- Project Name : Audumbara
- Principal Architect & Designer:Sanjay Jain
- Location :Bengaluru
- Material Palette of the project:-CSEB, Kota stone, Jaisalmer stone, Terracotta, MS, Teakwood, Rattan, Glass
This East facing residence is built on a 1,500 sft plot at Akshayanagar, Bangalore. External features include Ochre colored gates, Mangalore tiled roofs at different levels rendered with CSEB walls, a balcony porch covered by a filler slab and a red oxide wall which beckons you towards the main door.
The Ground floor is laid out with the majority of the common spaces; including living, dining, kitchen & Pooja spaces. Bedrooms are distributed among multiple floors with the Kids’ rooms being located in the intermediate floor while the topmost floor houses the Master bedroom. A bedroom on the Ground floor can be used by those that require easy access without the hassle of climbing stairs. A compact kitchen sits in the South-East quadrant, an ideal vaastu condition. The leather finish kota flooring prevents skidding in case of any liquid spills. The modular kitchen is laid in C-shaped layout & topped with a granite slab. Similar slabs have been used for ledges & as the backsplash. The height of the ledges is easily accessible and ideal to keep mugs & spices.
The house is a celebration of natural materials and vernacular design elements; be it the series of wall archways or the terracotta arches of the Jack arch roof, or circular MS windows, or the pots in the filer slabs, or the creative use of natural stones, traditional building methods have been used in a contemporary language. A space of particular importance is the captivating extended semi-outdoor family space located on the 2nd floor. A vault roof made in CSEB, cement oxide printed tile flooring & a circular pivot window all render a mesmerising view. A beautifully designed teak & rattan swing is the epitome of elegance.
With only half a portion of 2nd floor built to accommodate a Master bedroom with a walk-in & toilet along with the family, the rest of the floor is left open to a terrace. While the family area & the extended family space is divided by a glass panel folding wooden door, this space is secured from the open terrace with a folding grill door. A pitched mangalore roofing towards the front of the terrace is a major element for the front façade. These spaces, family, extended family, covered terrace & the open terrace can easily cater to a 30ppl gathering. All the building service requirements are addressed above the family & bedroom space.
The colour palette is made up of earthy tones offset to the
vibrant hues of Jaisalmer & Kota stone flooring, with white walls serving
as the perfect backdrop allowing these colours to stand out. Shades of green
are used judiciously against the wooden textures of the furniture as a
continuation of the natural theme.
The cornerstone of any good architecture is good natural
lighting and air circulation. With Vaastu being a driver for the layout,
bringing in natural light to more interior spaces can pose a challenging task.
Urban context challenges can further hinder the amount of available light. By
using borrowed light concept, namely through the introduction of a double
height volume for the living and placing a deck beside the dining, maximum
daylight is harnessed. Glass block skylights further illuminate corners without
compromising on privacy. As summers become hotter every year, the use of
natural materials & strategic placing of sizeable windows on opposite ends
of rooms ensures that the interiors remain cool.
The structure is notable for its limited use of concrete, a
feat achieved by load bearing structural design where the walls transfer the
loads to the ground. The only beams & columns used are located in the
parking area. The quantity of cement is further cut down by using alternative
roofing systems such as Filler slabs, Jack arches & Vault roof. This
further brings down the heat gain in the house. Audumbara is resourceful in its
use of water resources. Rainwater collection reduces the load on municipal
water consumption while waste water is recycled to be used in flush tanks as
well as for gardening needs.
