TWIN HOUSE

Tied with Umbilical Cord

The architecture shows the beautiful bond of a family of three generations living together for decades that decided to live ‘independently’ without actually ‘separating’.

INTRODUCTION

The two sons bought two plots, adjacent to each other; decided to get a house built in such a fashion that allowed them to live separately without actually separating--that too within the same premises. They contacted R K Malik & Associates, owned by Ar. Rakesh Kumar Malik, popularly known as Ar. R K Malik.

Established in 1987, Ar. R K Malik & Associates is a well-known architecture firm in Moradabad (UP). Specialists in senior living and healthcare, the firm focuses on creative approaches to multi-family and multi-generational housing, delivering the highest level of service and sensitivity to its clients. Famed for fusing creativity with innovation and creating stunning architectural masterpieces, RK Malik designs buildings that fit the landscape, the program, and the budget.

DESIGN QUOTIENT

To create such an abode, the architect took around a year, which also included his rounds of discussions with the client. It took him a great deal to study and understand the specific requirements of each family members and then listing out the needs of every individual.

It was quite a challenge to incorporate and combine the varied needs of the septuagenarians, the quinquagenarians and the vicenarians in one structure. It was a matter of filing up the generational gap with an architectural design to meet the needs of all and satisfy each of the inhabitants. The challenge was successfully overcome.

The east-facing plot measures 40m x 60m in area. The plan so prepared was to develop spaces for the two families living together with visible separation. Each of the twin houses comprise covered area, semi

covered area, and an open area (the green courtyard) which is common for both the families.

The architecture so prepared has a main entrance, a puja room, six bedrooms, two drawing rooms, two living rooms + kitchens, a green courtyard, one swimming pool, a fire place, a waterfall, a home theatre, a discotheque, and an expanded parking for not less than four cars. This listing clearly shows that the requirements of each of the three age groups have been fulfilled.

Entering through the common entrance for the building, the twin house gets their separate ways right after stepping in the seating area on the ground floor. As the name depicts, twin house is the mirror of one-another. Subsequently, the ground floor of every house has two bedrooms, one living area encompassing kitchen, and a drawing room.

At the entrance, there is a double height ceiling, an expanded seating area, a temple, and two separate entries for the twin houses. This main entry goes across the last point of the building crossing the open veranda, green courtyard, swimming pool, and waterfall. The green courtyard comes right in the middle

Ar. RK Malik & Bharat Malik, RK MALIK & ASSOCIATES

of the twin house and never allows the inhabitants to feel separated.

The first floor is reserved for the new generation with three bedrooms--one in front and two in the back. These apart, there is an expanded seating area, a living area, a discotheque, and a home theatre getting connected through a terrace overlooking to the common areas on the ground floor. On the terrace, there is one more bedroom making each of the twin houses a sixbedroom abode.

VASTU ANGLE

The twin house is so designed that it makes the environment healthier for its inhabitants. Front lawn, terrace and the green courtyard – all are in the same line, bifurcating the twin house. Each room gets ample sunlight throughout the day and is completely ventilated having an opening towards the green courtyard. All this shows that it has been designed and built keeping in mind the Vastu principles.

The USP of the building is its openness. The architectural design has been created in such a fashion that not even a single corner of the house needs artificial lighting during the day. All enclosures--be it bedrooms, living rooms, drawing rooms, or kitchens--are so placed around the green courtyard that the inhabitants can see the movement of the sun all through the day, right from dawn to dusk. BMR

SPECIFICATIONS

TWIN HOUSE

Location: Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh Architect: RK Malik & Associates Design Team: RK Malik, Bharat Malik, Ashna Aggarwal Project Area: 2400 sqm Photo Credit: Vinit Kumar Singh (BMR)

REHAU, a global leader in polymer-based solutions, was founded in Germany in the year 1948. The brand started its Indian operations in 1997 and is celebrating its Silver Jubilee this year in India. During this period, REHAU has made a significant mark in the country’s furniture, construction, and industrial markets. For furniture industry, the company has a wide range of edge bands, solid surfaces, laminates and floorings. Of late, it has also ventured into furniture hardware solution and exterior wall cladding. REHAU’s industrial solution includes third rail for the urban transportation industry, while gaskets and profiles for the residential and commercial appliance industries. In terms of building solution, the company provides plumbing and drainage solutions.

On the occasion of Silver Jubilee Celebration, BMR Editorial Team got hold with Bhavana Bindra, MD, REHAU SOA. She talks at length about the company’s latest developments and its future growth strategy. Edited excerpts are here as under:

R E H A U CONSOLIDATING PRESENCE IN INDIA

How has been REHAU’s 25 years in India? What is your further expansion plan?

We feel proud that the company is celebrating 25 years in India and it has been a remarkable journey so far. As the most popular choice for Edgebands in India, we have had an amazing customer acceptance over the period. This inspired us to broaden our focus and move beyond.

The journey has been of being an Edgebands supplier to a wideranging furniture solutions company today. Since starting in 1997, REHAU has grown up to own three plants and multiple warehouses. To reach here, not only the REHAU team, but also our trade partners have played a vital role. With a strong network comprising more than 1000 direct customers, over 500 dealers and around 2500 retailers, it is a mission for us to make REHAU a household name with the support of our partners.

