This vacation home was once an old house design in a small hamlet on the west coast of India, abutting the Arabian Sea. Intended as an oasis, this old house design is built on the family’s ancestral land in the heart of the Konkan belt. It allows them to withdraw to their roots in the countryside. The old house that stood on the site was built by the client’s grandfather. He hosted several summer vacations for the client during his schooling years. Abandoned in the early 1990s, it was then surrendered to surrounding trees. Thus, it quickly took over the derelict structure unapologetically over the next 30 years.
Editor’s Note: “Embraced by a sub-tropical setting of lush greens and a verdant of birds, this residence in Konkan is a collection of moments and architecture. Positioned near the seashore, it invites the gentle breeze to weave through its indoor and outdoor spaces. With red laterite stone, a pitched roof, and traditional architectural elements, this abode harmoniously blends the essence of nature with the artistry of built spaces.” ~Simran Khare
Old House Design Is In A Small Hamlet In The Indian Coast | The Architecture Company (TAC)
Desiring a slower pace of life, the young entrepreneurial couple based in Mumbai recreates their childhood memories on this property. At the same time, they wish to generate new ones with their young daughter.
The chick (sapodilla), mango, and jackfruit trees on the site held a special place in the heart of the client, making them an intrinsic element in the design brief. The site boasts a quaint sub-tropical setting with large numbers of birds, insects, and occasional monkeys visiting the fruit trees.
Being just about half a mile from the beach, the ambient sound of the waves crashing on the sandy shores adds to the charm of the tranquil setting.
The house is a collection of architectural and spatial moments connected through a variety of open and semi-open passages. The layout spreads across the site to accommodate the existing site trees, blurring boundaries between the building and its surroundings.
The house block splits to create a covered veranda that visually connects the lawn to the paar (seating) under the chickoo tree while allowing the cool sea breeze to circulate through the site.
The intention to create intimate spaces for each member of the family was the cornerstone in the planning of the house, which boasts 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a double-height living space, verandas, terraces, a kitchen with an outdoor dining area, a gym, and staff quarters.
Maison Rouge takes its name from the red Laterite stone used in its construction, which is indigenous to the region. From its inception, the project emotionally tie to the land it sits on today. The dismantling of the old dilapidated house and its components become the new building as a symbol of its transformation into a new form.
The stone from the walls fill the plinth, the wood from the joists are in columns, and the old terracotta roof tiles lay alongside the newer ones. The walls have laterite stone blocks from the neighboring quarries. Thin slices of the same clad the exterior walls to further cool and protect the structure.
While locally available Kota, Kadappa, Jaiselmer, and Shabad stone slabs were part of the house flooring, the waste from these repurpose as mixed multi-color mosaic floors in the veranda and the gathering deck. The pitched roof, with its large overhangs and intermediate verandas, not only protects the walls during the torrential rains of the Indian Monsoon but also shades the interiors during the hot summers.
The furniture, art, and décor collected by the clients during their travels decorate the walls of the rooms. The house boasts a mellow and earthy mood throughout its spaces, embracing the wabi-sabi vibe that makes them endearing.
Maison Rouge is a project that comes a full circle – from a bustling family home to abandonment, derelict and taken over by nature – and now reclaimed by the family as their own.
Fact File
Designed by: The Architecture Company (TAC)
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: Maison Rouge
Location: Murud, Maharashtra
Year Built: 2023
Built Up Area: 5220 Sq.ft
Principal Architects: Rohit Walimbe (Project lead), Manasvi Bachhav & Kulsum Tambawala
Photograph Courtesy: Syam Sreesylam
Project Leader: Rohit Walimbe
Team: Sneha Ravindran (project architect), Ruchi Pathak (Intern)
Manufacturers: AQUANT, Apolo, Eternia Windows, Jaquar, Jindal Steel, MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, Star Eagle, Ultratech
Source: ArchDaily
Firm’s Website Link: The Architecture Company (TAC)
Firm’s Instagram Link: The Architecture Company (TAC)
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