A Contemporary Villa On Traditional Ideals | DREAMSCAPE ARCHITECTS
A contemporary villa developed on traditional ideals, Chikoowadi (a farm of sapodilla trees) houses a family of 6 that included the owners, their son, their daughter, their mother, and a pet dog. The clients envisioned an inward looking house with a courtyard, a quintessential feature/element in the famous Pol houses in the walled city of Ahmedabad.
Owing to the regular gatherings of friends and family, the clients wanted the residence to have open spaces, while ensuring that other members of the family are not disturbed. Other requirements included a private swimming pool and a large lawn area.
The site was a farm of Sapodilla trees, leading to the name Chikoowadi. To ensure that the trees were an essential component while visualizing the design, we departed from the convention by drawing up most of the designs directly at the site. Upon analyzing the client brief, we developed a basic concept that involved two key elements, 9 sapodilla trees, each around 25 years old, and the courtyard.
The form of the building was designed in accordance with the location of these trees and the concept aimed at creating a dialogue between the building and the trees. Due to the possibility of waterlogging during monsoons, the ground level of the site was raised to 1.5 meters and the house was aligned on a north-south axis to minimize heat gain.
Once the concept was in place, we started shaping the design of the space, and designed an experience of a scenic journey for everyone who walked in. Welcomed with a water body and a soothing water wall on one side, one then walks on a bridge to a foyer, an exposed RCC box, to enter the house.
Upon entering the vestibule, they are greeted with a view of the garden and a tree. The vestibule leads to the public areas viz. the guest bedroom and formal living room on one side and private spaces of the house on the other, through a long corridor with glass windows. The private and public spaces are connected by a cantilevered exposed concrete staircase and a courtyard.
The other key element of the design process was the courtyard. It provides an entrance to the family living room, a space for an informal gathering placed between two trees. The dining room, placed between the garden and the courtyard, is a lively space that seamlessly integrates the indoors and outdoors.
The placement of every window and balcony in each room is designed in such a manner that the view is unique yet at least one sapodilla tree is always visible. The grandmother’s room has a tree right outside the window whereas there is plantation inside the guest room. Both master bedrooms, located on the first floor, have open to sky shower areas. While one master bedroom overlooks the courtyard, the other overlooks the vast garden area. The lounge area was connected to the house with a bridge.
The swimming pool was placed in the basement to ensure the privacy of clients and their guests, and is also accessible through a ramp in the garden. Sliding folding louvered doors provides clients with the necessary privacy, while also giving them a view of the lush gardens.
The garden area, rife with beautiful plantations, is divided by the ramp into two levels, with one level connected to the backyard.After carefully analyzing the layout and the requirements, the materials selected adhered to the perceived sense of journey for everyone who visits the house, along with an emphasis on nature.Welcomed with water and an exposed RCC vestibule, one then proceeds through an area with wood and black flooring before going to the courtyard, which has hand glazed fire bricks.
Kitchen
Family Living
Staircase
Basement Bar
Master Bedroom
Son’s Bedroom
Daughter’s Bedroom
The idea behind using all these materials was to create a subconscious journey for visitors as well as enhancing natural elements on the site. Certain walls inside the house were enhanced using textures and wallpapers and the usage of wood was kept to a minimum as the site is prone to having termites.
Grandmother’s Bedroom
Guest Bedroom
Drawings
FACT FILE:
Project name: CHIKOOWADI
Architecture Firm: DREAMSCAPE ARCHITECTS
Lead Architects: Ar.Suketu Shah , Ar.Aashna Desai
Design Team: Shreya , Kanisha, Gaurang, Dhruwin
Completion Year: December 2018
Gross Built Area: 11,000 Sq.ft
Project location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Photo credits: Ishita Sitwala (The Fishy Project)
Clients: Pranay & Dipali Desai
Engineering: P-Cube Designs
Landscape: Amitabh Teotia Designs
Consultants: Sanjay Shah and Associates
Paati-veedu in the Tamil language means grandmother’s home. The client wanted a traditional courtyard house after having lived in a multilevel home with limited light, ventilation, and disjointed spaces. The site is on a 40×60 ft (2400 sq. ft.) property with the north side facing the street. Editor’s Note: “Rooted in nostalgia yet modern in […]
Coloured glass is incorporated into the east facing elevation of the house with a plan designed to interact beautifully with morning sunlight. As the sun rises, light filters through the coloured glass, casting vibrant, colourful rays throughout the interior and creating a dynamic, uplifting atmosphere. Each piece transforms into a radiant, gem-like feature when struck […]
Tiles for walls are more than just practical elements of your home interiors—they are design statements that bring both beauty and functionality to your spaces. Have you ever wondered how a simple change in wall tiles can transform an entire room? With endless options in materials, textures, and designs, tiles can enhance any room, from […]
The vision for this Kerala traditional house project was to provide the client with luxurious space and finishes. The client wanted a fusion of traditional elements with all the functionalities of a modern house that can accommodate their extended family members too. Elements of traditional Kerala architecture like the shaded veranda and the multi-levelled sloping […]
The Punjab home design is an oasis of solitude, where the structure itself turns inward, embracing the idea of seclusion. Strategic use of barriers like landscaping, walls, and enclosed courtyards ensures privacy without sacrificing the connection to the natural environment. Large windows and skylights are utilized selectively, allowing for natural light to flood into the […]
Ar. Sahiba Madan, founder of Insitu and KalakaariHaath, shares her journey that goes beyond trends, to timeless design. Her inspiration from Indian culture, art, and artists is reflected throughout her journey. After pursuing architecture as a core, Sahiba established her home decor and furnishing and an interior design studio in 2014 and 2018 respectively. She […]
Given a marble’s beauty and timelessness, the variety and types of marble are extensive and boundless in the modern world. Different types exhibit different colors, patterns, and textures based on their origin. That being said, selecting the right type and variety that suits your space is crucial to justify the beauty of marble. Regardless of […]
Marble bathroom designs transform your bathroom interiors to a great extent, considering marble’s purity, shine, and grace. With bold veining, rich texture, and different colorations, marble can transform an ordinary bathroom into a different level of refined relaxation. From sleek, minimalistic designs to strong statement pieces, marble suits your styles, rendered to be equally complimentary […]
The east facing house is part of a dense residential neighbourhood in Udaipur. The client brief required us to design a multiple-generation home with multiple purposes. The architecture intent was to carve out volumes and intersperse the client’s requirements with spatial voids, gardens, and terraces. This House Facing East is in a Dense Residential Neighborhood […]
When you walk into a room, what’s the first thing you notice in the interiors? The furniture, the walls, or the ceiling? Often overlooked, the ceiling plays a significant role in defining the ambiance of a room. If you’re looking to add some flair, sophistication, or a modern touch to your living room, false ceiling […]