The client Mr. and Mrs. Khosla who come from the army background desired to have a house that talks opulence considering their past references. being travelers the clients had a huge collection of artifacts which required to be accommodated. A house where posh lifestyle and sustainability gets together. The deep plot size was a challenge in itself. The metaphor of a cocoon was used to create the entire built form.
A House Where Posh Lifestyle And Sustainability Gets Together | Forum Advaita
Visit : Forum Advaita
Editor’s note :The house reflects quite an eclectic taste through the couples’ collective artifacts, highlighting relatively simple interiors. Where, architecturally, the house in itself explores intriguing volumetric plays inside-out, forming cozy nooks enjoyed by the family. ~ Aditi Shah (editor)
The house being a southwest facing was imagined to be a largely inward looking house that offers multiple experiences within. The depth of the plot being 90 ft was used to the advantage by creating the built around the periphery and keeping the central part open. The idea was to create an oversized cocoon as an archetype where one enjoys a large enclosure within.
The length of the plot was used to enhance the experience of unfolding experiences. The entrance is planned from the southwest corner into a foyer space and one’s vision travels straight onto the diagonally opposite corner getting clues of the greens in the backyard.
Then there are a set of planes that appear to unfold the spaces in between. The light of the central courtyard makes one move towards it and arrive in the middle of the site width with sunken courtyard flooded with natural light on one side and a relatively dark seating arrangement with a beam of light from a linear skylight on the other.
The formal seating adjacent to the internal staircase is also separated by a plane with a cutout that offers framed views from the other side and also leads one to the upper level.
where the second step is shaped to be tapered to communicate the idea of opening up the diagonal route.
This further leads one towards the Bar and dining with the last plane unfolding the kitchen area. These multiple framed openings allowed the users to exhibit their belongings from travels.
The sunken courtyard has the bar behind one plane with a cutout that allows one to connect to the court space from the bar area.
The only bedroom on the ground floor towards the front side has one window opening towards the courtyard that received the natural light from the court space. The other being towards the entrance verandah.
The house is a southwest facing unit received the harsh summer sun for good 6 months of the year. In order to make it passively cool the services like the toilets and the wardrobe spaces were positioned in the front side to block the south west sun and keep the interiors cooler. As a result both the bedrooms towards the west corner on the two levels receive natural light from the courtyard space. The first floor toilets were kept at a low height to allow some more natural filtered light between the slabs through glass bricks.
The harsh natural light from south west was controlled by deepening the verandah spaces to create shaded spaces during summers and also enjoy the winter sun during the late afternoons. The openings in the toilets have also been recessed and given a form following square as the basic shape. The hollow cube of the upper level verandah in connect with the square openings of the toilets allowed us to create an expression of planes in interaction with the protruding boxes. The use of brick cladding allowed the hint of the context the house was sitting in.
Fact File
Designed by : Forum Advaita
Project Type : Residential Architecture Design
Project Name : The Cucoon House
Location : Mohali, Ajit Singh Nagar, Chandigarh, Punjab
Year Built : 2022
Built-up Area : 6500 Sq.ft
Principal Architect : Ar. Aman Sohal
Team Design Credits : Niharika, Masharaa
Photograph Courtesy : Purnesh Dev Nikhanj
Clients : Mr. Sarabjit Khosla
Structural Consultants : Sukham Raj
Firm’s Website Link : Forum Advaita
Firm’s Instagram Link : Forum Advaita
Firm’s Facebook Link : Forum Advaita
For Similar Project>>> An Artful Pairing Of Minimalism And Sophisticated Design
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 […]
In this modern luxury home, courtyards spill into living spaces, and the lines between inside and outside dissolve into a seamless whole. This 17,800 sq. ft. bungalow in Anand, by Hiren Patel Architects, blurs the boundaries between landscape, architecture, and interiors, creating a home where nature isn’t just the backdrop but an integral part of […]
Nestled in the foothills of the Shivalik range, the Himalayas is our latest project, Ekasham — a private residence refurbishment and redevelopment project, spread across an area of 2177 sqm. The monolithic home, through its volumes, composed of old and new structures, merges into a singular silhouette evoking the presence of a monolith from which […]
Ishaar is rooted in the belief that architecture should not just be seen, but deeply felt. Drawing from brutalist principles and natural tactility, the holiday villa is designed as a sensory retreat, where material, sound, light, and temperature shape the guest’s experience. Set amidst rural farmland, the villa dissolves into its landscape through a choreography […]
“Vishram Vaadi Nu Ghar” means a serene retreat amidst mango and chikoo farms, crafted to reflect the client’s vision in their mother tongue Gujarati. Vishram is a serene ground-touch structure offering breathtaking views of the Purna River and is a thoughtful example of countryside house design. Nestled amidst lush Amba and Chikoo Vaadi, the design […]
This single-story sustainable home in Ezhupunna blends traditional Kerala architecture with tropical, eco-friendly design. Inspired by the “kullakadavu” concept, a central pond encourages family interaction while enhancing the landscape. This Ezhupunna Home is Rooted in Eco-friendly Design | Judson Associates Architects & