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Architecture

2022

· Our clients, as proud South Indians, had glimpses of their childhood memories of ancestral homes to share with us as a reference, to design a modern weekend home for them. Elements like internal courtyards, clay-tiled low roofs and vibrant colours were the impressionable memories they carried with them. To translate these ideas into a modern house with modern conveniences for the family and their near and dear ones was an exciting challenge for us.

· The other strong reference for us was the context. The plot of land faces a lake and has views of fields around and hills in the distance. The external views were as important as the internal views and that made us create a central open space into which other spaces overlook. More traditional elements like wood-carved doors, columns, and windows from old south Indian houses were used not just as visual elements, but true to their intended use as bedroom doors or as load-bearing members. Patterned Athangudi tiles were used with requisite polishing and oiling techniques.

· Two stone walls within the side setbacks contain the extent of the house. The entrance patio is taken to the East. It overlooks one half of the plot which was purposely left empty to provide them with a large open space as a foreground for tree plantation. The formal living room and terrace sit-out were moved to the upper floor for a 360-degree view of the surroundings. It was moved towards the back for privacy so that the building does not seem too overwhelming when seen from the road. This divides the house in three bays-

· East bay: with the external entrance verandah with a fabricated roof supported by wood columns, informal living and dining space under the RCC slab of the roof sit-out.

· South bay: A low and load-bearing exposed fly ash brick structure containing the kitchen, a bedroom, and a common toilet. Fabricated sloping roof with insulation and Mangalore tiles above.

· North Bay: Master bedroom with an attached toilet, utility area, in RCC frame and exposed fly-ash and a staircase. This takes you to the formal living and terrace sit out above. The roof of which is also a fabricated roof with insulation and mangalore tiles on it.

· All these spaces overlook into the central courtyard which is lined with basalt stone. The courtyard is contained from the west side with the large stone wall giving some relief from the vastness of the views outside.