City: KOTTAYAM

NAME OF THE PROJECT: Residence for Mr. Joseph

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Design Concept

To create an eco friendly budget house — which responds to climate, site conditions — using local materials and technology.

Design Inspiration

a) Existing work shed

b) Existing “kayvala” (tapering village compound wall made of stone and mud)

c) Existing rock formation

The site – Elements which contributed to the design are:

a) slope towards north and east,

b) The trees on western side,

c) The rock formation,

d) The “Kayyala”

e) The existing workers shed.

The design – Is evolved around the elements on the site basically – in tune with the terrain using natural materials and a traditional vocabulary:

The design of the house evolved in response to the conditions of the site, which slopes towards north and the east and has trees on the western side, which are retained.

a) Location – Located in the middle of the property.

b) Orientation – east facing

c) The access – There are two roads north south and east west of the property.

d) Entrance – There are three entries.

The main entry — south

Service entry — north

Pedestrian entry — east (padippura)

e) The rock formation is blasted and the blasted rubble is used for construction. The blasted quarry is converted in to a pond for harvesting rain in summer.

f) Two predominant elements on the site, namely the kayyala and the work shed designs are visually used in the design formation.

Ventilation and light

a) The courtyard with water body on the west and south (wind ward side) placed in between three bedrooms cools the air and wind blowing in to the house from the west and south west.

b) The full length Ferro cement trellis on the east (leeward side) of the dining cum family room draws in air from the west.

c) The wind-ward side (west and south west) has comparatively smaller opening than the large trellis opening (on east) for excellent cross ventilation — so essential in our tropical climate.

 

This house which is set adjacent to the lush green paddy field, grab one’s attention from very far itself with hued jali screens ornamenting its front facade. These perforated screens function as a barrier against the harsh south sun and also aids in capturing the wind from the nearby fields thus maintaining a cooler microclimate inside. The client brief called for a simple yet modern house that could accommodate a family of 6 and required ample green spaces. The proposed site measuring (16 mx 24m) had its south side abutting the road and nests in between two residential buildings to the east and west.

The design was a primary response to the context and kept in mind to retain the two existingcoconut trees that added a charm to the site. Open planning played a key role to ensure a seamless flow between the spaces along with natural lighting and ventilation that accentuates the overall experience to the users. Both the axes of the house were aligned in such a manner that they opened towards green space. The large doors and partitions complemented the openness and framed views towards these axes. The ground floor houses the living, dining, and kitchen areas along with the parent’s bedroom toward the west and the guest bedroom towards the north. The toilets were designed with a courtyard in it thus ensuring a well-lit and green space. The formal living could easily be separated from the other spaces by a movable door that ensures optimum privacy to the family. Also, the lower ceiling heights increased the sense of intimacy and comfort within the house. The courtyards adjoining every space in the house provides a special sense of serenity with a panorama of picturesque plants that allows us to bring a little piece of the outdoors inside thus making nature a part of it. The exterior courtyard in the parent’s bedroom blurs the boundary between the outdoors and indoors and act as personalized nature retreat to the elderly couple.

Natural light penetrates through the skylights that have been strategically placed to improve the spatial quality and casts dynamic shadows on the illuminated walls thus unfolding a unique experience to the user. These skylights also function as stacks for the hot air to escape and ensure proper ventilation within the house.

The entire charm of the house lies around its stairs which had to be something transparent to let light enter through them for the courtyard beneath it. Hence stairs designed of customized steel became an aesthetically pleasing solution to the functional issue posed by the situation. Another striking feature is the hanging slab that appears to hover from a single support in the family living ensuring an uninterrupted flow between the spaces on the ground floor. The design of both the stairs and the hanging slab provided us an opportunity to explore the unknown. The first floor houses an upper family living, a bar counter, and a utility room along with the master bedroom and the kid’s bedroom. The bar counter which acts as a recreational area frames beautiful vistas of the nearby paddy fields.

We truly believe architecture lies in its smallest detail. The entire material palette is kept minimal with kota stone flooring, teak wood and exposed concrete ceilings that add a raw and expansive feel to the interiors. The building provides residents with a sense of space and it interacts with the ever-changing environment through light and shadow. The dwelling is nothing more than a nice structure, born of the site’s potential barriers and the amazing people who live there. It is an attempt to harness both via good design and is regarded as a place where people can live and work. It allows residents to be free, flourish, and leave. Nonetheless, it provides them with sufficient motivation to return.