The
dappled house is a construct born out of deep contemplations and study of
constricts within the scopes of the contexts of location and client
requirements. Situated in the urban context of Palakkad, this residence sits
within a size-constraint plot and is surrounded by houses in close proximity.
The clients wanted a home they could relish that was private and intimate to
them and away from busybodies. Wanting a three-bedroom house for themselves in
a relatively linear and narrow plot, the only requisite the homeowners had was
for their new home to feel spacious and intimate.
Considering
the challenge of designing lavish spaces in a size constraint plot, the design
team sought to plan the layout by including courtyards and gardens within the
home. The concept was to invite nature inside the house rather than leaving a
large garden outside in the public eye, which the residents would not enjoy. As
a result of this concept, the team came up with the idea of designing an
interior with dappled lighting. Simple yet effective, the architect designed
the roof with round perforations in random order and placed it along the sun's
path to get a diffused shimmering of light which enhances the subtle effect of
light modes to be experienced by everyone in the house. The prayer room and the
courtyard have floods of light through a combination of skylights and
perforations of the roof and walls.
Integrating
courtyards with the living and dining spaces and strategically placing the
double-height prayer area in between them exudes warmth and unifies the spaces
while exemplifying the architecture and interior design. The backdrop of lush
tropical plants and water fountains in rooms and the play of natural light
wipes away the client's initial concerns. The staircase is rightly positioned
beside the prayer room, separating the living and dining, giving the former the
privacy it needs. Inclusive courtyards in the interiors provide the residents
with unique spaces where they can enjoy the greens and good natural light
within the privacy of their homes. The house is compact, optimal, and rich in
the play of light. A cantilevered family living with a balcony shapes the upper
facade of the house, which is a contemporary derivation of the traditional
sloping roofs seen in the city.
The house
shows a neutral palette of greys and whites through the common areas with pops
of hues and colours in the private zones. The intimacy of spaces is transcended
through minimal interventions like the continuation of the perforation from the
roof to the wall to the sliding partitions and in terms of shades of blue and green
chosen throughout the house. The home is a prototype of modern city houses in
urban contexts of size constraint plots that cater to the mental and physical
health of its occupants by carefully iterating the green spaces around and
inside homes.
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