Daaji’s Home by The Grid Architects: A Biophilic Masterpiece Shaped by Nature

Nestled within the Heartfulness Centre in Hyderabad, Daaji’s Home by The Grid Architects is a soulful embodiment of biophilic and biomorphic design, where architecture bends to nature rather than dominating it. This expansive yet humble residence reflects the ethos of togetherness, mindfulness, and ecological reverence, forming a seamless dialogue between man, material, and landscape.

A Home Rooted in Spirit and Simplicity

Commissioned for Daaji, the spiritual guide of the Sahaj Marg (Heartfulness) path, the design process began not with walls and columns but with a question: What is a home? In this case, the answer lies somewhere between the tangible and the emotional—between the red bricks and lime plaster and the ethos of community and love.

Built on a rugged, boulder-filled site surrounded by native trees, the home was designed around existing rocks and vegetation, allowing nature to define the layout. Over 75% of the land remains untouched, reinforcing the architects’ commitment to ecological sensitivity and spiritual humility.

Biomorphic Form, Biophilic Intent

Inspired by water’s fluidity, the plan weaves organically across the land, curving around monoliths and trees. The low-slung form ensures the residence nestles into the landscape without imposing on it. The height of the structure was consciously kept lower than surrounding trees, a symbolic and functional gesture that reflects deference to nature and reduces heat gain.

Throughout the site, skewed walls and cut-outs allow trees to pass through the architecture and sunlight to enter gently—illustrating a design that listens to its context. A massive rock embedded in the living room, partially inside and partially in the courtyard, becomes a poetic focal point.

Material Palette: Earth, Air, Stone

The architectural expression is rooted in local, natural materials:

• Red bricks made onsite

• Kota stone floors for cooling

• Lime plaster as a breathable wall finish

These are complemented by the elemental presence of sunlight, air, and greenery, turning the house into a living organism rather than a static shelter.

The central courtyard, visible from nearly every room, serves as the house’s heart—connecting all zones with light, air, and green views. It’s not just a design feature, but an emotional anchor around which family life circulates.

Interior Planning with Intent

A north-facing entrance leads to a vestibule and bifurcated passages—one leading to the public realm (living and dining), the other to Daaji’s private quarters. The layout ensures privacy for the spiritual leader while facilitating large-scale social interaction.

The living room, expansive and sunlit, is designed to accommodate a constant flow of visitors and opens directly to an external platform. Adjoining it are a large dining area and kitchen, both oriented to capture natural light and framed by greenery.

Upstairs, private bedrooms and meditation spaces form the sanctuary. Each space is climate-responsive, cross-ventilated, and visually linked to the landscape, reinforcing the home’s emotional and spiritual grounding.

Sustainable Living in Harmony with Nature

Daaji’s Home is a benchmark in sustainable residential architecture. Every decision—from site orientation to material use to planting strategy—was made with ecology in mind. Key sustainability features include:

• Rainwater harvesting ponds to irrigate the garden and surrounding landscape

• Use of charcoal-enriched soil as natural fertilizer

• Openable glazed windows to ensure fresh air and daylight

• Indigenous, drought-tolerant plants and biodiversity-encouraging landscaping

• Building height limited to preserve tree canopies

• A microecological system fostered by water bodies and natural flora

The construction had no rigid execution drawings, allowing the design to adapt onsite to the existing ecology, making the home grow out of the earth rather than be imposed upon it.

A Spiritual Home Shaped by Earth and Emotion

Daaji’s Home by The Grid Architects is not merely a building—it is an introspection in brick and stone, a place where architecture is felt rather than just seen. Here, nature is both the inspiration and the collaborator, shaping a sanctuary where the material meets the metaphysical.

“It is not just the strength of brick but the strength of love that binds the roots of this home.”
– The Grid Architects