curved canopy shelters stepped house-gallery hybrid by milind shivani in india

Milind Shivani Designs’ Houseum acts as a gallery for vintage cars

Located in Vadodara, Gujarat, India, The Houseum is a house museum developed as part of a private family estate. Designed by Milind Shivani Designs, it functions as an architectural extension of the main residence, intended to house a collection of ancestral objects and vintage cars. The program called for a space that accommodates both functional and curatorial needs while maintaining sensitivity to its historical and ecological context. Situated on a contoured 5,500 sqft plot adjacent to an existing bungalow by the late architect Suryakant Patel, the new structure was conceived to integrate with the terrain and preserve site elements such as mature trees and natural sightlines. Rather than introducing a dominant volume, the design adopts a recessed posture that follows the site’s topography. The spatial organization emphasizes continuity with the surrounding landscape and built fabric.

The pavilion incorporates ten stepped levels, designed for vehicular circulation. A ramped path enables the display of vintage cars without requiring repositioning for access, supporting efficient movement and spatial clarity. This multi-level arrangement is key to managing the site’s slope while enabling zoned display areas. The structure is built using a modular metal frame system to allow for potential disassembly and reduced environmental impact. Load-bearing brick arches and shera board paneling are combined with a fiberglass-reinforced plastic roof in a hyperbolic paraboloid form. These material choices and geometries align the structure visually with the architectural vocabulary of the adjacent bungalow.

all images courtesy of The Space Tracing Company/ Karan Gajjar

brick arches delineate internal zones within Houseum pavilion

Milind Shivani Designs’ team organizes the internal layout to support dual functions: the front of the pavilion displays the car collection, while the rear section, facing a courtyard, exhibits heirloom furniture and other antique objects. The rear wall with brick arches delineates these zones and reinforces the visual continuity of the design. Openings throughout the structure allow for porosity and cross-ventilation. Each entryway is designed as a functional threshold, enhancing flexibility of use. The roof geometry contributes to spatial definition while minimizing visual impact from the exterior. Reflecting the overall design language, the roof also supports indirect lighting and structural lightness.

A courtyard located behind the structure accommodates small gatherings and informal events. A side entrance leads through this outdoor space and into the gallery, offering a defined spatial sequence from exterior to interior. The layout, though simple, allows the space to function simultaneously as a display area and communal environment. Throughout the project, considerations for reversibility, visual restraint, and contextual integration were central. By engaging with site constraints such as low buildable height and irregular contours, the design uses lightweight materials and adaptable circulation paths to address both client requirements and environmental responsiveness. The Houseum is designed to support long-term use while maintaining the ability to evolve over time. It serves not only as a repository for artifacts but as a multi-functional structure that accommodates exhibition, assembly, and storage with equal focus. The architectural intervention consolidates dispersed heritage elements into a unified setting, enabling a more active engagement with them in daily life.

Houseum integrates into a private family estate in Vadodara