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T H E T W I N h o u s eS > Maturle, Alibaug, Maharashtra 4500 sqft [2016 – 2017] Designed thus, the two houses find commonalities not only in a boundary, but in their architecture as courtyard houses that meld with their respective landscapes and climatic concerns of the region.
Interpretations of a courtyard residence subsume the dichotomous relationship of the The Twin Houses – Villa 7 and Villa 8. Confined to these definitions, they summarise a two acre lie of land in a sweep of movement. The design favours volumes than forms, reconciling with the immediacy of individual sites.
Exempting the conceptual framework and concerns of the subtropical climate, the dialogic connect between the two houses is pared back to the minimum. Postulating a familiar idea with different takes, the approach is conditioned to foster an escape from chaotic humdrum of cities. On the concept, the architects elaborate, “The client is building these homes for eventual sale to like-minded families, to form a little community. The homes SPASM DESIGN Architects, Mumbai
are four bedroom habitats, and are intrinsically linked with the
Principal Architects: Sangeeta Merchant + Sanjeev Panjabi
surrounding landscape. Both homes are very different in their
Project Team: Noopur Sejpal + Vijisha Kakka + Mansoor Kudalkar
very different.”
architectural conception since the sites, though proximal, are
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SITE PLAN FOR VILLA 7 AND VILLA 8
VILLA 7: The domain of this residence extends to an amassing
intimate areas of habitation (living, dining, three bedrooms).
of rooms clustered around a central courtyard as the focal
Offset from the peripheral spaces, the verandah acts as the
point and beyond it, a view of the hill. A subsidiary court is
threshold and transitory space both. Seamlessly, it binds the
annexed to this, separated by the outdoor dining along the
built, and unbuilt into a fluid continuum.
Cleaving the concentration of each site in thirds, the
north-western edge of the site. The enclosed linear plan is
villas are clustered in the parcels of land establishing an
accessed from the east by an inconspicuous entrance and
independent landscape and an atmosphere of their
retreats into the set of open living spaces from a loggia – a
own. The complexity of each site is observed within a series
9 foot wide verandah. Laterally, the composition expands
of simple fragments to accommodate for layouts of
into varying depths to the ancillary services (kitchen, utility,
spacious dimensions.
staff rooms) in the north-east and hereon, to the more
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Composed in laterite stone, an outer shell wraps the dense linear planning, opening out only to allow unhindered views to the hill.
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21.
15.
14.
Toilet 3
Store Room
16. 13.
Bedroom 3
16.
16. 3.
11.
Bedroom 2
12.
Outdoor Dining
Electrical Panel / DB
Toilet 2
17. 2.
Utility Room
Verandah
w.m.
10.
w.m.
Master Toilet
9.
Bath Tub
7.
4.
8.
16.
5. 6.
16.
Bedroom 1
Kitchen
Toilet 1
1. court
16.
Bar Living and Dining Area Master Bedroom
18.
19. 19.
court
Powder Loo
20.
20.
Entrance Porch
Staff Room
1. ENTRANCE PORCH. 2. VERANDAH. 3. OUTDOOR DINING. 4. LIVING AND DINING AREA. 5. BAR. 6. POWDER LOO. 7. BEDROOM 1. 8. TOILET 1. 9. MASTER BEDROOM. 10. MASTER TOILET. 11. BEDROOM 2. 12. TOILET 2. 13. BEDROOM 3. 14. TOILET 3. 15. STORE ROOM. 16. COURT. 17. UTILITY ROOM. 18. KITCHEN. 19. STAFF ROOM. 20. STAFF TOILET. 21. SWIMMING POOL. 22. FILTRATION AND HP SYSTEM.
Staff Room
Toilet
Toilet
22.
VILLAPLAN 7 GROUND FLOOR PLAN OUND FLOOR
VILLA 7 SECTION A-A
SECTION A A'
SPASM DESIGN ARCHITECTS
VILLA 7, ROOF PLAN
VILLA 7 ROOF PLAN
SPASM DESIGN
ARCHITECTS
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The design and detail is characterised by materialistic gestures and maneuvers in the U-shaped organisation. Unfolding at the 40 feet wide chasm at the pool, the outdoorsy demeanour is encased ten feet high walls of laterite, soil and rock native to the region. Movements of wind, weather are unfettered across with full-height openings piercing this fabric through.
