In today’s world, it is a prevalent trend to add the prefix of sustainability to most things. However, there seems to be very little that is done to represent the concept.
We, as a community, have devoted ourselves to the cause of using mud and waste as the chief components to make structures which are alluring and utilitarian. As a firm practicing sustainable architecture exclusively for a decade, we know about the aspirations of a ‘modern’ client, where his house is a symbol of his status and prominence in society instead of being a statement for the future.
When the architects first met the client, he mentioned about his disapproval towards the traditional Kerala style home system. The traditional houses in Kerala are typically sloped roof structures with heavy overhangs. Although the roof prevented rain and the cooling was phenomenal, he was deterred by the atmosphere of darkness which stayed prevalent or was associated with the ambience inside the house. The second altercation was that many of the architectural systems that were in place promoted gender inequality in the olden days since women were restricted to the courtyard. Thus, during the early days of the project, the client had made a point that the house should be a symbol of a new light, or a new outlook to our age-old systems and beliefs.
SPECIAL FEATURES
• The pond in the living area aids in evapotranspiration and helps in passive cooling.
• Rainwater harvesting tank as an extension to the pond serves as a collection pit for the flow of stormwater from the sloping roofs. With a capacity of 35cu m, this stored water is recycled for all domestic purposes.
Denne historien er fra April 2021-utgaven av Architecture + Design.
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Denne historien er fra April 2021-utgaven av Architecture + Design.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
A GRECIAN RETREAT
Shimona Bhansali imbues a subtle touch of opulence to this home in Mumbai
A BOLD STATEMENT
Dhampur Sugar Mills Limited's workspace in New Delhi designed and built by Officebanao adopts an industrial narrative
A BREATH OF FRAGRANT DESIGN IN DELHI'S HEART
An office that smells like perfumery; that is the vision that TWI brought to life in this office space designed for an acclaimed perfume company in India
MASTER OF ALL TRADES
The ethos of forward-thinking and ingenuity finds its architectural counterpart within the walls of Nikhil Kamath and Abhijeet Pai's office-a vision of organic design infused with the essence of India
A TOUCH OF OPULENCE
Designed by Aparna Kaushik, this Delhi office displays an interesting balance of classic aesthetics and contemporary sensibilities
THE WOODEN WONDERLAND
Priyanka and Piyush Mehra envision a stunning experience centre for Vikas Plywood
THE HUB: BUILDING COMMUNITIES
Studio Lotus designs a dynamic mixed-use community hub that activates Chennai's largest IT Park
THE WINNER'S PERCH
Baldiwala Edge designs a Singapore-based ship broker's office as a torch collector's paradise, offering a 360-degree bird's-eye view of the Mumbai skyline
THE DIRECTOR'S CABIN
Designed by Envisage, this office gives a new definition to the traditional notion of biophilia
Designing Corporate India
From weaving the magic of a Star Trek-themed command centre to crafting bespoke block-printed workstations, Vijaya Bhargav and Arnab Ghosh-the trailblazing co-founders of Ostraca-have astonishingly transformed a staggering 29 million square feet of office space for India's tech giants and global enterprises-all while maintaining a flat hierarchical company culture-fuelling a master class in corporate design