Regional influence on Contemporary Design

An environmental edifice built by Malik Architecture amalgamates regional architecture using modern manifestations of materials, design strategies and preservation.

- Meghna Mehta

The design echoes a deep understanding of centuries of traditional ‘Konkan’ construction techniques albeit interpreted in a contemporary syntax. The site is deeply forested and the final product imposes a minimum impact on the existing flora, without disturbing nature’s equilibrium.

The concept is highly influenced by the form of the site, smoothly catalysing the process of the design. The scattered components and functions of the house have been connected using various design methods while preserving the site’s original characteristics. The client’s requirement demanded an integrated network of water bodies which was over laid on the generated matrix. This process of layering the water bodies or functions systematically ensured minimal intrusion on to the forested site and introduced a large house, ‘connected’ multiple water bodies and a hierarchy of traditional Indian spaces from the formal to the private spaces through a series of courtyards. Deeply shaded verandas and semi outdoor spaces, repeated throughout the design balance indoor and outdoor spaces.

To further reduce the carbon foot print on the site, the house has been built using 4 main materials, (3 of which have been used in the region for centuries viz. Stone, Wood and Mangalore Clay Tile) and the 4th – flyash blocks which are produced locally. Low emission LED fixtures have been used for lighting the site, which allows minimum electrical consumption.

Based on the firm’s experience of working in the region the use of ‘cavity’ block walls and stone for the load bearing elements was used while for the super structure wood and clay tile was used. All flooring has been done using natural local stones. As the site is thickly wooded solar power, study determined very little benefit from solar source.