Above: A deep shaded, nine foot wide verandah forms the circulatory spine.
Facing page: In a U-shaped arrangement, the low massing fortifies the central court and the pool.
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Progressively, in its uncomplicated orientation to an intimate environment and the hill – it is an isolated cocoon providing an appreciable measure of the landscape.
Above: Boundaries on the western edge are blurred and visually connect with the hill and open surroundings.
Facing page bottom: Laterite sourced from the region renders a tactile and textural layer to the otherwise understated aesthetic of the house.
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Left: A conceptual sketch.
Facing page: A pavilion–like structure, the layout is inward-looking staged to weave around a grove with nine mango trees.
Below: Model of Villa 8.
VILLA 8: As sparse as the other land is, the site for this house is verdurous with nine mango trees and these become “the protagonists of this home.” In relation to the first house, the cross-over plan knits around an empty core, following an angular inclination to the north-west. A winding road from the main nine metre road concludes in a cul-de-sac, marking the entrance to the house. On arrival, a flight of steps ascend to the living room and the pool on the first floor – stitching a contiguous unhindered view of the lush site. Housed underneath this deck is the service block replete with the staff quarters and utility facilities.
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Above: The Living Room on the upper level extends out to a pool.
Facing page: The shifting edge of the brick paving encloses the small court within the layout.
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1. 20. 18.
16.
17.
25.
15.
17. 13.
24.
14.
23. 22.
Up
21.
11.
2. 3. 12.
9. 10.
Court
4. 5.
6.
8.
Court
VILLAFLOOR 8 GROUND VILLA 8, GROUND PLAN
7.
FLOOR PLAN
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
ENTRANCE FOYER. BEDROOM 1. TOILET 1. BEDROOM 2. TOILET 2. MASTER BEDROOM. MASTER TOILET. MASTER BEDROOM OUTDOOR SITTING. 9. BEDROOM 3. 10. TOILET 3. 11. OUTDOOR DINING. 12. COURT. 13. KITCHEN. 14. UTILITY ROOM. 15. STORE ROOM. 16. SERVICE CORRIDOR. 17. STAFF ROOM. 18. POWDER LOO. 19. STAFF TOILET. 20. STAFF SHOWER AREA.
21. 22. 23. 24. 25.
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SPASM DESIGN ARCHITECTS
VILLA 8 FIRST FLOOR PLAN
POOL DECK. SWIMMING POOL. LIVING ROOM. DINING. CHANGING ROOM.
SPASM DESIGN
VILLA 8, FIRST FLOOR PLAN
ARCHITECTS
A more gathered courtyard serves as the nexus, subservient to which is the layout on the ground floor with the bedrooms, obeying a symmetrical alignment along the north-south axis. A five foot wide shaded verandah paved in brick around the court, animated by patterns of dappled light and shadow from the brick jalis enfolding it, plays host to a protean sequence of images. Textures, warm hues of terracotta, the overlay of the sunlight filtered by the tree, craft a more humane experience.
NORTH ELEVATION
VILLA 8 NORTH ELEVATION
NORTH ELEVATION
DATE:
02.01.2017
N.T.S
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Facing page: The weathering of the wood, the modest form evoke a sense of belonging in the context.
Above: The outdoor dining area
Facing page: Sunlight streaming through the trees and the brick jali creates patterns in the courtyard.
Even though The Twin Houses are not personalised to the
and rejuvenation, building in relation to an introverted
needs of specific denizens, they invite them to shape their
environment around a grove and the other reflecting an
own experiences. To retrofit the calm and relaxed settings,
open tryst with the hills and the surroundings; suggestive
bare, tasteful essentials for furnishing a home are selected.
spaces evolving to the interpretations of lifestyle and context.
From the notion of the courtyard house to funnel cross
“Principally, the architecture is meant to encourage courtyard
ventilation, to ‘deep verandas with projecting eaves’, asphalt
and verandah living,” emphasise the architects. “We, hope the
shingle sloping roofs, they present an equivalent response
future inhabitants enjoy the sky, the breezes blowing over
to combat seasonal influences (high precipitations in
the water, the movement of the sun, the shadows of trees and
monsoon, heat and humidity) of the vicinity. With individual
smell of fresh rains on the earth.”
perspectives, the houses are meant for re-discoveries
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