En Vilasam: A Chettinad villa that stays out of sight near Chennai
En Vilasam: A Chettinad villa that stays out of sight near Chennai
This private villa near Chennai defies the predictable luxury aesthetic, centering on coconut groves, water, and a contemporary Chettinad vernacular design.
What began as a sun-dappled grove of coconut trees on the Alamparai coast became the seed for En Vilasam, a private villa tucked in Kadapakkam between Mamallapuram and Puducherry. The client, Gomathi Subramanian, an antiques collector from Chennai, wanted a retreat that paused the city’s pace and spoke in a quieter, more tactile language. She entrusted Auroville-based architect Raj Andagere and his brother Ajith with translating that nostalgia into a contemporary vernacular form grounded in craft and sustainability. The house was imagined to revolve around those trees and a waterbody, ensuring nature remains the central stage rather than a backdrop for luxury fittings.
Andagere describes the design as a balance between the spirit of Chettinad mansions and a modern, restrained vocabulary. The project sought to preserve the quiet drama of time-worn spaces, while weaving in fresh materials, craft details, and eco-friendly practices. The result is not a predictable luxury villa; it is a retreat where antiques collected over years find room to breathe alongside a light, contemporary language that respects the site and its coastal climate.
The influence of Chettinad roots is clear in the emphasis on craftsmanship, ventilation, and natural textures, but En Vilasam does not imitate the past. It adapts the mansions’ generous courtyards, teak beams, and brickwork into a livable, current-day plan that keeps the coconut grove and the waterbody at its heart. The project aligns with a broader conversation about sustainable luxury—one that values memory, place, and material honesty as much as comfort and beauty.
Meant to be a private sanctuary first, En Vilasam has started to attract designers and guests who seek a retreat away from the predictable. Its coastal setting, its quiet footprint, and the way it honors its Chettinad heritage while embracing contemporary design have made it a sought-after pace for those who want architecture to tell a story without shouting it.
