Our client, with a background in the entertainment industry, presented us with a unique challenge: building a G+1 residence on an irregular plot. Nestled amidst lush greenery, this residence for Mr. Santhosh is not just a structure, but a part of its natural surroundings. It is a harmonious integration of earthly materials, open spaces, and spatial geometry, ensuring a strong connection with nature.
Project Name: A Minimal abode Nested in the Serene Town of Sagara
Studio Name: Design Thoughts Architects
Location: Sagara, Shivamogga
Built-up area: 2650 sq. ft
Planning and challenges
The clients liked the idea of a home with a courtyard in the centre. This was the initial point for developing the 50 ’ x60’ plot home layouts. The clients liked to explore this option, while we also produced another option with the courtyard around the staircase. They were aligned with this option as it gives additional space for circulation and allows the family to spend time together.
This layout strategically places the courtyard along the staircase, serving as a focal point and enhancing the home’s visual appeal. The rest of the spaces are designed to meet the family’s requirements. As this is a G+1 residence, we avoided having a lift for circulation. So we locate the parents’ bedroom on the ground floor and the other bedrooms on the first floor. The first floor also accommodates a cut-out area over the living room and an open terrace.
Each bedroom has a balcony, making it a valuable element for treating the elevation. The irregular plot fits in with the gazebo and garden areas on the ground floor, as the larger side of the site opens to the road, we can satisfy the parking. Vastu principles, which are traditional Indian architectural guidelines for design, are suitable for an east-facing home. Moreover, this layout reduces dead spaces and niches, unlike the initial planning. The clients were also satisfied with how their 50’ x60’ plot home turned out.
Elevation details
The planning takes half the credits for the facade, while the elevation brings an essence to the home. In this G+1 residence, the facade takes the centre stage with its colours, textures and functionality.
Facade Play with Textures:
The facade juxtaposes exposed brick, concrete finishes, and custom jaali brickwork. These textures enhance the visual appeal and aid in natural ventilation and diffused lighting indoors. The jaali brickwork cascades into the bedroom with essential privacy, creating interesting shadow patterns throughout the day.
Framed Geometry:
Clean lines and bold frames shape the elevations of the 50’ x 60’ plot home. The central design element is the balconies, transition zones that add depth and visual rhythm to the building. Recessed balconies and privacy screens offer the clients a blend of openness and seclusion, enabling them to enjoy outdoor spaces without compromising comfort.
Material Palette:
The warm brick tones with muted concrete grey beams the east-facing home with a vernacular and modern style. Its refined palette creates a timeless appeal while staying rooted in sustainable choices. The selection of these materials was a thoughtful process, considering their durability, aesthetic appeal, and environmental impact in the future. The bricks, for instance, provide excellent thermal insulation, reducing the need for artificial heating or cooling, while the concrete beams ensure structural stability and longevity.
Spatial understanding
As part of our clients’ design journey, we produce spatial renders of the home to better understand the plan in three dimensions. These renders not only help our clients visualise the outcome but also allow us to fine-tune the design, ensuring every space is functional and aesthetically pleasing.
As the irregular plot cuts down a significant chunk of the land for utilising for construction, we opt for an open plan layout. In the living areas, we easily accommodate a landscape area, a Puja room, a dining space and an island kitchen with almost no walls in between. This solves the challenge and also the requirements of the clients.
