Fact File:
Location: Bengaluru
Size: 790 sq m
Principal Architect: Swapnil Valvatkar, Arun Kumar TD, Adwitha Suvarna
Photography by: Shamanth Patil Photography
Story of Three Courts Residence by Collage Architecture Studio expertly navigates the rigid spatial directives of Vaastu, resulting in a distinct contemporary abode. In keeping with the client’s desire for a strictly Vaastu-compliant house, the placement of the spaces in the house is in sync with the plan of the Vaastu Purusha Mandala. As a result, the most difficult challenge in designing the house was to create a visually appealing structure from a rigid programme that dictated the specific locations of various spaces. The design of this residence aims at getting rid of the solemn and stereotyped impression of a traditional Vaastu-defined home, where the nine grids curb the free-flowing creativity of design. Instead, it focuses on creating an open and lively atmosphere where the young family can grow and flourish. This residence is an ideal illustration of an urban home designed for a family of four. The clients, being simple and deeply rooted, wished to have a clean, minimalist, simple, yet modern house where nature would seamlessly tie the built and unbuilt together. The proposed site nestles in a prime, high-end residential area, with the north and east sides abutting the road.
The site measures 80 feet by 85 feet, with its other two sides surrounded by buildings. The design responds primarily to the context by retaining the existing trees and bringing their essence into the built spaces. Vaastu grid is a loose guide upon which the living spheres are placed, interspersed with sizeable chunks of a landscape carved into the built mass. The three courtyards break the monotony of stark materials and masses that define the entire structure. Each of these courts unfolds a different experience and theme for a user. The building seems to be complimented by the existing and added greenery, which is a unique experience. Upon entering, one gets an uninterrupted view of the house, with green pockets in between. Designed around three courtyards as focal points, the building’s primary spaces push and pull to create several spatial experiences—solid and void, light and dark. This house has been designed as a volume, eliminating the enclosures for individual spaces and puncturing the mass strategically to maximise the daylight in the interior spaces and open the house to the fresh wind.
A central courtyard provides a transition from public to private. Embellished with lush green foliage, the double-height court is the heart of the structure. The home may be simple yet rich in thought, details, and specifications. Projecting cubes, double-height spaces, and courtyards amidst the manicured landscaping are complementary elements used in conjunction with the material palette. Every space is visually connected to enhance interaction within the house. A level difference is tactfully used to mark the various spaces in place of creating walls, yet the privacy of each space is well maintained. Split-level planning has been adopted, thereby providing spacious rooms arranged around the central court. Zoning has been done horizontally and vertically, providing a visual and physical connection between the spaces. Skylights have been placed strategically to improve spatial quality. Elevating the living floor plate made room for parking while cutting off direct visual access to the interiors. As a result, the raised plinth functions as a compound wall for the house, eventually blending into the landscaped area.
The projecting balconies frame beautiful vistas of the surrounding area. The material palette is kept minimal; marble flooring captures reflections, while exposed concrete panels add a rustic charm to the exterior. Wood is used in balance in the interiors and the exteriors to pronounce warmth and escalate the sensation of luxury. The full-height glazed openings provide transparency and help capture the surrounding beauty. The result is a residence that is the product of a perfect amalgamation between the built and the naturally existing, a blend of modern design, materials, and natural elements. Water, earth, sky, and vegetation integrate to accentuate the contemporary design and create a warm, stylish, and inherently comfortable modern residence. Green space dominates the spatial structure of the interior layout as well as the exteriors of the building. All the common areas of the house that surround the courtyard, like the living, dining, and kitchen areas, are treated as exterior spaces to make them seem like extensions of the landscape areas into the interiors. The internal court serves a dual purpose of being a climatological feature and a striking aesthetic element.
