Located on the outskirts of Bangalore with minimal development in sight and flanked by eucalyptus groves towards the south and low-lying tree cover on the other sides, the house is intended as a refuge from the urban condition. Laying emphasis on a simple and clear arrangement the building also allows for a multiplicity and adaptability of use and completely built using local craftsmen, the intent was to strive for an economy of both material and gesture.
The one and a half acre site will be used for farming, hosting family events and as a private weekend retreat. The house has been accordingly sized with the main living areas having a modest footprint but with generous verandas that wrap around the house that allow for larger gatherings. This elaborated threshold zone allows for an engagement with, and an awareness of, the outdoors.
The program is resolved into two rectangular volumes, one housing the primary living areas and the other the service areas, which are staggered with respect to each other to create verandas, entrances and courts between them. Taking a cue from traditional construction systems in responding to issues of materials, costs, skilled labour and most importantly climate, the building attempts to be sensible and yet engage with all the senses. The strategies adopted are:
• The building has been positioned towards the northern, and lower, end of a gently sloping site. An open tank, which receives the storm water runoff from the entire site, is placed between the farm and the house, which is to be used for the ongoing extensive vegetation and landscaping. The natural slopes and drainage patterns of the site have been retained and any excess rainwater is directed from the open tank into the nearby bore well.
• The longer sides of the building are oriented towards north and south, to minimize the harsh direct sunlight from entering the house. Further, all the openings are provided with ample shading so that there is a gentler quality of light within the interiors.
• The timber roof, made of red cedar, has three layers to the roofing. It has cement fibre sheets for the ceiling, a middle layer of corrugated cement sheets and an outer layer of handmade country tiles. This achieves excellent insulation and heat ingress from the roof is minimized. The entire roof assemblage sits on a continuous strip of ventilators resulting in a delicate connection between the roof and the rest of the building.
• The walls are built using the excavated earth and are finished with a mud plaster. These thick walls further shelter the interiors to create very comfortable temperatures within and the need for air conditioning is eliminated.
Along with the earth walls and timber (finished with linseed oil instead of a chemical polish), a natural and local material palette has been adopted with grey oxide flooring for the interior, locally quarried stone slabs for the veranda areas and brass for the hardware and staircase railing.
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