Summers in India bring with them the tantalizing delights of aam pannas and shikanjis, which provide a refreshing refuge from the scorching heat. But even with these respites, Indian summers can be harsh and unforgiving. For the most part of April to July, many regions face extreme heat, with temperatures going up to 48 degrees Celsius.

Amidst the dry and arid city of Bharuch in Gujarat, there exists a remarkable house that defies the norm of blasting coolers and air conditioners to beat the heat. Unlike most households, this unique abode manages to remain comfortably cool without any of these devices.

“The client wanted a ‘cool’ house metaphorically and literally, so that is what we delivered. We used the direction of the winds, design and cooling materials to lower the heat of the house,” says Samira Rathod, the principal architect and founder of Samira Rathod Design Atelier.

Keeping it cool and breezy

“Whenever I start with a project, I ask the client what they specifically want in their house. For the owners of Cool House, the first thing he mentioned was that he wanted a house that helps them beat the arid heat of Bharuch,” she shares.

The Cool House took a good five years of sketching, designing, and experimenting to complete.

“The client already had a property that he........

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