Green Wall House

Project Brief

Project Overview:
The initial ideas for this particular house were conceived in 2012 when the client directly approached us. The client was seeking a contemporary house with all the modern amenities, including 5 bedrooms, a swimming pool, gym and a home theatre, besides all the common spaces namely living, dining, kitchen etc. Other than that there were no other particular requirements from the client. The main constraint while designing the house was the site itself. It was a 9 cent site at the dead end of a narrow(3m) approach road which had nothing to offer. The neighbourhood also offered nothing with houses on all the sides. Thats the reason why we decided to have an inward looking house with a court inside with all the rooms overlooking the court in the middle, which granted reasonable discreteness, peace and elegance. Minimum set-backs were provided for the building from all the four sides.

One of the biggest challenge within, was that the approach road towards the site had no cul-de-sac and it was not more than 3 meters wide. The entry towards the site is from the south which straight away leads one to the car porch in front, a basement car park for 3 cars on the west was given as the property was on the lower level with another approach road. From the entrance car porch one enter a sit-out to lead to the main entrance of the house. The main entrance of this house is into this deliberately created courtyard space with water-body, in the middle. The soul of this house is this courtyard space in the middle with the skylight double height spaces which creates a surprise factor when you enter. A glass bridge is provided in the courtyard for one to move to the respective rooms. The pergolas above the double height space are aligned in the north south direction so that the dynamic shadow casted by the sun will be seen on the wall. The kitchen is placed on the north-east as the wind flows from the south-west to north-east. Respectively the bedrooms are on the west and south. The common spaces like living/dining and kitchen are designed without any walls in between as there will be free interaction between the inmates of the house. The kitchen is left entirely open to the family living with a breakfast counter. The entire house is air-conditioned including the common spaces and the bedrooms. A swimming pool is provided which is cantilevered into the car porch on the first floor in the eastern side.

The interior theme is of white and wood. Its a combination of white and brown(wood) which brings elegance to this house while the furniture are all designed in-house and carefully fabricated in workshop. None other colours are used for this house other than the blue water-body in the middle, which has kept things simple. Unlike the conventional way curtains are avoided mostly and blinds which matches with the theme are provided for the long windows and openings. The long windows inside the house could be slid opened and pivoted. Another focus element for this house is the terrace garden on roof which helps to reduce the heat in the house and at the same time grow vegetables on top. Solar panels are provided on the terrace which provides energy to carry out the day to day needs of the house inmates.