Located on a linear site within a quiet residential community, the form of the house unfolds to envelope a generous garden court within. The three wings are distinct in function, containing a semi covered party area in front and the private bedroom wing at the back. Bridging these two is the wing containing the living, dining and staircase spaces and forms the heart of the house. Connected to the courtyard through a series of timber sliding doors spanning almost fifty feet, it features a double height volume capped by a large concrete roof which cantilevers three meters over the garden area. Continuous horizontal slits below the roof form a counter point to the heaviness of the concrete and create a delicate connection to the rest of the building while also bringing in a diffused light quality to the spaces below. The large openings are amply shaded and the horizontal slits allow for the hot air within to escape creating airy and cool interior spaces. A simple and restrained material palette of exposed concrete, kota stone and teak wood serve to highlight the quality of light and allow the experience of the courtyard to take center stage.
CLIENT BRIEF: The client was a young entrepreneur who wanted a house where she could completely relax and feel at home. The client had no design constraints nor any personal impositions. This bold hued and highly-textural house has the impressions of freedom and containment; of shelter and openness.
The client had lived in Japan for a number of years before moving back to India and was very inspired by the works of Tadao Ando and his use of exposed concrete in his projects.
He wanted to bring in some of that into his home but on a budget.
The house is envisaged as a large concrete tray that hovers over a white monolith.
Anchored in a serene neighbourhood of Bengaluru city, there stands a unique work of architecture snugly tucked into a quadrilateral plot of land. The uniqueness of the architecture lies in its simplicity of form and palette, tastefully moulded in brick cladding and liquid stone to ideally suit the streetscape of the surrounding locale. Taking inspiration from its striking brick materiality that largely envelopes its elevation, the building is aptly called Brick veil.
The client’s brief was an unusual one. While on the one hand they wanted to host parties and extended family gatherings, they also had it in mind to use it as a weekend getaway for just the four of them, to experience the outdoors, to farm and to connect with each other. As such, there was to be no bedrooms at all, just a few living spaces, opening out to each other and spilling out to the outdoors. There is just one space on the first floor, with sliding folding doors, which could potentially provide some privacy when required.
Located on an ancestral property of 12,800 sqft in central Bangalore (India), Ashford House is built for the new generation where 6 families could reside, enjoying the best of collective living while having their own private spaces.
The antiquity of the existing structure had to find a new life with the new built form. This became the motivating factor for building the material palette and connecting with the existing landscape. The building is oriented in a north-south direction with 2 units planned per level. To cut down on the sun, the southern side was planned with recessed decks and vertical fins for the private areas. Openness and privacy are controlled through careful consideration of glazing positions. Jaali/Mashrabiyas were used as a symbolic gesture reflecting the memories of the past, which existed back then. These screens also act as visual barriers and bring in patterns highlighted by the sunlight.
Situated in a 28 acre site, the Terravana also called the Earth house is a design intervention that travels along the lines of earth and sustainability. In a plot size of 34.4×60 ft the unit focuses on a minimum footprint integrated with greenery. The interior setting transcends with the Pairing of age old technique of lime plastering with mid-century themed furniture. With delicately chosen décor that complements the theme of wellness and the colour palette of natural tones exhibits strength, sound and health.
The sofa combines rustic and modern design elements to enhance the time-honoured surface treatments in the given space . The hand painted artwork above specially commissioned by client becomes an element to draw attention and add character, perhaps a conversation maker.
Located within a gated community in North Bangalore, the square shaped plot of this residence abuts the road on southern and western sides and enjoys views of the encompassing greenery. Based on the client’s requirements, our approach was to design a modest house with specific emphasis on natural light and ventilation.
Nestled in the back drop of a metropolis, this residence promises an escape from the city life. The plot for this house sits in a densely populated locality. The major concern was finding an intimate space in the crowd and arriving at a visually engaging structure amidst the chaotic background. The client’s brief called for a simple and a spacious Vaastu compliant house for a family of five.
The Inside Out is made of dreams. Dreams of a life away from the congestion, chaos and traps of the city; dreams of composure and self exploration; dreams of a memories in the midst of nature.