Fact File
Location: Goa
Size: 700 sq m
Principal Architects: Amita Kulkarni, and Vikrant Tike
Photography by: Fabien Charuau
Earth House by SAV Architecture + Design is a stone and teak-textured residence punctuated by shaded patios and a pool alongside an idyllic coconut tree-lined canal. Situated alongside a canal lined with coconut trees in the quaint village of Siolim, in North Goa, this house is designed with earthy stone and teak wood textures, shaded courtyards around large existing trees, and a large water pool around palms, reflecting the gentle and rooted nature of our earth. Located at the front of the canal, the house consists of long, fluid bays that open towards it and offer views of the quaint coconut palm-filled water edge. The double-height living room extends further into the landscape, shaping a linear-infinite pool, while the other bays of the dining, bar, and kitchen all extend to form louvred semi-open spaces, creating a dissolved edge condition. With large overhangs and exposed concrete roofs, the house is designed to brace the Goan tropical rains. The inner courtyards around tall existing trees and the louvred spaces keep the house passively cool and well-ventilated in the tropical climate. Most of the glazing is double-glazed and is oriented toward the north to allow minimal heat and direct sunlight into the house.
Existing old trees are preserved all around the house, with internal courtyards shaped around them to create an outdoor and tropical mood within the interiors. The entrance to the house is through a custom-crafted teak wood louvred door that shapes a modern semi-open veranda and creates a warm, inviting feel in this large house through its perforated sunlight on the cool concrete floors. The internal courtyard adjacent to this veranda brings natural light and connection to the outdoors while creating a path to the double-height living with its Fibonacci-style spiral stairs. The spiral stairs were designed as a sculptural element within this expansive double-height space and were crafted out of a spiralling white metal balustrade, enhancing their floating and sculptural feel. Wooden treads create warmth while continuing the warm details found throughout the house. The double-height living space overlooks the pool, and its slide-and-fold doors open to the coconut-lined pool and surrounding landscape. Cane furniture and a green-upholstered sofa reflect the sinuous architectural elements within the house and the tropical Goan craft and local materials. The wooden artwork on the wall is made of reused teak wood, giving warmth to the entire space.
The living spaces flow into the open-plan dining and kitchen with its Goan-Portuguese cement flooring and local granite counters and overlook another courtyard that floods the space with natural light. The kitchen extends into an outdoor dining area that sits within the outdoor landscape with its louvred, semi-open pavilion-like feel and raw wooden table and chairs. On the other side of the living area is a bar space that opens to the outdoor canal views and pool. These outdoor patios merge into the landscape and give plenty of semi-shaded spaces for the owners to enjoy a relaxed tropical evening overlooking the canal and tree-lined landscape. The ground-level bedrooms are designed to have internal courtyards around existing trees that invite soft light. The upper bedrooms are connected to private terraces that give them an expansive tropical view, connecting them to the surrounding trees. The materiality of cane and wood and the cool green and blue colours flow into the bedrooms too. All the bath spaces have a unique spatial experience and are naturally lit, expansive, and made with simple concrete and natural stone tiles. The lines and forms of the Earth House are designed to connect constantly with the outdoors, bringing nature and all its coconut palm-filled views in a modern, crafted, and fluid manner.
