Published in:

Nature’s Abode / Aura

Author manan

Published on: August 8, 2023

Designed By: Aura
Completion Year: 2022
Area: 3,300 sq. ft.
Project Location: Shahabad, Haryana
Type: Residential
Photographer’s Name: Purnesh Dev Nikhanj

Nature’s Abode is a residence designed for the Garg`s who are located in the town, Shahabad, Haryana- A place of extreme temperatures.

In a setting of such extreme temperatures and dry weather condition, creating a residence came with few challenges of its own. Proposing materials that cater to the weather conditions throughout the season cycle, installing and configuring those materials and ensuring their working conditions later are the few challenges the architects had to tackle in the initial stages of designing the same. For such a site, the concept had to be carefully laid for a family that fancies simplicity in their ways.

About the project

Irena Apartments

Project Location:

Ghatkopar

Gross Built Area

15,000 sq.ft +

Completion Year:

2024

Responding to the context and the south facing of the site, proposed solutions for the architecture of the house were the installation of a live green wall system with built-in concrete planters as the front façade and open planning throughout.

The system intends to not only prevent harsh sunlight in the afternoon, but also limit the view from outside to inside the house. Therefore, the interior space becomes quieter, more private and cool. The use of concrete as a material is intended to blend in with the greens over time to curate a harmonious theme.

This façade provides a cool stream of wind and oxygen to not only the owner but also to everyone around them. The canopy makes the house look as simple as a green wall, making the neighbourhood look friendlier. The structure seemed to have blend in with the context as if literally ‘grown’ out of it.

About the open planning, the ground floor was divided into foyer cum drawing area, the double heighted living area leading to a lush-green backyard, two bedrooms and open kitchen with adjacent dining area opening to an OTS light well with a centrally placed puja ghar like a reinvented ‘Aangan’.

The planning was done keeping openness in mind to help promote the cross-ventilation throughout the structure from the water fountain via the big oriel window in the master bedroom to the backyard.

Proposing this concept of Eco-Brutalist, Biophilic and Modern style in such a way to a family who favoured traditional methods was a task well taken over by the peers at aura. The family seemed satiated by the outcome and continues to stay peacefully in their home.

Continuing this theme to the first floor, big openings from the light well were carved to aid the cause. It consisted of the lobby, a big seating area besides the light well, two bedrooms and a common area leading to the small terrace laced with the RCC planters and an in-cast RCC seating. Further the first floor transitioned into the big terrace.

‘Nature’s Abode’, the name, arises from the idea of a standout blend of rustic aesthetic and our first home i.e. Nature which generates a sensory serenity as soon as it’s been encountered. The project is a combined outcome of tranquillity and conceptual brilliance where hearth is amalgamated in a structure wrapped in the arms of nature.

A modern day structure which is an embodiment of a ‘Natural’ Brise Soleil– A structure where numerous openings are filled with plants to mitigate heat gain.

The visualization of this entity revolved around the planned play of masses and voids interspersed with right materials and careful installations. The facade of the structure stands by the fact ‘A Symphony with Nature’ through its evolution and the on-going theme. The partially screened façade helped to mitigate heat gain in response to the hot weather of Shahabad. The water fountain is intended as a physical method for reducing heat as well as a psychological release for the family.

To design a natural prelude was the original idea of this abode which was later intertwined with functionality, aesthetics, durability and honesty of material textures. Punctuated by planters throughout the façade to facilitate privacy against the exposed, indirect sunlight and air flow, this haven is spread on a land of 220-square-meter.

Coming to the choice of the greens, the careful choices mark the uniqueness and efficiency of this residence. The main goal was to go as natural as possible for the evolution of façade to follow the built-structure naturally that it gave the idea of being literally ‘grown’ out of it.

Starting with the entrance gate, the beautiful Bougainvillea is planted on account of their fast growth and aesthetic value. The small foliage flowering plant which requires less sunlight covered the front yard. Seasonal flowering creepers are made to propagate around the big window to maintain harmony on the overall façade.

Coming to the façade, the lower two rows of the planter series are planted with the curtain creepers to cover the maximum section of the façade for the years to come while creepers and Bougainvillea along with some aesthetic flowering plants covered the rest of it because of the fast growing and aesthetic factor for the appeal. All these plants and vegetation was planned throughout to retain the essence of the structure. Pines were installed in the front plant bed to withhold the harsh winter look of concrete followed by the creeper bed.

The rear garden houses the Fig trees, Sapodilla plants, Dwarf Mangoes, Curry Tree, Lemon Grass, Hibiscus, Coriander, Mint plants- all keeping the Indian taste intact. The Rudraksha Tree was planted in the central courtyard for two reasons: One being its religious stature in Hindu Mythology and second being its medicinal impact on the living conditions. The rest of the courtyard being covered with Money plants as climbers and Bermuda grass as the ground cover. Going up the suspended staircase, the vegetation on the first floor follows the theme throughout.

The plantation on the small terrace features Areca Palm for a visual edge in the vertical growth laced with peace lilies since they don’t really require sun and their blooming season stays throughout. Evidently, the thoughtful plantation sprouted success throughout the structure and still keeps on going, blooming and propagating naturally-beautifully.

The carved out slit in the compound wall lets the gush of cold air in over the stream of water fountain keeping the cross ventilation in check via properly planned fenestrations and openings. The living conditions really stands out making the neighbourhood cozy and natural through its rustic outlook and green feels.

In its 220-square-meter surface, aura intertwines aesthetics and functionality,emphasizing the honesty of the textures of raw materials, such as concrete,steel, clay, and wood keeping the overall theme of the house Rustic, Cozy and Earthy.

A discreet oasis of unusual architecture to immerse yourself in a state of absolute reflection.

Through the interior views, a haven is created bordered by the sky, the forcefulness of the walls, and by the vegetation with shoots of greens and flower, fruit trees. The color palette is made up of woody, cozy tones, beiges complimented with blue, grey and white as accents for the space along with the harmony in textile, aluminium and glassware elements.

The furnishings portray a raw texture that adds up to the vibe of the place making the place more deep and hospitable. Throughout the spaces, glass fenestrations are flexibly used in many different positions to bring natural light into the building as well as minimize power consumption.

In conclusion, any design needs to be interactive between the space and the users. As responsible designers we should take on the responsibility for a design to be human-centric; understanding the studies, passions and conduct of users. The conditions surrounding the home should better over time for any design to be called a ‘success’ and that is what aura aimed for. Human interaction allowed communication with spaces through green design and open circulation. The evolution the façade and structure is something to look forward for the coming years.