The dramatic play of light overlapping with Vastu-based planning defines this home at Vadodara

This house acts as a disconnection from the sedentary lifestyle, only to draw one closer to enticing natural sunlight and fresh air.

The congruence of the most basic construction materials - brick and concrete, along with minimalistic geometry is what one comes face to face as they near this house. Revealing itself all at once, with nature peeking from beside it, a wave of calmness and serenity washes over one.

Designed to escape the urban hustle and bustle, this house belongs to a well-travelled couple. The brief for the house was straightforward. They wanted their home to be close to nature, climate-responsive and Vastu-compliant. To this, architect Urvi Shah of TRAANSPACE came up with a solution which cohesively binds all the space-making elements of the house together.

"So the house revolves around the concept of connections. The connection with nature, the connection with outside and inside also"
- Architect Urvi Shah

Site and Planning

Located on the outskirts of the city of Vadodara, the plot measures 7400 sq. ft. and lends open-ness and green views on most of its sides. With biophilia as the central idea, all the individual spaces have a direct connection with the greenery outside. Additionally, a garden is introduced in the west of the plot by placing the house off-centre. This direct connection of the interiors with exterior greens makes the home more fresh and habitable and brings peace to the homeowners.

The house is based on the principles of Vastushastra and follows the nine-grid planning. With the central space of the grid as a courtyard, the axis invites one into the house. This axis links the formal living, the double-height dining and the kitchen on one side and the family lounge, garage and bedroom on the other.

Flexible spaces

Having the spaces planned around a central courtyard, it became important to foster interconnections between these different spaces. Hence, a simple yet elegant solution - of sliding-folding doors coalesced between various spaces such as the dining room and the family lounge, living room and kitchen. Each of these spaces, demarcated from one another by sliding-folding doors, is designed to present solitary behaviour as well as act cohesively when used in conjunction. Crafted in wood and fluted glass, the doors have a classy, sophisticated and modish look.

Play of light and shadow

In the process of bringing in natural sunlight and ventilation into the house, numerous sizeable fenestrations were incorporated. Natural sunlight was brought in through sliding doors, windows and even a skylight. During the day, these bring in dramatic and dynamic patterns of sciagraphy. This enlivens the different spaces and also maintains constant energy in the house while making the experience of this home different on a daily as well as a seasonal basis.

Climatic Response

Being situated in the hot and dry region of the country, various steps such as the central courtyard were brought into the design to regulate the micro-climate of the house. While the courtyard enables efficient cross ventilation, the 14" thick brick walls, the concrete overhangs and sunscreens provide the necessary comfort and protection from the hot weather. It is in these overhangs that channels for rainwater collection are also incorporated. Based on the science of the stack effect, the skylight in the double-height dining space has a side ventilation system, which helps facilitate the regulation of temperature.

Hence, this house stands testament to being minimalistic yet grounded in traditional planning. The various elements such as the play of light and geometry, the materials used, the art curated and the furniture incorporated - all of these collectively come together to give this house its essence.