114 IA&B - JUN 2012
Reviving architectural expresions Combining local building techniques and materials with modern formal expressions, V Noel Jerald creates a rustic composition with Gnana Illam - a quaint house located in the scenic villages of Tamil Nadu. Text: Sharmila Chakravorty Images & drawings: courtesy V Noel Jerald Data: Ar. Poulomee A Ghosh
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t has rather become a trend to build elaborate, decorative houses - that are perceived as unique and have ‘stand out’ value. However, in most circumstances this practice results into a hideously inharmonious skyline; while competing for the ‘unique’ look, these buildings end up sticking out sorely. This is the reality of not just cities, but also remote villages where such structures do more damage, visually; they puncture the scenic landscapes as well as the local identity. However, the Gnana Illam breaks away from this norm. Located in Ammapatti, a village in the state of Tamil Nadu, the 2600sqft house appears to be an attempt to merge in the rusticity of the village, without compromising on the best of modern facilities. The plan is deliberately simple and reflects the simplicity of those inhabiting the house – “A grid out in geometric rectangular fashion in three dimensions such that it proves best for the appropriate massing of a G + 1 structure and provides additional open spaces as terraces,” as the architect puts it. On approach, the house appears fairly cuboid with spaces carved out from it. The double-height entrance accentuates a sense of grandeur, enveloping
CONCEPTUAL SKETCH