A small plot size should never be an excuse for compromising on good architecture. The client of this residence received a 300 sq. ft. house on a 12′ x 22′ plot as a share after the demolition of his ancestral property. The requirements were to have two commercial units on the ground floor and one household unit on each of the other two floors. Located in one of the busiest neighborhoods in Tiruchirappalli, this residence, situated in a wall-to-wall zone, faced numerous challenges right from the design stage.
Editor’s Note: Nestled within the bustling streets of Tiruchirappalli, this home finds beauty in simplicity. It shapes itself around life’s quiet rhythms, opening up to light, air, and movement in the most natural way. Every space feels connected yet personal, making room for warmth, conversation, and a gentle sense of belonging. ~Isha Bora
This 300 Sq. Ft. House Designed for Maximum Space and Comfort | HnP Architects
The architects decided to construct a structure that would be connected to the street from all levels without compromising the function of the interior spaces. Every floor was planned with spatial flexibility in mind, featuring fewer solid walls in the interiors. The thinnai seater, designed to be next to the road, offers a comfortable and inviting spot to sit and watch the everyday activity of the street. The staircase connecting the upper two floors with the ground floor is shared with the neighboring plot.
The first floor comprises a living area, a cooking counter, a bedroom, a common toilet, and a balcony. The jaali wall on this floor, with its diagonally arranged bricks, provides adequate privacy while overlooking the street. The balcony space offers a clear view of the street below and also acts as a utility space for laundry equipment.
On the second floor, a buffer space at the entry opens into a living room with an open kitchen. A sliding folding door between the living and bedroom areas provides flexibility during special occasions. The design places the toilet area away from the bedroom, while the bathroom sits close to the bed space. Loft storage on the first and second floors sits above the toilets and bathrooms, ensuring the spaces remain as open as possible.
With just 300 sq.ft of land, every inch demands smart functionality, allowing the primary building materials to shape the aesthetic. Exposed brick walls, lime-plastered interiors, terrazzo flooring, and cement oxide surfaces proudly display their raw, natural beauty, creating a space where design and material authenticity go hand in hand.
Door and window frames feature reclaimed wood, while window grills reuse waste motor parts like chain sprockets, celebrating the incoming light.
Both the architects and clients prioritized reducing reliance on artificial lighting and ventilation during the daytime, unlike other buildings in the area. However, the wall-to-wall characteristics of the street limited possibilities for natural light and ventilation.
The east and west walls of the building shared with neighbors. However, the only options for natural light and air were from the north and south directions. Wall slits, clerestories, and skylight openings have been provided across the three floors. Furthermore, it ensures an adequate amount of natural light enters the interior spaces.
The brick jaali on the north facade not only acts as a dramatic element but also provides effective cross-ventilation. Thus, complemented by windows on the south facade. The tilted arrangement of the bricks reflects the user’s cultural values and acknowledges the nearby mosque to the west.
In a street where even a 2-wheeler is difficult to ride, the construction phase was as challenging as the design phase. Moreover, accommodating construction vehicles and mixing wet ingredients added to the complexity.
This raw and honest design challenges the local belief that architecture always needs fancy elements. It proves that thoughtful planning and basic materials can beautifully accomplish even a simple, everyday building.
Fact File
Designed by: HnP Architects
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: The 300 Square Feet House
Location: Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu
Year: 2024
Project Size: 900 Sq.ft
Principal Architects: Preethi R S & Sadam Hussain K
Photograph Courtesy: cut.idam
Source: Archdaily
Firm’s Website Link: HnP Architects
Firm’s Instagram Link: HnP Architects
For Similar Project>> This Aesthetic Courtyard House With Lush Landscape Design Offers A Calm Aura To The Users
“Viraam,” a 4000 sq ft house design that embodies its literal translation: “a pause.” The vision is to create a sanctuary for relaxation, introspection, and to escape from the constant demands of daily life – an urban void for personal retreat. This 4000 sq ft House Design Unfolds Calm Lifestyle | Avani Mudra Design Reimagining […]
The facade of this Indian contemporary house design strikes a careful balance between solids and voids, with sculpted forms that reveal the inner workings of the space. The design plays with light and shadow, creating visual depth and intrigue from the exterior. The form resembles a cuboid that has been scooped out, while the outer […]
This 5 storey building takes inspiration from ancient haveli architecture. “Hailing from north India, the family held deep nostalgia for haveli, large residences with communal courtyards called chowks, projecting balconies called jharokhas and intricate brick or stone lattice screens called jaalis, vernacular to many western and northern regions of India,” said SJK Architects partner Vaishali […]
Set in the serene landscape of Nashik, the Dabholkar Residence by GDA is a home, embracing stone clad walls. Here, tradition and contemporary design exist in harmony. Designed to reflect the family’s deep connection to tradition and art while embracing the style of contemporary living, it is a space where architectural details, heritage furniture, artwork […]
This remodelling project aimed to revitalise a load-bearing house while respecting its original integrity and adapting it to contemporary needs. The design approach prioritised minimal structural intervention, allowing the existing framework to guide spatial reconfiguration. Careful consideration was given to preserving the load-bearing walls, which formed the backbone of the original construction. Openings were strategically […]
Redefining Indian temple architecture, the relocation of the existing shrine due to a new residential project presented an opportunity to design a space that seamlessly integrates tradition with contemporary needs. The given 400 sq. ft. site was envisioned not merely as a shrine to Lord Datta, a local deity, but as a vibrant community space, […]
Nestled within a 30×40 ft plot is the compact house design in Banashankari 6th Stage, Bengaluru. This residence for the Ellappans, reimagines traditional Indian living in a contemporary, spatially dynamic form. Designed for a family of three- Mr. Ellappan, his wife, and their teenage son- the house expresses a deep connection to vernacular roots while […]
This contemporary courtyard house is designed within constraints that often give rise to the most creative solutions. This residence, nestled in a landlocked plot flanked by development on three sides, represents a unique architectural intervention that turns limitation into opportunity. The client’s vision was both unusual and ambitious: to create a twin house under one […]
This multi generational home is a testament to the ability of the design practice to blend aesthetic appeal with practical functionality. Keeping environmental sustainability and the welfare of the community at the forefront, Bhowal designed a home that was truly ahead of its time. His visionary approach and the Design Consortium’s expertise in providing a […]
The Indian farmhouse accommodation goes on to capitalize on a mature evolutionary synthesis of ancestral aesthetics and contemporary features. With this, the outside and the inside of farmhouses became places of comfort with nature. In this blog, we delve into 15 incredible farmhouse designs that entail a harmonious blending. While they exhibit different spaces in […]