Location : Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

Site area : 2160 sqft

Built area : 5240 sqft

Project status : Completed

Project Team : Pradeep Arumugam , Shanil Riyaz , Bala Shanmugam ,Tasneem, Aishwarya

Project Type : Residential

concave

Location and context

Concave is a residential dwelling located in the context of a row housing unit in Thilagar Street. The site was a linear property, cramped between two other residential buildings on either side. Each residential building in the row housing unit had a specific character to it.

Challenge and solution

The cramped plot allowed only a  North-South orientation for the dwelling. The biggest challenge here was  ventilating and bringing natural daylight into the house. Puncturing the building with courtyards and skylights proved to be an effective design solution. With the help of these open courtyards, stack effect has been devised and natural daylight has been drawn into the interiors. The entire house breathed and lived with these courtyards.

Concept

To add a character to the building, similar to the other buildings in the row housing unit, a concept of creating a concave façade along the road frontage was applied. This creates an illusion of a wide façade in the shorter side of the cramped up volume. A minimal grey plaster from archiconcrete was used on this façade that contained large fenestrations in the form of balconies. A ripple effect can be seen in the skylights and doors and other interior elements, even with a play of light and shadows.  

Zoning

While the ground floor contained public spaces to entertain the guests and a bedroom for the elderly people of the house, the second floor housed the kitchen, dining, a hall and bedrooms. The last floor contained bedrooms and a study space. Each room has been exposed to the exteriors and some sort of green ensuring biophillic interiors. Vertical transportation was accomplished through the use of a lift and a staircase.

Interiors

Armani marble was used in the interiors to give it a luxurious and soothing look. A tropical style interior has been achieved with adequate use of wooden furniture and stone cladding in the courtyards that complemented the adequate greenery. Decorative pendant lights and unique fans add to the aesthetic of the interiors.