The Architect's Home

Design Objective

The objective was to create a home that reflects my personal journey as an architect. I wanted to prioritize the flow of spaces and intricate spatial connections, with each room revealing a unique theme. Given the extreme summers and winters of the tropical climate, it was crucial to harness sunlight optimally.

Unique Design Elements

The design incorporates several unique elements. The stepped terraces on the side give the house a wider and balanced look. The MS frame around the house not only makes it stand out as a designer home but also serves as a supporting frame for movable shades and a trellis for the SF garden. It balances the stepped forms of the house. The block on the second floor on the double-height glazing gives the design a floating look. The raised balcony in front inserted in the concrete box adds a special character.

The Staircase Luminaire

The staircase was designed like an envelope, wrapping and creating a layer for lighting. The stairwell served as a luminaire, with white walls and marble steps, lighting up the house front. Under this stair, I created a powder room. The central staircase transforms the house into a duplex and serves as an aesthetic element for the drawing room.

Terraces & Gardens

The second floor features a beautiful terrace garden, a recreational space for the residents during the day and night with beautiful lighting, and privacy covered with plants. The first floor also has dedicated terraces with each bedroom.

Natural Light & Ventilation

The front double-height glazing towards the east brings maximum morning sun and warms up the house. The second floor gets the west sun in winter. Sunlight cuts off in summer, giving maximum shade on all floors. All bedrooms get ample north light from corner windows. The service room gets light from a double-height skylight, which also acts as a cooling tower in summer because of its louvers. The side elevation features a recessed wall with corner slit-window openings towards bedrooms, providing a cool way to ventilate the rooms. The front and the rear entrance doors are placed such that when both are opened, create a natural airflow.

The 3 Halls

All 3 floors have a large hall room, that gives a sense of openness, living in a large house. The Ground Floor has a drawing-dining of 30ft length connected to an open kitchen. First Floor has a TV lounge, library, and gym. The Second-floor hall is a multipurpose room directly accessed from the stairwell in the front.

Terrace Suite

On the second floor, there is also a bedroom in the rear. This room, with a separately attached washroom and a wooden floor, opens into the long terrace garden on the second floor. It’s the most relaxing place in the house and can serve as an Air-Bnb.