Brick by Brick

In the wide, leafy, residential lanes of Coimbatore, Murali Architects raises the bar on innovation using the humble brick and cement to design the Vinod Residence.

Curated by: Ambica Sharma
Photographs: Binson Oommen Baby; courtesy Murali Architects

The brief

Set in lush surroundings, Vinod Residence in Coimbatore, designed by Murali Architects is spread across a 2,400 sq ft plot, with a built-up area of 6,000 sq ft. Privacy, without compromising on light, ventilation, and space, was the main concern of the client. This lead to an introverted house plan, with a contemporary design, and a traditional material, the wire-cut bricks, applied to facades and interiors, in a novel usage.

The design response

An inward-looking house plan was developed, keeping in mind the privacy concerns of the owner. “Privacy being the most vital factor, the facade gets a rustic double skin… which partially cuts down the visual interaction between the inside and the outside, yet allows the air and light to flow through,” says Murali Murugan,, principal architect, Murali Architects.

The exposed wire-cut bricks are used in their true nature allowing them to twist and turn to form a pattern on the skin.

First, the facade was designed using misaligned facets of the wire-cut bricks. The intriguing ripple effect thus created leads the eye across itself, repeatedly, without exposing the interiors. Secondly, the facade allowed for a multi-layered, three-floor interior, which is dotted with small courtyards, niches, glass-panelled floors, etc, placed around a central courtyard. This controlled the subjugation of the interiors, and infused them with light and air. While drawing inspiration from traditional courtyard homes, the unique use of wire-cut bricks, to create dynamic surfaces, has placed Vinod Residence firmly into the future as a beacon of current contemporary architecture.

Stairs from the dining leading to the mezzanine. This house plays out across different levels, all visually enmeshed with each other.

The spatial flow

A highly coordinated space, the interiors flow into each other via the placement of green courts, glass-panelled floors, and walls. These transform the three-storeyed space into a single volume. On the ground floor, is the double-height living room which is flanked by two courtyards. Meanwhile, a central courtyard, which houses the puja area, leads to the dining space. “The dining, kitchen, and gym area open onto a large sky-court, with a swimming pool. It offers beauty and visual interconnections between spaces on various levels,” says Murali. The mezzanine floor has a guest room and a family lounge, plus a reading nook, complete with greenery and a swing. The first floor has the master bedroom with its landscaped court, plus a private balcony on either side. This floor also has the daughter’s bedroom featuring a bay window and an inclined brick wall.

The well-ventilated interiors, where the play of light creates statements on every face of the inner brick walls.

The material and colour palettes

The medium of expression of the Vinod Residence is also its colour definition. The burnt-red of the wire-cut bricks from Kerala is complemented by the greys of the plastered cement, and they in turn are juxtaposed against marble flooring and granite.

Fact file

Project: Vinod Residence
Location: Coimbatore
Area: 2,400 sq ft (site) and 6,000 sq ft (built-up)
Principal architect: Murali Murugan
Design team: Seethapthi, Thompson, Deepak, Twinkle, Aruna Angelin, Sadham, and Bharathy