Fact File
Location: Surat, Gujarat
Size: 870 sq m
Principal Architect: Saurabh Jain
Photography by: Sebastian Zachariah, Photographix India
H-House by Co.lab Design Studio in Surat inverts the concept of a bungalow set in a garden by encapsulating natural green spaces within the house. To create a luxurious and spacious home where the owner feels constantly connected to the outdoors, the design inverts the concept of a bungalow set in a garden by infusing gardens into the bungalow and encapsulating the natural green space within the house. The private residence is designed to flow with how the family functions in their routine life, breaking down to a simple formula: private versus public. Hence the arrangement has been divided into two wings connected by the circulation, making it an H-shaped layout, with one wing being the guest wing (public) and the second wing being the family wing (private), with gathering spaces flanked by courtyards on both sides, which set up dramatic views of the immediate greenery throughout the house.
The building layout creates a complete and hermetic bond between the interior and the exterior. The courtyards serve as transitional spaces that allow microclimates to be experienced daily, blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor living. The captivating courtyard design provides this home with a sense of serenity and acts as a personalised nature retreat that feeds into adjacent interior spaces. The design intent for the house is focused on creating experiences where meaning and substance take precedence over gratuitous form. The design was enhanced by embracing and highlighting the scale as required while creating a warm ambience for the residents.
The building stands strong on its own, with minimal architectural forms. The character of the residence is generated by the inclusion of an off-form solid mass that dramatically cantilevers over the underlying spaces. The upper volume is stone-clad, creating the illusion of floating atop the delicate glass from below. The extensive glazing on the ground floor “lights up” the massive structure, and the black granite mass on the top acts as an interface with the surrounding neighbourhood, making the spaces introverted in character. Hence, the contrast between opacity and transparency continues throughout the house with the efficient use of materials. On the other hand, the monotony of the solid box is broken up by the timber-looking movable aluminium screen, which serves to soften the robust stone cladding texture.
