Designing a new studio space for a long established and leading environmental graphics firm meant creating a spatial experience that provided continuity with their work ethic and yet explored new inter-relationships that could foster creative thinking.
The design process began with a deep understanding of the rituals of the creative group; headed by Anthony Lopez. On an everyday level their zen-like approach towards a barefoot office, sharing a communal lunch, multiple spaces for informal reflection, outdoor pads for the all-pervasive phone calls, amongst others, shaped the spatial configuration. The need for larger gatherings such as their bi-weekly Forum and other office social events, also informed the design process.
Nature and natural elements are the primary factors that influenced the form of The Axis House. The name itself is derived from the axis defined by the intersection of two gently pitched roofs, along which was positioned a skylight that bathed the interiors in soft sunlight. The orientation of the rooms, and the programme in general, was calibrated to include as much greenery as possible into the spatial experience.
The architects began the design process by listening to the land, and by noting the clear vistas under the trees and the siting of the surrounding buildings. The concept was to have a transparent relation between the earth and the sky, manifested as the roof and the plinth. The planning was primarily focused towards enhancing a connection between the indoors and outdoors, making sure that the occupants and the interiors engaged with the landscape. Integrating the home into its natural setting was a key part of the design and a priority for the clients.
A skewed plot set in a tight residential area in tripunithura, ernakulam and a one line expectation from the client “a spacious, well ventilated house with minimalistic unique features” has evolved into a skewed monotone house full of vibes. The east facing 5 cents plot is surrounded by a vacant land on to the west, a closely constructed house on the south and a passage for the plot behind on the north. The idea was to use the maximum plot area available keeping the angles intact.
Sattva Galleria is located on Bellary Road, which leads on to the Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore,India. The Office cum Retail (ORC) building is equidistant from the city center and the airport. The building programme was aimed at mixed-use format, allowing for quality retail on the lower floors and office spaces on the upper floors.
Design on the project started in 2009. At the crux of all design ideas was creation of a simple, functional and responsive building that was not only efficient and sensitive to its surroundings, but also a piece of iconic architecture that reflected the city in spirit.
Working with exposed brick in itself is a great challenge – a delicate balance between brick work and exposed concrete is important for the aesthetic balance and beauty of the house. The house had to be special everywhere – for example you don’t see a white color contrast lintel at lintel level in this house.
Located in an uber dense Delhi locale, the corporate office of a national educational institute forms a distinct urban landmark. The building design is both functional and expressive in nature, its lively sculptural facade is rich in simplicity and proportions. The backlit geometrical surfaces transform a mundane building corner on a busy street into a point of interest and heighten the excitement of the onlooker.
For this project in Bangalore, we had a corner site in a quiet and fast developing residential neighborhood. Client’s requirement was a vasthu four bedroom house on three levels. The design started to evolve based on providing maximum daylight and landscape views. The car porch leads you to the front double height semi open foyer, east and north light fills the foyer along with the shadow pattern created by the grill.
The ground level has a bedroom, open kitchen and dining, A prayer room in the centre of the house with formal and informal living spaces, the plan is open to create a sense of openness. Within the living room the bedroom is hidden for privacy in between the staircase and prayer room. Long sliding window shield a stone cladded pseudo wall on the northern side which can be converted to an extended seating area as well.
‘Amaltas’ (regional name for Cassia Fistula) is a residential retreat, conceptualized and designed as a sublime setup amidst an otherwise countryside landscape. As a spatial configuration, Amaltas addresses residential functionality in accord with the surrounding invitatory landscape, interspersed courtyards, apertures for indirect daylighting and syncretic accents of inherited, artisanal and natural entities.
Owing to its site-specific presence, the villa encompasses about 900 sq. m of area, across a 7000 sq. m plot, on the outskirts of Vadodara City, Gujarat, India. The built form demonstrates wide peripheral verandahs towards the South and West-facing surfaces enveloping the internal annexes, which radiate outwards from the formal center of the space; further guiding a user through sequential experiences from public to semi-private, and eventually private areas.
The peculiarity in this case is, that the spatial domesticity here caters to the requirements of its singular inhabitant i.e. the client herself, as opposed to the typicality of any residential space accommodating a multi-member family household. On similar lines, the transitions between open, semi-open and closed spaces are structured through a series of courtyards which not only moderate the openness of each space, but also enable natural ventilation and day-lighting.
With this house we went little crazy, exploring the teachings of Basic Design. The interplay of forms, space, volumes and planes is the dominating design feature. The feeling of sitting in a cube is unlike eating under 20’ high ceiling, looking up towards sky. We married function with these feelings of different spaces and added the dance of shadows to keep it alive throughout.
Refurbishment and extension of an existing home into a Dual home . Lower level for elderly mother and the upper level for Son and his family incorporating a lot of garden spaces. The project demonstrates a transformation of old single family house, into a dual family home on a 40ft x 70ft plot.
The Neighborhood displays identical row house typology, all its occupants have undergone constant transformations and yet managed to retain a balance of nature and manmade. Each house shares a common wall with the adjoining house demanding that extensions be made adhering to light and ventilation needs.
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