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4
A four-storey 10,000 sq ft bungalow
in Bengaluru by Archventure pays
heed to Zen principles to introduce a
sense of calm, while providing ample
entertainment spaces for the clients.
TEXT: APURVA BOSE DUTTA
PICTURES: COURTESY ARCHVENTURE
Zen
&
entertainment,
anyone?
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bungalow
Wood the only
hint of colour here
silently makes its
presence felt.
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Critics of archi-
tecture often have to respect the
fact that single dwellings are reflec-
tive of an individuals preferences,
desires and how he/she routinely
lives life. When an architect steps
in, translating these dreams into
reality becomes the paramount
goal. The residence of business-
man Dr Vasu Reddy designed by
architect-duo Prashanth Raj and
Shilpa Patel, is located in one of the
upscale locations in Bengaluru.
On a longitudinal west-facing
50 ft x 100 ft plot, the residence
designed in early 2013 has a
built-up area of 10,000 sq ft and
is spread on four levels. One does
end up questioning the plan-
ning of the bedrooms one on
each floor (barring the second
floor), that of the guest room on
the parking floor, the bedroom of
aged parents on the entry level
and the forced walk that gets dic-
tated by vastu to access the north
oriented main entrance (facing
barren land). But then, in residen-
tial architecture the client does
become the guiding voice.
Nevertheless, one does enjoy
the huge parking level, which
is convertible into a multipur-
pose space (for social gather-
ings) from where steps lead to
the entry level most easily the
best designed level of the house.
The clients a couple and their
two small kids required entertain-
ment spaces due to the proxim-
ity of their extended family and
wanted multiple, affluent, clutter-
free spaces without losing con-
nections, yet maintaining privacy.
The additional brief included a
Artefacts throughout the house induce a very serene and tranquil effect. A reclining, custom designed Buddha (symbolic of
peace and the resting phase of life) on a pebbled path with a magni cent seashell in the background, resting under the soft
fabric chandeliers, sets the tone for the Zen ambience.
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The touch of materials
lends the texture in this
house and the minimalist
furniture holds on to the
Zen theme.
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very designer home which led
the architects to follow a Zen kind
of approach to attain this ambi-
ence, a practice that they have a
close affinity with, as seen in their
many villa developments, a typol-
ogy their specialise in.
Todays stressful times do call
for a home that brings with it
an inherent sense of peace and
relaxation. Zen principles thus
find their way in much interior
design and bring about balance,
harmony and relaxation. Natu-
ral colours, placing softness at
the feet (wooden flooring/car-
pets), playing with soft and natu-
ral light and greenery, avoiding
ostentatious ornamentations and
complicated detailskeeping
it simple is the ideal way to go
Zen. This residence takes care of
these aspects.
The Zen approach in the resi-
dence is accentuated by the
minimalist design, earthy colours,
expansive flowing spaces, huge
doses of greenery (the private
gardens in the two living rooms
on the entry level, courts in the
master and childrens bath, the
landscaped terrace on the sec-
ond level), use of wood (hard-
wood in the entry level and lami-
nates in the upper levels), straight
line furniture, and the custom-
designed drapes.
A pathway at the entry level
amidst lush landscaping and
garden leads you to the glass
wall which opens on to the 22
ft high entry court connecting
the formal and informal living. A
reclining custom-designed Bud-
dha (symbolic of peace and the
resting phase of life) on a pebbled
path with a magnificent seashell
in the background resting under
the soft fabric chandeliers, sets
the tone for the Zen ambience.
A strategic horizontal cut out in
the FRP vertical wall between
the entry court and the informal
living offers views of the informal
living and the green spill over,
at the same time inviting natural
illumination.
White dominates and Prashanth
adds, White is natural for us but
when used too much it becomes
cold, hence a bit of wood is used to
subdue the effect. The wood (the
only hint of colour) silently makes
its presence felt in the entry court
and formal living in the flooring and
the ceiling; meandering between
the vertical wall and veneer slats
partition (camouflaging the stair-
case and the lift). A rustic stone
wall in white quartzite stone in the
formal living (as also in the master
bath and informal living) lends tex-
ture to the entire space and initi-
ates a sense of curiosity.
The family hub consisting of the
double height informal living, puja
space, dining and kitchen cel-
ebrates the absence of walls and
has its own segregation with the
Italian marble flooring; however
the wood on the ceiling main-
tains its continuity from the for-
mal living area. Even without the
necessary demarcations these
functional spaces retain their indi-
vidual identity through elements
that double as space dividers
the engineered granite breakfast
counter in a curved profile, creat-
ing an interesting contrast with the
other straight lines and a similar
curved seating ledge (in flexible
acrylic countertop) segregating
the kitchen and dining space.
Natural light trickles in from the
horizontal kitchen windows, and
seems adequate as in the entire
house. While it is admitted in the
master bath through the fixed FRP
louvre system opening into the
court, even artificial light makes
a statement at many places the
kitchen ceiling lights giving the
illusion of skylights, the fabric light
chandeliers in the entry court and
the copper lamp fittings in the bar.
Taking cognisance of the orienta-
tion, the architects have kept the
larger openings towards the north
while providing ample overhangs
on the western facade. The kids
Soft fabric chandeliers set the tone
for the Zen ambience.
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The engineered granite breakfast
counter has a curved pro le, creating
an interesting contrast with the other
straight lines. Natural light trickles in
from the horizontal kitchen windows.
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bedroom balcony on the second
level faces west and with a large
overhang, is converted into a large
play terrace.
Having taken care of the basic
elements of Vastu, Prashanth
admits, More than treating vastu
as a constraint while designing, we
transformed it into an opportunity
to make the clients agree to a few
unique ideas. For example, in vastu
the northeast needs to be kept
open, so we planted a small green
court with a water body a spill
over from the informal living which
became the surprise element of
the family hub.
Artefacts throughout the house
induce a very serene and tran-
quil effect. The touch of materials
lends the texture in this house and
the minimalist furniture holds on
to the Zen theme. In the exterior
faade, there is a continuity of the
sandstone broken by glass and
FRP panels. As architects who
create buildings that are honest
in their structural expression, the
designers have created a con-
ventional RCC framed structure
with solid block masonry, with
steel pergolas.
The master bedroom has a
light brown flooring, a striking
headboard and a jacuzzi (an ele-
ment typical of Zen architecture).
The bedrooms of the daughters
in purple and pink on the upper
floors support interesting wallpa-
pers. Amongst other programme
requirements, there is a media
room and lounge on the second
floor and a gym, billiards and two
terraces on the third floor.
One somehow misses the
visual connectivity throughout the
other portions of the house as
felt in the informal living. The 4 ft
6 in high railings on the first level
made to ensure the safety of the
kids, somehow makes this more
conspicuous.
Prashanth fondly mentions that
training under architect Sharukh
Mistry and studying the works of
architect Jaisim have inspired him,
other than Zen and Balinese archi-
tecture. He adds, In Bali, there is
no concept of rooms there is a
cooking pavilion, a kitchen pavil-
ion and so on. There exists a
beautiful weave of the open and
built, which is very inspiring.
The Zen approach in the residence
is accentuated by the minimalist design,
earthy colours,
expansive owing spaces
and huge doses of greenery.
bungalow
I
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