Bricks@47 by Design Plus

Any project where an architect receives an open hand is an ideal project. However, as the studio acknowledged during Bricks@47, it’s also an immense responsibility. It helped that we knew the occupants well, personally, and could discuss accurate programmatic solutions during the formation of the brief. The house is designed for a young nuclear family with 4 permanent residents. Apart from the proverbial bedrooms the program evolved with 2 studies and several overlapping, yet shared family spaces. Each of these was constantly engaged with the 18’ high dining. 

Understanding that the couple is known for hosting impromptu gatherings, the public function was taken to the 2nd floor [top floor] instead of impeding into the areas that the family was expected to occupy at any time. This public function was the Bar. While the indoors accommodate a gathering of 18, the adjacent terraces could account for a gala. 

To assist in hosting the frequent galas, the terrace landscape carried functional elements like the built-in Barbeque, platform for lighting a bon-fire, permanent wood clad furniture and of course abundant plantation. The fact that the owner is always the life of the party, and never away from a jovial narration, the terrace carried a small amphitheater for his potential audience. 

Additional interpretation of the requirement was the expandable kitchen. The lady of the house is also a professional chef, who would conduct frequent training sessions. The kitchen was designed with one of the walls as collapsible doubling as a worktop to allow for 5 students, with vantage to the various culinary activities.

One of the beautiful conversations that ensued during the design development was the idea of carrying memories from the couple’s ancestral home. The ever-present scent of the Nimbu Tree, the monochromatic geometric flooring inlays, the clean terrazzo floor, the enjoyment of lazy winter afternoons at the verandah, fused the essential romance to the developing spaces.