flowing brick guest house by art & architecture spirals like a cactus under the indian sun

the exposed brickwork balances solid and open sections, creating shifting shadows that help keep the space cool.

thomai tsimpou March 28, 2025 4 min

Art & Architecture unveils sculptural brick residence in india

House of Dancing Cactus by Chennai-based studio Art & Architecture stands out as a bold architectural statement in Pondicherry, India. Covering 112 square meters, this guest house puts a fresh spin on traditional brick construction with a flowing facade that mimics the movement of ocean waves. The exposed brickwork balances solid and open sections, creating shifting shadows that help keep the space cool while shaping a distinctive silhouette—one that resembles a cactus under the sun.

flowing brick guest house by art & architecture spirals like a cactus under the indian sun - 1 — all images by Kaptured Studios

House of Dancing Cactus unfolds in two levels

Art & Architecture studio, led by Chamraj Suresh Babu and Spandana Bhagwat builds this two-story home with locally sourced bricks. Inside, the residence features a mix of grey, pink, and cyan tones, with rattan furniture adding a laid-back, bohemian feel. Plenty of daylight, natural ventilation, and earthy textures create a relaxed coastal atmosphere.

The ground floor has an open layout, with a stepped living and dining area leading into a compact kitchen. A curved archway connects to a bedroom, creating a sense of movement throughout the space. An Oxford blue door stands out against the earthy brick tones, mirroring the color of the plunge pool nearby. The pool, accessible via a French door, is wrapped in a curved brick wall that offers privacy. Perforated brick screens allow natural light to filter in, casting intricate patterns that shift throughout the day.

A staircase in the double-height living area leads to the first floor, where a second bedroom and a north-facing terrace offer views of the surrounding greenery. The bathrooms feature open-to-sky spaces, bringing in fresh air and a semi-outdoor bathing experience. One of the most striking features of the House of Dancing Cactus is its curving garden wall, designed to support a variety of cacti while using materials efficiently. Its wavy form adds stability while also retaining heat, creating a suitable microclimate for the plants.

flowing brick guest house by art & architecture spirals like a cactus under the indian sun - 2 — House of Dancing Cactus stands out as a bold architectural statement

flowing brick guest house by art & architecture spirals like a cactus under the indian sun - 3 — a distinctive silhouette—one that resembles a cactus under the sun

flowing brick guest house by art & architecture spirals like a cactus under the indian sun - 4 — this guest house puts a fresh spin on traditional brick construction

flowing brick guest house by art & architecture spirals like a cactus under the indian sun - 5 — the flowing facade mimics the movement of ocean waves

flowing brick guest house by art & architecture spirals like a cactus under the indian sun - 6 — creating shifting shadows that help keep the space cool

flowing brick guest house by art & architecture spirals like a cactus under the indian sun - 7 — the exposed brickwork balances solid and open sections

flowing brick guest house by art & architecture spirals like a cactus under the indian sun - 8 — inside, the residence features a mix of grey, pink, and cyan tones

flowing brick guest house by art & architecture spirals like a cactus under the indian sun - 9 — rattan furniture adds a laid-back, bohemian feel

flowing-brick-guest-house-artandarchitecture-cactus-indian-sun-designboom-large01 — daylight, natural ventilation, and earthy textures create a relaxed coastal atmosphere

flowing brick guest house by art & architecture spirals like a cactus under the indian sun - 10 — Oxford blue tones stand out against the earthy brick tones

flowing brick guest house by art & architecture spirals like a cactus under the indian sun - 11 — this two-story home is built locally sourced bricks

flowing-brick-guest-house-artandarchitecture-cactus-indian-sun-designboom-large03 — one of the most striking features of the House of Dancing Cactus is its curving garden wall

ground floor plan by Art & Architecture first floor plan by Art & Architecture elevation A by Art & Architecture elevation B by Art & Architecture section AA' by Art & Architecture section BB' by Art & Architecture brick pattern plan by Art & Architecture brick pattern plan by Art & Architecture designed to support a variety of cacti using materials efficiently the wavy form adds stability retaining heat and creating a suitable microclimate for the plants the pool is accessible via a French door perforated brick screens allow natural light to filter in casting intricate patterns that shift throughout the day a staircase in the double-height living area leads to the first floor a curved archway connects to a bedroom a stepped living and dining area lead into a compact kitchen the ground floor has an open layout creating a sense of movement throughout the space a second bedroom and a north-facing terrace offer views of the surrounding greenery the bathrooms feature open-to-sky spaces

project info:

name: House of Dancing Cactus

architect: Art & Architecture | @artandarchitecture.chennai

location: Pondicherry, India

area: 112 square meters

lead architects: Chamraj Suresh Babu, Spandana Bhagwat

photographer: Kaptured Studios | @kaptured_studios