DP TWINS

On a 500-square-yard plot in Ahmedabad, two close friends envisioned building their homes—independent yet deeply connected. Rather than dividing the land in conventional ways, the design drew inspiration from the intimate streets of the old city. A shared entrance passage, like a narrow pol, leads to a central courtyard that anchors both homes, creating a sense of community and threshold.

To accommodate the program without compromising on openness, the homes were designed with split levels—a spatial strategy that breaks the monotony of floor slabs and introduces vertical interplay. These shifts in level allow light and air to travel freely, creating a natural stack effect and maintaining visual connections across floors. The result is a home that feels both expansive and fluid, despite the compact footprint.

Material choices remain minimal and earthy, allowing the architecture to breathe and light to animate the walls through the day. At the heart of the design is a basement dance studio, created for the owners, renowned Kathak dancers Ishira Parikh and Maulik Shah. This space—calm, grounded, and acoustically contained—supports their rigorous practice and performances, and gives the home a quiet sense of rhythm and rootedness.

The homes, while private, remain intertwined in spirit—linked through the courtyard, the passage, and a shared approach to space and light. This project becomes a contemporary interpretation of traditional urban living—where architecture fosters intimacy, movement, and connection without sacrificing individuality.

Team : Sönke Hoof, Khushnu Panthaku Hoof, Juichi Ida