Alongside the major diamond and textile industry, recent other sectors such as oil, shipping and metallurgy have contributed to the growth of Surat into a sprawling metropolis in a very short time, making it one of the richest cities in the country and one that is highly vibrant. An old baori (fresh-water well) was found on site, a rare find in the coastal regions – and the joining of these two glasses of water and weaving them through the house became the driving force of the design of this traditional Indian home.
Editor’s Note: “This residence by Matharoo Associates, merges Vaastu-aligned spatial layouts inspired by an ancient baori with contemporary design. Anchored to the ground by a stone masonry base, the house features interwoven concrete tubes rising above it to create dynamic volumes offering sea views. Its central void is reminiscent of step-wells, in which a sculptural staircase connects five floors. Semi-open verandahs and floating terraces enhance the indoor-outdoor connection while light, wind, and nature work together beautifully.” ~ Anusha Sridhar
This Design Reflects A Fusion of History and Modernity Of Traditional Indian Homes | Matharoo Associates
Located only 20 km away from the hustle and bustle of the city is the coastal town of Dumas, marked once by its numerous havelis (mansions) for the Nawabs (noblemen of the kings), now its peaceful setting is the reason people opt to move here from the city.
The site for the house of a jeweler couple and the family of their son lies minutes away from the coast and requires only some elevation over the palms to be able to afford breathtaking views of the Arabian Sea.
The planning of spaces was imposed by the strict limits of Vaastu, which adheres to a set of principles rooted in traditional Indian building design. Moreover, these principles often arise from myth and, as a result, defy rational and contextual thought processes.
Additionally, it assigns fixed locations of various spaces and elements to the cardinal directions. It includes the entrance, water bodies, kitchen and each of the bedrooms, down to the orientation of beds, even water closets.
Fragments of the past are manifested in a stone masonry enclosure for the house, positioned high on the roadside. Moreover, this placement forms a visual and sound barrier. Meanwhile, remaining open on the serene internal sides of the site.
Additionally, thin concrete tubes are stacked up on this massive stone base, pushed in and pulled out to frame views of the expansive landscape all around. As a result, this play creates a void within, which emerges as the protagonist. Moreover, a snaking volume constricts and dilates, entwining each of the five floors into a seamless continuum.
Each tube on the upper floors contains private suites for members of the joint family. Meanwhile, the common spaces of the house, including the living areas, temple, entrance vestibule, kitchen, and utilities, nestle directly beneath them.
Of these, the family and formal living areas, along with the dining, open out into a semi-open verandah at the corner of the house adjoining a swimming pool and landscape beyond.
With the sit-out of the master bedroom and children’s lounge on the first floor looking into this space, it forms the nucleus of the house by default. From here, one looks at the baori deep into the ground on one side and the sky through the void on the other.
Inspired by the now-extinct typology of the ancient Indian step well, a long flight of steps that give access to an ever-fluctuating table of water – the stair starts from the base of the well, rings along the inside and wraps around the sunlit void, connecting all of the spaces as one rises to the top – a walk 150 steps up to the sea. Thus, this project is an ode to traditional Indian homes.
Fact File
Designed by: Matharoo Associates
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: 150 Steps up to the Sea House
Location: Surat
Year Built: 2021
Built Up Area: 13777.81 Sq.ft
Principal Architect: Gurjit Singh Matharoo
Photograph Courtesy: Dinesh Mehta & Edmund Sumner
Interior Designers: Matharoo Associates
Project Architect: Krishna Mistry
Site Architect: Vishal Parik
Landscape Architect: Vagish Naganur
Clients: Kavita and Tushar Choksi
Trainees: Daksh Sharma, Vinita Mhatre
Carpentry: Hiralal Mistry
Plumbing Consultants: Bharat Chauhan Plumbing Consultants
Structural Engineers: Rushabh Consultants
Electrical Consultants: JIT Engineering Services Consultant
HVAC Consultans: Pankaj Dharkar Associates
General Contractors: RIVA Constructions & Consultancy
Manufacturers: ARTIZE, Architectural Lighting Works, Cooline, Daikin, Dercora, Jaquar, Maruti Hardware, Mufaddal Glass Creation, Nolte, Vago Forniture, Vitrum
Source: Archdaily
Firm’s Website Link: Matharoo Associates
Firm’s Instagram Link: Matharoo Associates
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