‘Tamara villa’ is a weekend home designed for a family of four on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India. The project exemplifies an idiosyncratic oeuvre that ranges from architecture, through interior, to landscape. Tamara translates to ‘a blooming lotus flower’; it signifies purity, enlightenment and self-regeneration. Keeping this in mind, though it was a family house, we made sure that each individual should get their own personal niche within. The plot size is 65,900sq.ft., while the construction is only of 6250sq.ft. This ratio of the built-unbuilt, gave us an opportunity to explore landscape as a medium to enhance the charm and beauty of the project. The villa has a touch of tropical experience to ideate as place for rejuvenation and relaxation. The idea was to feel connected to outdoors and create a living within a garden typology.
Project Name: Tamara Villa
Architecture Firm: Vipul Patel Architects
Firm Location: Ahmedabad, India
Completion Year: 2019
Gross Built Area: 6500 sft.
Project location: Ahmedabad, India
Lead Architects: Ronak Patel, Jinal Patel and Naiya Patel
Design Team: Ronak Patel, Jinal Patel and Naiya Patel
Clients: Sunil Patel and Parul Patel
Engineering: SMI infrastructure
Landscape: VPA architects
Photo credits: Inclined Studio
The villa has two separate entries; public and private. A grand ceremonial entry leading to the beautiful green lawn directly is for the larger gatherings and parties. Customised lanterns with effects of the mist; the magical combination of fire and water element, create a wonderful ambience and gesture on arrival. While the private entry to the house is more modest in nature and is inspired by a Balinese house; traditionally crafted wooden door and a row of palm trees. It opens into a courtyard with a waterbody and a landscaped garden on either sides. This entry leads to a multipurpose room on the right, which is more public in nature, and then to drawing + living area i.e. the heart of the house, onto the left. The sitting areas open up on both sides to mesmerising garden views. Semi covered verandahs are provided on either ends of the drawing + living room, which work as a transitional space between inside and outside.
It almost doubles up as a functional space for larger family gatherings. Further ahead we have the kitchen + dining core in an open floor layout, which extends into a beautiful courtyard space. The dining table has been customised using a solid wood, carving in a unique horse shape for the table top. The bright and welcoming colours and indoor plants make this space as habitant and welcoming as any other part of the house. The bedrooms have been purposefully placed at a distance from each other, to ensure individual’s privacy. Each bedroom has its own uniqueness where every room opens up into an outdoor space; the master bedroom has a private garden, son’s bedroom opens up towards the soothing spa and extended garden and the daughter’s bedroom has an internal courtyard. Even the bathrooms have not been neglected; each one has a private courtyard to enhance the epitome of luxury.
The symbol of ‘tamara’ (designed by us) has been uniquely used at various parts of the house, like in the entrance waterbody, screen motifs, furniture pieces, flooring, etc, to have a sense of continuity throughout the house. The flooring has been done using locally avaible kota stone and steel grey stone with interesting patterns to add the muse. Tropical bright colours along with earthy, rustic tones of browns and greys, both in interior and exterior, add onto the tropical character of the house. The entire house has flat roof except, the living + drawing core, which has a traditional sloping roof, signifying the importance of the space to stand-out as a unique element in the roof-scape of the house.
Landscape has been designed such that it gives a sense of seamless connection between the greenery and interior spaces all around the site. A congregation lawn, with a view of swimming pool rimmed with an infinity edge, stands solemnly central. An outdoor juice bar beside deck serves as a perfect venue for hosting gatherings. Lily pond with a simple graphical lawn marks the edge to the private area of the house. Beyond this, beautiful tropical planting with lawn has been done to experience the wilderness throughout the day.