In addition, as part of the company's drive into the retail market, REHAU is having a comprehensive range of furniture solutions under one roof including Edgebands, adhesives, roller shutters, and plinths, under brand REHAU Retail-one name multiple solution for the market.

In addition, we are rapidly expanding in the industrial solution category through our fully dedicated production facility in Pune. REHAU is one the biggest suppliers of Third Rail that caters to rapidly expanding metro rail projects across the country. We are in the process of localising our production by bringing German technology to India in order to support the ‘Make in India’ initiative and contribute to India's economic growth story.

REHAU is committed to expand its presence in the India. We strive to offer new product lines under our umbrella, and even at this moment we are working on several initiatives that will further consolidate our presence in the Indian market in time to come.

What is the latest addition to the product portfolio of REHAU?

We have recently launched furniture hardware solutions in collaboration with TITUS Group in India. Alongside, we have also come up with exterior wall cladding with a variety of options meant especially for our Indian customers.

How is the association with TITUS Group going to add value to REHAU India’s product portfolio?

In order to offer comprehensive solutions to our B2B partners and to tap into the B2C market, we consciously ventured into the hardware sector. The partnership between REHAU and TITUS is a stride towards offering premium hardware solutions to our Indian customers. We believe that India has a sizable market for high-quality hardware, and our alliance is a strategic move toward seizing that opportunity. The partnership brings together two companies that value having a close relationship with their partners and offering cutting-edge products.

In furniture assembly work, hardware plays the role of the backbone for the entire system as it significantly adds to the product's functionality, quality, and durability. In order to provide our clients with high-quality products, REHAU's motto is to ‘Bring the Best of Both Worlds’, and our partnership with TITUS showcases this as an excellent example. I'm delighted and looking forward to a mutually beneficial partnership where we can complement each other's strengths.

Which all products are being offered under the hardware range?

REHAU and TITUS will engage to deliver an exclusive range of hardware products to customers and furniture manufacturers in India. The range includes hinges, push latch, drawer systems, connecting fittings, and damping solutions. The third generation of slide-on hinges with integrated damping seamlessly deliver a consistent and reliable opening and closing performance. Tested for more than 80,000 cycles, it increases the shelf-life of the end-product.

Our T-type hinges save time at the assembly-level, as the 3-Way Snap-On intuitive hinge-to-plate mounting (top, front and back) makes installation a swift process, especially for tall doors and kitchen cabinets. The Tekform Slimline drawer ensures easy interchangeability and flexibility, considering its sleek structure and is used majorly in premium kitchens that demands smart space utilisation.

The CAM 5000 from the latest hardware range ensures a smooth tightening action and great dowel pull-up for seamless furniture assembly and improved quality of finished products. To overcome inaccurate drilling, we have come up with the Quickfit TL2 and TL5 Dowel that has built-in self-adjustment feature. This is a consumer friendly fitting - with just a simple push-in by hand the fitting inserts in the dowel hole and the operation completes in less than 1 second.

Last but not the least, we also offer soft close solutions for cabinets and drawers which doesn’t require any pre-drilling, thus giving a chance to the consumers to enjoy a tool-free assembly. The push-latch hardware is designed to be used with standard hinges and drawers. It enables effortless opening and closing of the furniture without handles and can be easily mounted without the requirement of drilling. In addition, Titusoft is another value addition for India from our premium hardware offering, adaptable in both wooden and metal drawers.

How would you define smartness through your bouquet of products?

REHAU has been able to bring about revolutionary changes across the broad variety of products it delivers to the market. Any product from REHAU is synonymous with smartness. We characterize smartness for the product lines with engineering and technology behind the products. Be it manufacturing, design, advancing the finishes used, safety and hygiene, these products facilitate easy and quick installation, user-friendliness, durability, sustainability, and last but not the least- value for money.

As the most popular choice for Edgebands in India, REHAU is the

RAUVISIO Laminate

B-type i3 Damper +Titus

undisputed leader. Moreover, to strike the right tone, we are also adding about 200 new Edgebands annually that matches the most popular laminates in the market. As part of our continued efforts to add value and provide smart solutions, we offer zero-joint Edgebands, enhancing the overall aesthetic of surfaces by giving a seamless finish to the furniture. We have also developed Edgebands having antiviral properties, with a protective coating against specific viruses.

We entered the exterior solution segment with recently launched exterior wall cladding, under the brand name R Bravura. The special protective polymeric layer on its top makes the surface easy-to-clean. The product has outstanding anti-graffiti capabilities and is environmentally responsible. While most other facade cladding products practice closed system for installation, REHAU Clads saves up to 30% energy using the rear ventilation façade (VHF), and allowing buildings to breathe.

Zero-Joint Edgeband

RAUKANTEX

Our REHAU Kitchen, a premium modular kitchen, offers both superior German quality and a fantastic customer experience. Made with German engineering, the smart concept here allows plenty of room and options for development even when space is limited – without the need to compromise with support from uniquely customised designs. To offer our customers only the very best, we have collaborated with exclusive brands for hardware and kitchen equipment to create luxury kitchens. We provide customers with personal kitchen stylist who accompany them in their planning and visualisation for a smart kitchen. BMR