area- 210sqm 3bhk residence

cost- 42 lakhs, built form,interiors & landscape

cost reduced by 25% than normal construction
rates near by
Thermal quality- 5-7 degree C temperature
lesser than the houses near by
THE PROCESS
the site
pvt.
road
main
road
teak plantation
The site is located far from the main road, in a purely residential area, with no
designed houses around.The site though little far away from main road was chosen
due to the presence of brothers and sisters living nearby so as, to have the same
togetherness which they once cherished in a joint family.The site faces relatively
young teak plantation, a seasonal space fresh and green during monsoons and
dry and dull in summers. The back side being barren land.
Mr Unnikrishna warrier and Mrs.Geetha Kumari, both born and brought up in large
joint families, moved out of the same as the professional career started. They
choose this calm site near mr. warriers ancestral property after retirement with the
dream of entering back into the system of living together with the large family
around.
EARTH CUBE : a contemporary reinterpretation of an experiential space through the typological study of the spaces that existed in the clients memory .
researching upon the clients
ancestoral home (old nalukettu)
The experiantial and thermal
qualities which created modified the
memmory & created an everlasting
impression upon the user.
The joint family tradition and the
spaces related
identifying & analysing the
experiential qualities that existed in
the ancestoral home and
incorporating them into the new built
volume.
The inner family Court and its
importance to joint families
Using the idea of the roof garden to
create thermal comfort.
Reusing the top soil for the roof
garden, Using local plants for the roof
garden.
Using traditional ideas of verandahs,
layering and courtyards for insulation
& ventilation.
Experimenting with new methods to
interpret previously researched
spaces and volumes retracing from
the tradition.
Questioning the idea of a closed
boundary wall, the porous exterior
wall
New method of roof gardening using
local planting and sacks.
Using local materials, and local
contractors
Using locally available plants and
landscape materials.
Using less mechanical ventilation
and lighting systems.
exploration
emotion/experiance
ecology/energy
economy
experiment
studio
bed courtyard living verandah front yard verandah
interiors connectors semi exteriors exteriors exteriors
buffer/ pourous compound wall enclosed family court
the buffer wall and the built volume generates a
court-A FAMILY MEETING SPACE, with ample visual
connection to both interiors and exteriors and at the
same time creating an enclosed intimate space
the enclosure : continuous flexibl exterior family
court connecting the interiors and the outsides, for
family gatherings family court/connector
flexible semi
public space bufer/
connector
public private
buffer/connector
exteriors
the continuous flexible and interconvertable
interior space which could accomodate
large family gatherings.
the flexible living space which
acts as the kids and guest
sleeping space
p o o j a
a n d
g r a i n
storage
courtyard
bedrooms
kitchen
dine
bedrooms
bedrooms
the heat buffer and the family sitting space (evening)
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the continuous fexible living/ dining for family get togethers
CONTINUOUS / FLEXIBLE SPACES
teak plantation porous wall ENCLOSURE/ FAMILY SPACE the built form opening to the enclosure
The design programme and volumetric stacking was derived from the study of the clients ancestral home which was a NALUKETTU. It
supported a joint family of about 20-25 members with guests almost every time of the year. The building has an extremely stunning flexibility
and thermal quality which made it a purely experiential space which catered to almost all functional purposes.

: bufer rooms on South West sides
: verandas all around to reduce heat gain through green house efect
: Local cost efective materials "Laterite" used for walls
: No wood has been used
: Temperature 5-7 degrees reduced
: FAN only in 2 rooms
: Electricty completely through solar panels
: Top soil and local planting excavated reused for roof garden
: White wall surfaces reduce the use of lights in interiors
Walls : Laterite
furniture : Mostly built in furniture used
WINDOWS and DOORS : Steel
ROOF GARDEN : Local plants/ karuka/ bufalo grass
CUPBOARDS : Ply wood/ MDF
PERGOLA / HANDRAIL : Stainless steel pipes
sustainability
materiality
studio
studio
seasonal change in landscape
existing site soil and local vegetation topping
the infinite garden extending over the surronding landscape
road
THE INFINITE SEASONAL GARDEN borrowing the external landscape
central family court (NE
orientation for evening family
gathering spaces)
the central family space,
facilitating gettogethers for the
joint family, incorporating spaces
for the kids to play.
continuous roof garden/ local
planting and original top soil
removed for foundation used
the porous buffer wall with two
level planting, the bottom level for
vegetable nursery
maximum height in the south west
corner to shade the court from the
harsh sun
the enclosure
SPACES and INNOVATIONS
CONTINUOS SPACES: VOLUMES FOR FAMILY INTERACTION - seamless interiors for large rooms which could
afford a SADYA or a family meeting, enclosed external courts which can offer spaces for family functions
GREEN AND CLIMATE RESPONDING IDEAS- orientation of spaces, creating verandahs outside major
Windows to reduce heat gain, creating buffer rooms on south west sides, green roofing using local
plants,, raising the south western side to shade the open courts for evening outside spaces, using local
building materials and plants
CLIENT SPECIFIC SPACES - creating calm volumes for spiritually inspiring spaces, white and seamless,
bringing in maximum external light through openings skylights and the white colour theme, heat is
reduced by about 5-7degrees with respect to nearby houses during summers which makes majority of
interior spaces well ventilated and comfortable without fan or AC
THE BUILT FORM AND THE PROGRAMME
CONTINUOUS SEASONAL GARDEN
the barren site faced a teak plantation, the seasonal change
of the landscape was reflected upon the roof gardens, the
local plants that once covered the site was utilized to cover
the top giving the roof garden the same character of the
surrounding landscape
3/4
studio
VERANDAH STAIRS/COURT POOJA/COURT BED SPACE DINE/POOJA
first floor
1 3 2
2
7
8
6
6
5
6
10
11
9
4
ground floor
1
3
1. Combined Living and Dining
2. Court yard
3. Combined Kitchen and work area
4. Pooja
5. Master bed room
6. Dress and Toilet
7. Bedroom I
8. Car porch
9. Lounge
10. Bedroom II
11. Green roof
1.heat buffer space in SW corner
2.courtyard
3. verandas
4.family court
5.pourous wall
2
4 5
3 3
2
N
S
W E
ZONING : the interiors and exteriors are continuous intercon-
nected spaces which can accomodate family agglomerations
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studio