Fact File
Location: Bangalore
Size: 725 sq m
Principal Architects: Smaran Mallesh, Narendra Pirgal and Vikram Rajasekaran
Photographs courtesy: Cadence Architects
Cloaked by Cadence Architects is a novel architectural specimen located on an angular plot amidst a dense urban fabric. A distinct facade of perforated weathering steel artistically conceals the seemingly levitated horizontal planes of the structure, creating depth and visual novelty. Unfinished concrete bands have been adroitly juxtaposed with the red accents of the veil-like, delicately crafted steel sheet. A neutral interior palette with an earthy aesthetic and understated detailing is a perfect contrast to the fortress-like exterior.
“Cloaked” is an abode design intervention, monolithically pitched into a tightly knit urban setting. It is enclosed on all sides by an overpowering city fabric. “The design was incorporated into a challenging triangular site profile with acute angles at the two corners,” explained the designers. With two edges abutting the bustling street and a third engulfed by a structural edifice, the western corner of the plot is the highest point of the moderately sloping plot. Optimizing the angular nature of the site, the structure is representative of armour—a defence against the tumult of city life.
Elucidating the spatial composition of this residence, the architects said, “Programmatically, the core of the site unifies and divides the layout into two distinctive activity zones resonating vertically and horizontally through the building.” “The primary bulk is lifted off the street level, translating into a stilted parking structure at ground level, while the terrace level parasol manifests a sharply angled concrete slab, giving it a sense of finesse,” they said. A double-height living space and stairwell anchor the triangular layout of the spaces. A kitchen, dining area, and semi-open verandah are housed in the eastern wing, while the west side features an en-suite bedroom. The second level is marked by several private quarters, converging at a centrally located pedestrian bridge. The third level is defined by an expansive terrace with a covered lounge area at its core, facilitating beautiful views of the city’s treescape. A guest room is nestled here as well. The surreal filtered light streams through the façade, enlivening a rustic and restrained interior palette and creating an ethereal ambience for the warm, curated spaces.
