A rather simple brief prompted the design for a home in Ahmedabad that would be aligned with the principles of Vastu and yet be expressive of the present. The site, being one half of a plot that accommodated the residences of two brothers, was ideal for presenting both abodes as analogous in planning yet complementary in view. Bringing in the green and with it the warmth that natural materials evoke, Verde Home intends to blend the boundary between the inside and outside.
Project Name: VERDE HOME
Architecture Firm: OPENIDEAS ARCHITECTS
Website: www.openideas.co.in
Firm Location: Ahmedabad, India
Completion Year: 2020
Gross Built Area: 590 sq m / 6350 sq ft
Project Location: Ahmedabad
Project Type: Residential
Lead Architects: Monarch Champaneri, Nilesh Gajera, Niralee Champaneri
Landscape Design: Bhawna Shah, Jessica Shah,
Firm name: Actual Organic
Design Team: Sahil Soni, Kishan Patel, Nishant Chauhan
Interior Design Team: Hemali Shah, Aekansh Saini
Illustration Design: Zeb Saiyed and Tarang Antala
Photography: Ishita Sitwala
Content Writer: Kanwalpreet Kaur,
Structural Consultant: Umang Patel
Stonework: Bhuvabhai Mistry
Millwork: Tejaram Suthar
Paintwork: Deepak Singh
Electrical Consultant: Mukesh Patel
Photo credits: Ishita Sitwala (The Fishy Project)
Interior Stylist Credits : : Samir Wadekar / @sam_wade11
The views from all spaces present a carefully woven canvas with layers of strokes and definition. A sense of transparency is established and hence the coalescence of the two environs is further heightened.
A palette of travertine and wood resonates with the natural setting of the design, whereas exposed concrete lends a degree of similarity between the two forms. Discerning the measure of continuity and pause that must be integrated became paramount. Travertine, wood, concrete and steel fuse to form the characteristic shaded balconies, that are visible at one enters the plot. Wood sets in seamlessly with the earthly palette bringing in the characteristic warmth.
The living room imitates the outdoors, as the recurring theme of blending the boundaries between the inside and outside manifests itself. A connection is established with the outdoors as travertine gives way to earth. The entrance obscures a patch of green, substantiating a sense of anticipation, as one wanders towards the inside. Multiple textures complement and thus reinforce the presence of a sculptural staircase that enlivens the space.
The dining space offers an experience that is lavish and yet does not diverge from its surroundings and the central idea. The lighter undertones of the kitchen are offset by the dramatic marble countertops as they complement and lend a sense of surprise. As one moves in, the palette transforms to mellower tones, reflecting the calm and ease that a home must inspire. The canvas of travertine and wood continues in the bedrooms as they provide a subtle yet elegant background. The bedrooms present carefully curate vistas through balconies, as the focus gradually shifts to the inside.
