The Earth and Glass House, designed by Studio Lotus, is located in the urban village of Chattarpur in New Delhi, away from the traffic and polluted air of Delhi’s city. The Earth and Glass House is a tranquil haven created for weekend getaways and joyful gatherings with loved ones. It gracefully occupies one half of a rectangular, lush two-acre property, leaving the other half for hosting events. With a built-up size of 20,000 square feet, an interesting conversation develops between nature and the built realm through inter-connected volumes and carefully planned linkages of the indoors and the outdoors.
Concept
Finding moments of peace and a connection to nature is getting harder to achieve in this era of accelerating urbanization and the buzz of city life. With its blend of modern architecture and natural elements, the Earth and Glass House embodies the peak of luxurious living in this context. It provides a sanctuary where people may relax, rejuvenate, and silence the cacophony of modern living. It is a glimmer of solace, inviting exhausted souls to pause, take a deep breath, and give themselves over to the magnificent splendour of nature and togetherness.
Landscape
Site zoning for the design follows the principles of Vastu, a traditional Indian architectural system. Following the client requirements, the landscaping serves to accommodate recreational functions, with large lawns with built features to the North of the site. While the three sides of the plot have farmlands, the eastern edge has dense urban settlements. The plot has a fifteen-metre-high compound wall on this edge that ensures security and privacy into the site. A landscaped zone is developed along the wall as a buffer from the surroundings. In this area lies the recreational block and a small pool house. The backdrop of the pool is a rammed earth wall formed from the soil excavated during the construction of landscape design features. Covered pathways are provided through a grid of light metal framework interwoven with silver oak trees preserved along the site’s perimeter. The area offers a variety of leisure activities, including DJ decks, a pool, and a treehouse-style machan. The area is designed to hold vines, creepers, and plants along the gridwork, resulting in a mesh of vegetation that enhances the connection to nature.
Planning and Layout
The layout of Earth and Glass House maximizes natural light, air circulation, and views of the landscape, with a seamless transition between the interior living spaces and the lush nature outside. The entry porch, on the North of the building, is shaded by the cantilevered volume of 10-metre length. The porch opens into a double-height foyer with two rooms on either side; the pooja room and the powder room. The drama of this double-height space is enhanced through the sky-lit court, spiral staircase with handcrafted brass rail, and unique placement of the installation of a curved door at the base of the stairs.
The ground floor has a bedroom suite and home office connected to the dining and kitchen area through a long living room. The living room, a link between the two volumes, has glass windows on either side, providing clear views into the landscapes in the North and winter court in the South, effectively removing visual barriers to nature. This winter court brings in the South sun, connects the insides with the outdoors, and creates a continuous line of sight from the winter court to the North lawns. The first floor has three bedroom suites with attached toilets and a dresser. Upon going up the curved stairs, each bedroom suite lies on either side of the corridor. This corridor is connected with the Lounge and the third bedroom suite through a connecting bridge and terrace.
Materials and Construction
The major construction systems found in the building are mainly three: a load-bearing wall made of rammed earth, a mild steel framework, and exposed RCC slabs. The ten-meter-long cantilevered volume, supported by two V-shaped columns and a load-bearing rammed earth wall, is a fascinating component of the house. It creates a well-shaded porch and defines the entrance to the house. The volume has a series of louvres on the façade made from Western red cedar. These louvres can be manually operated by the residents, providing the desired amount of shade, diffusing the light, giving privacy, and helping with ventilation.
The inventive use of glass, which serves as a link between the interior living spaces and the exterior natural environment, is another distinctive feature of the Earth and Glass House. With their vast perspective of the outside world, floor-to-ceiling windows allow natural light to flood the interior spaces, creating an air of spaciousness and connection to the outside. These transparent barriers blur the distinction between indoor and outdoor spaces, allowing residents to soak in the ever-changing beauty of Nature throughout the day.
The materiality follows into the interiors of the building. The interior design exudes warmth with earthy tones of caramel, brown, and cream accentuating the cane and wooden furniture. Metal, wood, and stone further enhance the colour palette by adding depth and texture. The decor in the living and dining spaces is made from natural materials, giving it an elegant yet organic character that complements the rammed earth construction. This calming palette complements the architectural features creating an aesthetically pleasing and inviting atmosphere throughout the space and making it look like an extension of the landscape. Elements in wood also serve as a brise-soleil, ensuring comfort indoors during the summers. The natural grains of wood are left exposed, while crafts such as carving and tarqashi, as well as cast metal craft, have been employed to add a tactile layer to the furnishings and decor.
With the use of local resources, attention to detail, and considerations for deeper human interaction with nature, the Earth and Glass House embodies the essence of co-existing in nature with a sustainable approach. It blends modern aesthetics with the needs of today’s society to slow down, approach life with a sense of community, and prioritise holistic well-being. Overall, the home is built around the concept of living in harmony with nature, allowing for smooth transitions and giving occupants a refuge to unwind and connect with the outdoors.
