Interlocking The Oblongs
A 500 Sq m. House located in a suburban area with a plot rectangle in shape surrounded by affluent ecology in the surrounding, with unevenness and straight morphology. The client wanted to have something majestic in modern orientation. They were firm about the requirement of having space orientations according to ‘Vastu Shastra’. The challenge was the direction of the plot, having a front face a shorter edge on the south side, and a longer edge on the west side. Both the direction in the hot and dry climate of Ahmedabad are crucial for direct and inclined solar radiation. The catalyzed decision of juxtaposing boxes by interlocking and staking method to adore the passive architecture. The offsets are created of spaces like bedrooms, a family room by layering balconies and courts to avoid direct sunlight on any of the surfaces. Concrete used a foremost material to restrict sunlight to direct spaces, At the same time, other wall surfaces overlaid lime plaster inside out walls to make the space comparatively cooler in extremely hot and dry conditions also.
Simple staking of the boxes as a space cuboids with interlocking spaces and connection through the middle staircase and passages ensued into an appealing facade. Also projecting the cubes and depressing the same with courts and balconies provided weather sheds to the space below, and such we controlled lines to achieve minimal contemporary through linear geometries. The house has been lifted 5’ above the ground to achieve the connections with the contextual ecology.
On the ground floor, the entry to the house is in the center of the entire length. From a well-proportioned foyer to a triple heightened stairwell at the entrance open the spaces with a curiosity. The journey bifurcates into two straight space planing. On the right side of the entrance having a drawing room with 15’ height having openings placed in the southwest direction, called wind direction in microclimate. Connects with passage and kitchen dining. On the right side along with the staircase, there is a family room with an inside court formed in the marginal space by the skylight. Bringing greens to the space. The upper floor has two master suites interlocked with a middle library space. One of the bedrooms has a step-up lounge area and spillover space above the drawing-room. By not only interlocking spaces in circulations, but the level play in the section also derived distinctive cuboid play in the facade although. The cubes have been concluded with floating sleek interlocking walls to balance the ratio between solidity and openness. The cantilever volumes add value to the facade. The red Agra stone was used as a cladding detail with the same stone strips overlaid in some geometrical pattern to create light and shadow play in the facade. Brutalist facade balanced by material and the level play resulted in an interlocking stratum.
The interior of the residence is designed in a minimal contemporary language using some natural materials like bricks, oak wood, and line plasters. To add a dash of luxury the careful color palette is used in fabric and panels. The furniture was placed that unobstructed the architecture and its finishes The color palette is calm, earthy, and modern in wholesome. The whites and grey make the spaces timeless stir. The play of light and shadow with divergent views from each inside our space makes the wholesome entity bizarre in contemporary architecture practice.
