Treehugger House, Bengaluru

Typology : Residential architecture

Location : Sarjapur road, Bangalore

Name of Client : P.V.Varghese, Bengaluru

Principal Architect : Chandrakant.S.Kanthigavi

Team : Rohit Baligidad, Madhusudhan, Veema Haridas, Bhagyashri, Nimisha Varghese, Anagha K

Built-Up Area (sq ft & sq m) :  3498 sq.ft

Project Cost : 1.2 Crores( Rs. 3430 per sq.ft)      

Completion Date : 2015

Photograpers : Gokul Rao Kadam, Ravi S Kanthigavi

A Single residence in a 40’-0” X 60’-0” plot evolved from a rigorous inquiry into the particulars of location and program. Our client, Mr. P.V.Varghese, is a valued partner, in our collaborative design process. As a response to his design brief, we came up with idea of “Tree hugger House”.

“As an architect, one needs to design a built environment, rather than just being a shelter.”

With the understanding of our clients background (from Kerala-God’s own country), priorities, values and inspirations, likes and dislikes we got to know our challenges. First one was to create a contemporary residence with Values of Kerala architecture and interior spaces that would resonate with the client’s personality.

CONCEPT:  TREE HUGGER

Our Client, is close to nature, and wanted his dream house with a close connection to nature as it reminded him of his home and childhood. So he asked us to “design a House around a Tree.” Our challenge was to achieve the same ambience in an urban scenario. The large footprint of a traditional kerala home and its virtues had to be imbibed in a smaller urban footprint.

The concept was conceived as an abstraction of the traditional “Nadumuttam (central courtyard) concept” in most of the houses in Kerala, wherein the homes are composed around a focal landscape feature usually a Tulsi plant. As a response to his design brief, we came up with idea of a ‘house that embraces trees’ we call it a ‘’Tree hugger, a contemporary urban residence with values of Kerala Architecture.’’

Materials of Construction :

Structure : Framed RCC structure and Solid Concrete block walls as in-fill.

Fenestrations : Wooden Doors and UPVC windows

Facade :

1. The “Vertical Drops” on the facades (acts as screen ) from neighbours, made of Aluminium boxes and plastered over MS mesh.
2. Sika Crack resistance Material used for exteriors to get smooth finish.
   High-Pressure Laminate panel as composition.
3. Interiors: FSC Certified Teak wood was used for doors and windows, wooden steps, wooden flooring and for little furniture.

Interiors

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