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Architecture

2023

Photographer : Shubham Akolkar, Pixellus Photography

Text provided by Ar. Nisha Parikh

An abode immersed in nature with a beautiful expression of volume along with a tranquil simplicity is what defines the residence of Architect Nishita Chanchad. Located in the Gotri- Vasna region which is on the western side of Vadodara city, it appears to have all the trappings of a weekend home.

Chanchad House is a 3200-square-foot built-up area in a 3700 sq. ft plot situated at the end of the gated colony. It gets overshadowed by the moderate high-rise apartments. Volume is a key definer of the design. A play of masses brought together in light by voids is what creates the architectural impression.

All the major spaces of the house are tied together with a large volume that opens up and converges into a garden. There is a conscious attempt to adhere to timelessness, especially as seen in the choice of materials and design. There is a splash of solid Kota stone, exposed concrete, wood, and brass. There is a conscious avoidance of trends in material and embellishments. This further generates a rhythm and harmony.

Architect Nishita strongly believes that there cannot be boundaries between art, interiors, architecture, and landscape. All of these are interconnected expressions that enrich each other. The architect has beautifully used the idea of effortlessly blurring boundaries between these three in the design.

The foyer is beautifully designed with checkered pattern tiles with brass inlay that opens into differentiated volumes. A double-height space of the living room narrows down into the private spaces with smaller heights of the house. This rhythmic juxtaposition and the surfaces gently make contact with adjacent volumes all tied together and opening into the greens beyond. It is a sense of balance and proportion that characterizes the house.

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Architects	:	Monoline
Area	:	3200 sq. ft.
Year	:	2023
Website	:	https://www.instagram.com/monoline.nc

Elevation of Chanchad House by Monoline

Living area of Chanchad House by Monoline

The 17’ tall and 14’ wide window structure without an intermediate beam in the living room offers a play of the geometrical pattern of light and shadow. The design of the wooden staircase which allows light to filter in creates checkered patterns on the floor thus creating a canvas of visual impressions. The double height ingeniously visually connects the living room, dining space, kitchen areas, staircase, multipurpose space, the bedrooms above, and the balconies that in turn also create a cohesive flow of spaces along with beatuiful view of old neem tree.

The kitchen is flushed with natural light through the beautiful and thoughtful use of a skylight. A huge exposed concrete feature wall with a collage of paintings and pattern sciography in the breakfast area catches attention.

The Dining area uses the dominance of geometrical shapes, here it is the circle. The floor has concentric circles in kota stone and brass inlay to complete it, the lamp above it also follows the under-line geometry of a circle.

Dinning area of Chanchad House by Monoline

Kitchen of Chanchad House by Monoline

First floor passage area of Chanchad House by Monoline

Capture of natural light is continued through the floor-to-ceiling windows which flood the interiors with natural light, creating a vibrant canvas for the carefully selected materials of wood, stone, and brass to play their roles. In addition to maximizing the visual impact, it endows each room with a canvas for capturing changing skies, natural beauty, and the change of light during the day. The dance of the light is seen as it cascades from the staircase. The Multi-purpose lounge with roof height openings turns into a theater space, study area, or a bedroom that beautifully opens into the garden.

Swing /jhula on the neem tree branch brings a nostalgic air to the house. To be easy on maintenance, the materials used in the powder bathroom are Italian marble and Kota stone. Partial concentric circles in terrazzo inlay adorn the floor creating drama. It is a pleasure to view the bathroom as a ‘no clutter’ minimalistic zone achieved by providing in-built napkin holders, ledges, and accessories. Overall the ambience allows one to immerse in the peace that is created.

Master bedroom of Chanchad House by Monoline

One of the most interesting elements of the residence experientially is the circulation from the ground to the first level. A sculptural wooden staircase focusing on a bare/naked chandelier leads to a bridge that spreads throughout the double-height volume leading to the bedrooms and the north-facing prayer space.

The serenity of pooja place is its subtle location which doesn't make it stand in the face. A modest and minimalist cast-in-situ marble volume anchors the sacred space.

The bedrooms have large openings out to the east and west courts with galleries and are positioned to the outer face of the house letting the cross-ventilation happen smoothly. The interior design of the bedroom uses a soft, muted, and artistic palette of cast-in-situ concrete wall.

The master bedroom has a 6’ large bay window which brings in soft sunlight of the morning which further travels through the room to the gallery. It has a standout feature with the concrete raw finish wall adorned with rare and antique paintings acting as the backdrop of the bed. The king-size bed has an attached pullout bed provision for the toddler, with an overall appearance of seamlessness. The spick and span look of the bedroom is complemented by a minimalist yet large single-piece study Table. The inviting bathroom allows it to be used as a wet and dry space simultaneously. The Italian floor of this space with a brass inlay pattern guides one to the open space. The balcony extending out of the bedroom offers life to the complete concrete volume. The spiral staircase, painted in yellow, adds color to the large gray and green palette on the balcony. All this makes it a sought-after space to hang out and relax on the terrace balcony.

Master bedroom of Chanchad House by Monoline

Master bedroom 2 of Chanchad House by Monoline

Multipurpose room of Chanchad House by Monoline

The next bedroom has a yellow Jaisalmer marble feature with wood as the main element wrapping around the rooms. The immaculate look is continued here through built-in storage. The lighting ambiance gracefully complements the use of timeless materials creating a soothing sense.

Throughout the abode, the bespoke detailing of elements like customized furniture pieces, wood and metal railing, kota flooring with brass inlay, staircase, sculptures, and concrete panel walls are focused and dedicated to rekindling the artistry and detailed local techniques. Living in Chanchad House offers the promise of a sensory experience through its use of finishing materials. The symbiosis of art and architecture is made more thoughtful by following the central notion of red and black hues with apt construction material creating a holistic approach. The most commonly used finishing materials end up evoking a higher sensory experience.