Fact File
Location: Bangalore
Size: 6500 sq m
Principal Architect: Rajesh Shivaram
Photography by: Shamanth Patil
AIKYA House by Technoarchitecture is an intriguing representation of the practice’s ongoing expression of contemporary tropical residential architecture, with its modern sensibilities beautifully juxtaposed with the timeless aesthetics of the past. It is evocative of the simple, open structures of times past, yet possessed of a modernity of spirit perfectly in keeping with contemporary life. The house conflates rather than juxtaposes indoor and outdoor spaces in perfect harmony. Contemporary needs and the client’s strict brief of a “no clutter home” helped in deciding the colour palette of the house.
On entering this south-facing property, it is thematically reminiscent of the modern version of “Angel Angkul,” which isolates views of the property and protects inhabitants. Once inside, the building occupies one portion of the site area and orients itself into an external courtyard that occupies the other half. Visitors can enter directly into the landscape area, with a water body in the northeast corner highlighting the courtyard. On the eastern side of the ground floor, the living and dining areas look directly over the garden and the water body and are designed as a single large area, while the other spaces like the kitchen and bedroom are designed to contribute to the ordered flow of the property, creating an air of space and tranquillity.
The main staircase, designed as part of the internal court, separates the public and semi-public spaces and leads above to the private bedrooms and the family area, which has a small bridge leading to the “pavilion” on the eastern side. An elongated bridge in grey stone extends past the perimeter of the outdoor living space, linking the water body. On the second level, the public utilities like the audio-visual room, bar, and gym are positioned to have privacy and protection from direct sunlight. All the spaces are naturally directed inward, utilising the central indoor court and the external landscaped lawn to become focal points, underscoring the dramatic symbiosis between indoor and outdoor spaces.
