“Some projects don’t have clarity for the spaces we make. Wonders and surprises come while making it. That is the learning from this project.” — Vinu Daniel

FACT FILE

THE BIRTH OF THE IDEA

The hilltops of Trivandrum, India are a place of both beauty and solitude. Set against one of the silent hills, at the highest point in the woods, is a residence that embodies the spirit of adventure and escape.

The client who commissioned this unique dwelling is a lover of travel, constantly seeking out new destinations across the country. But the Himalayas held a special place in his heart, with their rugged terrain and majestic peaks. He dreamed of a home reflecting that same sense of awe and isolation. And so, he chose to build his abode into the very hilltop itself, creating a retreat from the world below.

A challenge was faced — the west-facing site would be subjected to the sun's harsh rays. To combat this, the designers came up with an ingenious solution. They re-imagined a hand held up to shield the eyes from the sun and transformed it into a slanting wall along the site. And thus, the concept of Shikhara was born — a peak rising up against the hilltop, offering both protection and inspiration.

ACUTE SPACES

Like every conventional architect, Vinu Daniel was hesitant to use acute-angled spaces for the fear of making uncomfortable or unlivable structures. But with a healthy amount of experimentation, he discovered that if the walls making up the acute do not meet, then the space emerges looking nothing like a small constricted corner. The space conversely feels intimate and unique. Thus, the plan of the complete house is two triangles converging. The elements of the house then eventually followed the form.

The design additionally avoids direct entrances into the house and instead favours entries from the rear. Because the entrance is thus tucked out of sight and already pretty private, the door is just a metal mesh partition which only barricades the interior from the exterior physically, not visually.

The entrance space draws you into the living room which has a small triangular courtyard lit by a skylight. To one side of the courtyard lies the master bedroom while on the other side are the dining and the kitchen.

CONSTRUCTION METHODOLOGY

As a firm, the Wallmakers are renowned for their walls. A few years prior to the construction of the Shikhara Residence, Daniel and his team developed a methodology called the Shutter Debris Wall Technique that combines the principles of rammed earth with waste material to build an ingenious wall that is sustainable.

This technique was used for the construction of the double-height space with the slant wall. Adding an interesting elevational feature in the same zone was the staircase going up which was formed out of a coiled aluminium sheet folded in a zigzag pattern to increase its compressive strength.

AT THE PEAK

Recognising that people like his client who enjoyed trekking more than anything preferred the peace that comes with solitude and being isolated within nature, Daniel aimed to have the residence replicate that atmosphere. The Shikhara Residence as a result has cosy nooks and spaces that are hard to intrude upon. For example, the terrace of the house is designed to be unapproachable — at least not obviously. There is a second bedroom in the attic of the house.

The spaces all have a minimal, down-to-earth feel to them that makes it appear as if you are really living within a mountain. The warm shades of the Shutter Debris Wall and the various angular openings work together to allow light to filter in and create a feeling of being nestled in nature, with sunlight flickering through just like it does through cracks in the stone. These elements make this space a true oasis, offering a tranquil retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life.

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