- PROJECT NAME: ABHYUDAYA VILLA
- PROJECT BY: KNS ARCHITECT
- PROJECT LOCATION:INDIA-GUJARAT-AHMEDABAD
- PRINCIPAL ARCHITECTS:AR.KANHAI GANDHI, AR. NEEMESH SHAH, AR.SHRESHT KASHYAP
- DESIGN TEAM:AR. KANHAI GANDHI, AR. NAMRATA DESHPANDE, PRASHANT PIPALIA, PRAFUL MEWADA
- OFFICE WEBSITE:WWW.KNSARCHITECTS.COM
- COMPLETION YEAR:2015
- BUILT AREA :15000 SQ.FT
- PHOTOGRAPHER:RADHIKA PANDIT
The plot is located in Ahmedabad (Gujarat), in an urban zone with other villas adjoining the Site. The plot primarily a barren flat piece of rectangular land with no immediate views, the profile of the East side angled out towards the North entry and has a road abutting the structure on one end.
The brief of the Client, a well-travelled owner was a contemporary modern villa integrated with principals of vastu.
The Concept was to create an ‘Urban Oasis’ within this dry & arid piece of land with internal view sheds.
In response to the clients brief and keeping the context of the site in the mind, the house was positioned at the southern end of the plot, away from the entry giving enough depth to perceive the structure but also as per vastu keeping the south side heavier. This also doubled up as a grand entrance with manicured lawns with a water body leading to the entrance porch.
The design of this 15000 sq.ft. villa is dictated by clean lines and angled geometry, integrated with the principals of Vastu. The architectural vocabulary integrates the principals of modernism with traditional responses to the local geography and climate.
The villa is spread across three levels – basement, ground and first with every floor serving a specific purpose. The ground floor houses the common spaces along with a couple of bedrooms, whereas the upper floor connected to the ground through a sculptural circular staircase is treated as a private space with the family bedrooms and den. The entertainment zone is isolated and created in the basement of the house, connected to the external lawns by a floating staircase. A light well is created on the eastern side of the plot fringed with landscape elements to allow natural light in to the space. This naturally ventilates the basement, making it a bright and airy space thereby reducing the need to artificially light up the space.
The habitable spaces were planned around a central courtyard to enable cross ventilation across maximum rooms. An ‘L’ shaped shallow water body was planned, wraps along one side of the structure to help cool the cross breeze, thus lowering the ambient temperature and creating a comfortable micro-climate.
The top floor was imagined as a floating white mass with a 2m projection with and interplay of scooped hollows, not only does this add to the weather projection for the structure but also created an interesting play of light and shadow. In order to infuse movement and dynamism into the structure angular planes were introduced in both the horizontal and vertical dimensions. At some places this profile flows forward and lifts up to create sharp angles along certain facades while it also flows down extending to form the linear lines of the landscaped flower beds.
In response to the harsh climatic conditions a number of passive design principles were adopted. Double walling on the first level helps insulate against the harsh summers and cold winters while offering weather protection for the glazed openings. Additionally, the first floor is cantilevered outward providing a weather shade for the ground level. Maximum glazing has been introduced along the north facade while the south and west faces have been kept impenetrable.
Landscape was a key element considered while designing. These were used to define direction as well as connect the landscape with the built structure. Strategic placement of trees along the fringe of the double height spaces enabled sun shading & cooling along with a thick plantation along the periphery of the plot to maintain privacy from neighbours.
The material palette was chosen to complement and lend to the elegant clean lines of the structure. Wood cladding was added to bring warmth to the ground level and white paint finish to lend lightness to the first level.
The interiors have been kept simple, uncluttered and minimalistic designed in a homogenous colour scheme i.e. in hues of beige. The furniture follows the spirit of the house with handpicked pieces from South East Asia.
Over all the design makes this modern contemporary adobe for a small family a habitable space which can be enjoyed throughout the year.
