ARK Architecture Studio designs a quiet, cosy, humble and sustainable abode for a family of three in Thiruvananthapuram.
Curated by: Deepa Nair
Photographs: Out of Focus; courtesy ARK Architecture Studio
The site
Situated away from the commotions of Thiruvananthapuram, project Nirupamam — designed by ARK Architecture Studio — sits on a land measuring six cents, within a quiet residential area. As the site comes in the urban-rural transition zone of the city, it affords breath-taking views towards the west end of the plot, while the east faces a downward slope.
The brief
The client wanted ARK Architecture Studio to create a quiet and humble abode with minimal need of artificial lighting and air-conditioning. The family of three wanted their dining area to be the heart of their home where they would spend most of their time together as a family.
The design intent
A minimalistic design approach was adopted for this residence with the main intent of creating a quiet, cosy and humble abode, reducing the need for artificial lighting and air conditioning.
The spatial configuration
This three-storied residence was vertically zoned to meet the functional requirements of the clients. The ground floor being the semi-public zone was set to an open plan with the common spaces blending into a single linear space with intangible transitions in between.
A green courtyard acts as a semi-permeable transition space from the living to the dining area .The heart of the residence is the double-height dining area which is placed at a lower level and is flanked on one side by an internal sky-lit courtyard with lush greenery. The steps leading to the dining area also acts as an informal seating area which extends onto an in-built seating adjacent to the courtyard space.
The upper floor places the private areas of the house and features a long bridge which forms the connecting element on the east-west axis. The bridge overlooks the double-height dining and courtyard area is well lit throughout the day. An existing mango tree opposite the site was framed by the balcony doorway from the bridge providing a welcoming and aesthetically pleasing view.
The exterior of the house reflects tropical modernism. A long custom-designed armchair sits at the sit-out space overlooking the landscape of the site… for the clients to spend their quiet evenings at.
The material details
Neutral and subtle palette of materials and colours (yellow and green) was followed throughout the residence. Custom green doors were designed to bring in the liveliness of the colour. The courtyard is flavoured by different textures and patterns of green which lies in stark contrast to the rough terracotta texture of the brick cladding. Furniture was custom-designed with cane detailing to the client’s liking.
The sustainable features
The shorter side of the site which lies along the east west axis, and the downward sloping terrain was an added advantage in controlling the thermal condition of the building. Perforated terracotta jallis were carefully placed on this axis to maximise the flow of wind.
A long wind tunnel was introduced towards the west face of the residence which acts as the source for wind flow in the built form through the principle of venturi effect. The perforated screen controls the intensity of the strong winds and ensures cool breeze throughout. A stack effect core was also created with the introduction of an internal courtyard. This shaft resulted in the interiors always remaining cool despite being situated in a humid climate region.
Fact file
Project: Nirupamam
Location: Nettayam, Thiruvananthapuram
Area: 3,100 sq ft
Principal architect: Rahul Kumar
Design team: Malavika Mahesh, Lekshmi S, Rashik Ansari and Sincy Fazil
Project execution: Justin
Interior execution: MojoHomes
Furniture: Studio Itbits
Add a Comment