Project Details: 3137 sq. ft.
Sarathangi, 2021

Perched on Sarathangi, village close to Madurai, drop to expansive grove of Mango groves, Cashew plantation and thick flora down at western ghat Mountain range, the site measures about 1.5 acres with a built-up of 3137 Sq. ft. The rest is kept open and intelligently permeable to the elements. The house derives its form from an emotive response to the site. A combination of passive strategies and active systems which visually call out the environmental standards to which the design aspires.

On entering the house, the open voluminous entrance frames have been paved with aggregated natural stone to help natural percolation of rain water for recharging the underground water table. Excess water flow is diverted into the pit size 30’ dia which is positioned at the lowest point of the sloped terrain. An ample central pavilion acts as a bridge in connecting all individual spaces, in order to achieve valley view points for the entire house.

Stupendous fenestrations were provided specially on the rooms to furnish copious amount of light, open planning adds up to the dynamic nature of the spaces. Since large expanses of heat would be trapped in this environment, we devised a system of sustainable materials to let the breezes right through the building.

The building is climate sensitive with flooring wrapped in a Natural Terracotta, keeping the temperature under control during fierce weather.We deliberately worked on joineries to be natural by polishing them using deck oil (Naturally) rather than using artificial polish by choice. What drew us to the site in the suburb was the number of mature trees that were part of the site and surrounding environment and they were retained in the site along with exotic varieties were planted along the pathway. The walls cladded with stone Masonry were covered with native species of creepers.