Watch: The Genius Design Keeping This Bengaluru Home Cool Without AC!

In Bengaluru, Sathya Prakash Varanashi created the ‘Varanashi House’, a sanctuary combining nature with thoughtful design for his wife Ishala and daughters Gauri and Siri. With sustainability at its core, he made sure the home remained cool without relying on air conditioning.

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Instead of using heat-trapping cement walls, he chose hollow clay blocks, which naturally regulate temperature, keeping the house cool in summer and warm in winter. Sliding doors open the living spaces to the garden, and strategically placed openings allow hot air to escape. “This design incorporates the principles of cross ventilation, displacement ventilation, and body-level breeze,” Varanashi explains.

The home also integrates French windows that provide ample ventilation, while the use of recycled pine wood and thick granite stone for the stairs and kitchen adds an earthy touch. The house stays two to three degrees cooler in summer, proving that eco-conscious choices can create a comfortable living environment.

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Water is central to the home’s design. A fish pond, cascading streams, and an open well work together to help regulate temperature and recharge groundwater. Above the car porch, a flourishing flowering garden adds vibrancy, while beneath it, 15,000 litres of rainwater are stored for practical use.

Inside, nature continues to shape the living spaces with red oxide floors, pine wood interiors, and a natural chimney to replace the need for artificial cooling. “A house truly becomes a home, when it becomes the real manifestation of the way the family lives in it,” says Varanashi. Even after 21 years, the home remains low-maintenance, comfortably cool, and a perfect example of sustainable living. It stands as a living model of how design can create a harmonious and eco-friendly environment that lasts.

Edited by Megha Chowdhury