2024 Winner
Category - Architecture - Hospitality
Mazan Hamza & Zakariya Umar
Métr.design
Métr.design is a contemporary architecture and design practice founded by Mazan Hamza and Zakariya Umar. With a sharp eye for detail and a deep commitment to design excellence, the firm specializes in crafting refined residential and commercial spaces that balance aesthetic clarity with functional integrity.
Based in India, Métr.design has quickly emerged as a creative force known for its modern design language, characterized by clean lines, thoughtful materiality, and a strong contextual response. Their work spans architectural planning, interior design, and project management, with each project reflecting a tailored approach rooted in the unique needs of the client and site.
Whether designing serene private residences or dynamic commercial environments, the studio’s philosophy centers around simplicity, timelessness, and a deep sensitivity to light, form, and proportion. Métr.design’s growing portfolio is a testament to their ability to translate vision into built form—creating spaces that are both contemporary and deeply personal.
With a strong digital presence, especially on Instagram, Métr.design shares its evolving journey through compelling visuals, architectural renderings, and ongoing project updates, offering a window into their design process and ethos.
Area: 3200
A Floral Blueprint for Living
Nestled deep within a thriving coffee plantation, [Project Name] takes cues from the Bhadra flower—with its twin winged petals, central core, and organic, layered growth. This symbolic interpretation drives the spatial planning of the project, where dual wings frame a central service spine, offering an intuitive and poetic organization of space.
The architectural philosophy centers around harmony with nature, ensuring every design move deepens the relationship between built form and the landscape.
Subtle Presence, Deep Impact
To preserve the sanctity of the natural environment, the home is designed as a modest intervention. Expansive glass walls and polished concrete floors allow the structure to disappear into the surrounding greenery, reflecting rather than competing with the landscape.
In a subtle act of choreography, access to the home is from the side, keeping the stream-facing front hidden until arrival—creating a sense of discovery and quiet drama as one enters.
Spatial Experience and Sustainability
The home’s living spaces occupy the lower level, designed as semi-permeable zones that open to the outdoors. Bedrooms above are more enclosed, offering privacy while still engaging with the environment through thoughtful openings and material choices.
The entire project is elevated on stilts, reducing its environmental footprint and allowing natural drainage and vegetation to remain undisturbed. Materials were carefully selected to align with an eco-conscious approach—featuring locally sourced grey Cera granite, regional bricks, and reclaimed railroad wood, each chosen for durability, authenticity, and minimal impact.
Architecture that Grows from the Land
Bhadra Estate Villa is not merely a structure—it is a living dialogue between tradition, landscape, and minimal design. It reflects a sensitive and layered approach to building in natural contexts, one that honors the terrain while providing an inspiring, grounded experience for its inhabitants.
Have a Vision Rooted in Design and Nature?
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