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Architecture

16-10-2025

Text provided by Architect

Della is a home for a small family of four. It is located at Kolkata's satellite township, Salt Lake City. The original structure was constructed about twenty five years ago. Client wanted a new home at a moderate budget, out of this old structure. Due to budget restrictions, demolishing and rebuilding was not possible. The whole unit is thoroughly renovated and redesigned from outer shell to inside to give it a new phase of life. The old house had a lot of old furniture and each of them were modified in line with the design philosophy and reused.

The client, being an extremely enthusiastic gardener, wanted to worship nature through this project. The material palette has been so chosen that a 'raw & earthen' look & feel prevails everywhere, with a subtle touch of contemporary elegance. Strategic use of elements like burnt clay bricks, live edge wood slab, hand painted mild steel railings & frames, cement finish tiles, wooden planks, and profuse indoor and outdoor plantation have brought in the desired tropical environment. The feature walls in each space have been hand painted by an aspiring young artist, instead of wrapping them with wall papers to induce more human touch.

The outdoor spaces have been given equal priority with the interior ones. The terrace is proposed with semi open activity zones surrounded with plantation. A beautiful glass enclosed roof bar is proposed at the centre of the terrace. The glass enclosure is made of narrow glass panels in MS framing having an exposed metal sheet ceiling on top. Outdoor spaces like balconies, terrace have been well connected with indoor spaces by suitable use of large sliding glass panes and metal louvers.

A humble and handmade look and feel has been predominant in every nuke and corner of the house. The underground water reservoir at the backyard suitably treated with slate stone, narrow pathway paved with wooden plank tiles, a line of chinese bamboo plants create a beautiful openair hangout space at the ground floor.

Simplicity, functionality and cost efficiency were the three key words in the whole process of design.