A Slice of Nice

A blend of natural materials, their textures highlighted by the sun, connections to the surroundings and a seamless programme… architect Shriya Parasrampuria of Design Stories creates a slice of heaven in a vacation home near Surat.

Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Courtesy Design Stories

The house overlooks lush lawns, an orchard and the lake beyond.

The brief

The client wanted to develop this vacation home for a large family. The farmhouse was meant to cater to all age groups along with family functions, space for kids to play, parents to relax and a sense of companionship for creating memories with family.

The site

The farmhouse is located near an artificial lake created by the agricultural canals in Vesma, near Surat, Gujarat. There is a beautiful orchard developed on one side, along with the lake view on the opposite side.

The design intent

The Lake House is meant to connect to nature with its use of natural materials, rustic finishes and openness.

The porch, formed of a vibrant canopy of creepers.

The architectural response

The brief clearly asked for a family home, and the entire planning of public spaces and private spaces has come about as per that idea. The living, the dining, the pool… all spill into each other while still being demarcated with different elements to ensure space for all groups. The juxtaposition of open, semi-covered and built-spaces allows for a lot of flexibility in spatial planning.

In keeping with the idea of the hot and humid climate, the micro-climate of the interior spaces has been dealt with a cool plunge pool, a courtyard and proper ventilation. The view of the lake and the orchard are a natural extension of all internal spaces since the rooms are oriented towards the views.

A brick arch frames a stone arch which, in turn, frames a smaller circular brick arch. The bamboo frame around the main door offers a glimpse into the main space, just hinting at more beyond the door.

The internal programme

The 4,500-sq-ft farmhouse comprises three bedrooms, an open planned living, dining and kitchen area, which extends into the pool area with a couple of courtyards, verandahs and terraces.

The first impression of the entrance of the farmhouse is the juxtaposition of the solid deep brick and the almost floating green cover on the metal frame. When one enters the lobby, a brick arch further frames the stone arch which further frames a smaller circular brick arch, highlighted by the light in the court behind. The arch leads into an open verandah with a landscaped pool on one side and a green court on the other. Each side has a vista to offer and creates a small isolated traditional verandah for a group or individuals away from the rest of the structure. On entering the main door, the first visual is that of the pool with the backdrop of the brick wall. The plunge pool acts as a separate space from the main pool, introducing the possibility of two distinct groups also enjoying simultaneously, without creating walled barriers.

The open kitchen, the court with the staircase, the plunge pool area and the pool with the outer deck and landscape are all extensions of the living and dining space. The spaces are all distinct from each other and demarcated using subtle play of the materials, roof, levels or barriers without defining each space. The staircase with the leathered black granite with the exposed concrete folded plate profile sits in the central court and is lit up through the day from various angles, creating an interesting play of light and shadows.

The staircase with the leathered black granite with the exposed concrete folded plate profile sits in the central court.

The material and colour palettes 

The material palette responds to local availability and climate. The walls are load-bearing exposed brick, stone or lime-plastered wall, creating a play of rich colours and textures. Brickwork is done in rat-trap bond, saving material and keeping internal spaces cooler through insulation. The colourful IPS floors and the polished and unpolished kota floors break the monotony of bricks and stones. The roof is used to divide spaces with flat filler exposed RCC slabs or sloping ferro-cement slabs. The twisted ferro-cement roof with bamboo under-structure covering the living area and the bedrooms, allows for a variation of scale in the spaces. Locally sourced earthen pots are used in filler slabs, further increasing the comfort levels inside. 

Fact File

Project: The Lake House
Location: Vesma, Gujarat
Area: 4,500 sq ft (built-up)
Principal architect: Shriya Parasrampuria
Design team: Prashant Dupare, Amit Patil and Ahanta Ghanti
Landscape: Plantscapes (Husnain Sabuwala)
Bamboo work: CIBART
Contractor: Raju Marothia