Lalli Residence by My MAATI

Simple, yet bold, are not just adjectives that can be used to describe the Lalli residence but are also virtues carried over from it’s client. The plot upon which the residence was built is part of a larger ancestral property that was to be divided amongst three sisters, leaving the client with a very small rectangular parcel of land. 

Though the client's requirements were straightforward to begin with, a simple home for a mother & her son equipped with basic amenities, the need for large multi-functional spaces added a curveball which prevented taking on a conventional residential plan. A painter by profession and connoisseur of the arts, the client wanted open spaces that could not only be used as a studio but also to screen films or host exhibitions. To accommodate the need for abundant space within the compact footprint, a rigid zoning and a fixed floor plan were abandoned in favour of a more flexible open layout. 

A garden and courtyard on either side of the house act as buffers for a cuboidal form that covers the entirety of available space, chosen to ensure the most efficient usage of the property. Placing the bathroom and kitchen along the narrower southern edge not only minimises heat gain but also leaves the majority of the ground floor to be used as a foyer cum living area. Being located within a pre-enclosed property allows for unobstructed large openings on the ground floor. Doing so not only brings in abundant natural light but also drastically opens up the space beyond the confines of its walls. One such opening is a customised window frame below the staircase, creating a pocket in the seating area that directly peers into the garden outside.