and a living block—positioned at varying heights and connected by a central courtyard with a dip pool. Oriented to frame the western sunset while opening towards avocado plantations on the opposite side, the architecture responds sensitively to its surroundings. Carefully layered volumes balance openness and privacy, creating a rhythmic spatial composition.

Rather than treating the s ite’s boulders as constraints, the design celebrates them as defining elements. The house extends outward in two arms, wrapping itself around the landscape and allowing nature to shape the dwelling’s character. The spatial journey unfolds from a low, intim ate entry into taller, expansive interiors, fostering a sense of discovery. A water body at the entrance acts as a cooling element and social threshold.

Open-plan living, dining, and kitchen spaces form the heart of the home beneath a steeply pitched Mangalore-tiled roof, while private rooms are tucked into quieter zones for retreat and intimacy. Columns choreograph light and shadow throughout the day, punctuated by pause points such as bay windows that invite reflection. Open-to-sky bathrooms further blur the boundary between indoors and outdoors, welcoming rain, breeze, and daylight into everyday rituals.