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The Ramayana House by Envisage is more than a residence, it is a home that tells a story. From the very first step through its foyer, it narrates one of India’s most cherished epics, the Ramayana, not through literal depiction but through space, materials, and carefully crafted experiences. Every corner of the house embodies a chapter of the epic, allowing tradition and contemporary design to coexist in a living, breathing home. As Meena Murthy Kakkar and Vishal Kakkar, the partners at Envisage, explain, the house is “a storyteller, translating the emotions of the Ramayana into the everyday life of the family who lives here.”
Located on the outskirts of Lucknow, the house reflects the client’s childhood fascination with the Ramayana, where tales of heroism, devotion, and resilience shaped family conversations and values. The design interprets the epic’s chapters, or Kands, through architecture and interiors, weaving stories into every functional and decorative element of the home. From the Bala Kand to the Yudh Kand, each space unfolds as a narrative, evoking the emotions and rhythms of the epic without being literal.
The journey begins at the Bala Kand, representing new beginnings. The entry foyer serves as the gateway to both the house and the story itself. On one side, the Ram Gayatri Mantra welcomes visitors, while a hand-painted console showcases pivotal scenes from the Bala Kand, inspired by Devdutt Pattanaik’s book Sita. A wall artwork by Prasun Mazumdar provides a visual summary of the epic, setting the tone for the narrative that follows throughout the home.
From the foyer, the transition moves into the Ayodhya Kand, symbolizing the shift from courtly life to the forest. The passageways and staircases are designed to evoke this journey. Mosaic flooring mimics the uneven textures of a forest bed, while black-and-white Madhubani murals depict forest scenes. A groin-vaulted ceiling, inspired by tree geometry, and hanging lights give the corridor an organic, immersive feel. Even the powder room continues the theme with palm leaf wallpaper, muted greys, and green vanities, creating a serene and contemplative forest-like retreat.
The Aranya Kand, which represents the family’s life in the forest, shapes the living spaces. Here, the formal living room takes on the grandeur of a darbar with hand-tufted rugs, camelback sofas, a wooden jhoola, and a central table evoking regality. Adjacent, an informal baithak reflects the warmth and intimacy of forest life, with wooden roof rafters, natural finishes, and ikkat patterns subtly recalling the Laxman Rekha. The dining area, surrounded by greenery, celebrates the forest’s connection to nature, with a deer-inspired console adding a poetic touch.
The family spaces on the first floor reflect the Sunder Kand and Uttar Kand, emphasizing familial support, reflection, and reunion. The family room becomes a cozy hub for conversations and gatherings, with clay sculptures of the Vaanar Sena symbolizing unwavering support. A prayer room, flanked by intricately carved Chettinad pillars, underscores the spiritual dimension of these chapters. The master bedroom narrates the Uttar Kand with a foyer featuring a handcrafted painting of Luv and Kush with the Ashwamedha horse, marking the epic’s reunion and closure. Carefully curated textures and patterns within the bedroom evoke peace, harmony, and introspection.
The Kishkinda Kand and Yudh Kand are interpreted through the outdoor spaces. The garden celebrates life and movement, with birdhouses, lush greens, and playful pathways reflecting the forests and animals of Kishkinda Kand. The Yudh Kand, which centers on war and struggle, is represented through a gazebo surrounded by water steps and Ashok trees, forming a symbolic Ashok Vatica. A central Sheesham tree evokes the moment when Sita sat in the epic, merging storytelling with landscape design.
The house’s interiors further enrich the narrative with local craftsmanship. Chikankari work, Madhubani murals, brass and metal accents from Muradabad, and handloom upholstery integrate seamlessly with contemporary design sensibilities. Handmade furniture, subtle earth-toned palettes, and traditional motifs harmonize with modern finishes, creating a home that feels rooted yet current. Every piece, every detail, serves as a verse in the larger story, connecting craftsmanship with memory, devotion, and cultural continuity.
The Ramayana House exemplifies how architecture can be more than shelter—it can be a vessel for memory, culture, and emotion. It allows the family to relive the epic in a contemporary context, to connect with their heritage while inhabiting spaces that are functional, beautiful, and deeply meaningful. The home encourages reflection, togetherness, and storytelling, where each room, corridor, and outdoor corner carries the essence of an epic that has shaped generations.
Meena Murthy Kakkar and Vishal Kakkar describe the house as “a reimagining of heritage, not as nostalgia frozen in time, but as a living, evolving force.” By translating the chapters of the Ramayana into design, the house captures themes of determination, devotion, serenity, and triumph, leaving a lasting impression on both residents and visitors. In doing so, it becomes not only a home but a bridge between the past and the present, between mythology and modernity.
The Ramayana House demonstrates the power of architecture to tell stories. Every material, artwork, and spatial decision is a deliberate narrative choice. The home invites its inhabitants to experience the epic in a tangible, intimate way—through movement, touch, and sight—making the Ramayana not just a story to be remembered, but a life to be lived.
