Within Cuboids / Alok Kothari Architects

a cost-effective 3-bedroom house featuring an exposed brick façade, a charming kitchen garden and privacy amidst future developments on neighbouring plots.

Project Name : Within Cuboids
Project Location : Pune, India
Architect/Interior Designer : Alok Kothari Architects
Principal Designer : Alok Kothari

Photographer: Hemant Patil

A young couple working in the IT industry embarked on a journey to build their home on a 3,700 sq.ft. parcel of land located in a serene gated community on the outskirts of Pune with breath taking views of the Sahyadri mountain ranges. Their vision was to have a cost-effective 3-bedroom house featuring an exposed brick façade, a charming kitchen garden and privacy amidst future developments on neighbouring plots.

The advantage of having a brief that was not loaded with a lot of requirements was that the site could be opened for un-built spaces. Working on these lines, the house was planned within two parallel cuboids anchored around a central axis. The axis – an alley leading to the entrance – is at the core of the design philosophy. A covered courtyard filled with river pebbles and adorned with a ‘tulsi- vrindavan’ welcomes you at the main door and acts as a connector to the 2 cuboids. Along with the central court, the permanence of the central axis is further reinforced with a ‘tabebuia rosea’ tree that anchors the transitional space between the parking & the house entrance. The stepping stones pathway leading to the main door adds to the significance of the axis.

Both cuboids host open courtyards on the ground floor, seamlessly integrating the interior spaces and amplifying their volumes. The living room extends into the veranda and then flows into the green lawn of the living court – beauty of which is further amplified by a ‘frangipani’ tree tucked in a corner and boulders found during the site excavation. A reversible wooden swing in the living room adds a sense of movement to the space.

The dining area abuts the front open courtyard, offering a visual connection with the outdoors and the main gate. Placement of the blue fabricated staircase between the dining and courtyard makes the space more dynamic.

The courtyards on the ground floor are strategically positioned to connect with the public spaces of the house viz. the living and dining. To address the client’s concerns regarding privacy, exposed brick perforated walls have been incorporated at both the open courtyards. This not only screens the indoors from outsiders but also adds an engaging element to the space.

First floor hosts two master bedrooms, each placed in both cuboids respectively. The expanse of these bedrooms is accentuated by the balconies, which offer panoramic views of the mountains & open fields. Unlike the ground floor, the first floor is opened to establish a stronger connection with the outdoors. The yellow spiral staircase leading to the terrace has been pulled out into the rear balcony, reflects the same.

The massing of the house has been kept subtle with a focus on accentuating the geometry of the cuboids. Strategically placed exposed brick perforated walls highlight the courtyards & give them a natural look. Earthy tone of the walls complements the brick façade & also imparts a sense of warmth. To mitigate future privacy concerns, openings on the side walls have been kept minimal, with larger openings only on the front and rear walls.

Courtyards not only draw in natural light but also help in boosting the natural ventilation. Placed on the east & west façade, the perforated brick wall of the courtyards reduces the glare. Deep recessed balconies on the first floor and minimum number of openings on the south façade further decrease the heat gain. Together with this and the stack ventilation enabled through ventilation punctures at the top of the central courtyard, the design reduces the dependency on mechanical ventilation.

Harmonizing with the earthy material palette of the exteriors, the interior flooring is a combination of different natural stones. Basalt stone covers the entire ground floor except for the entrance lobby and the buffer space between the dining & kitchen to highlight their importance as ‘pause points.’ The flooring pattern of concentric squares in Jaisalmer stone anchored to a central geometric motif enhances the beauty of these spaces. Basalt flooring extends to the common areas of the first floor, while the bedrooms feature a combination of Jaisalmer and green Kota stone flooring.

The vibrant colours (blue & yellow) of the staircases not only accentuate the beauty of the stone flooring but also highlight their importance as movement lines.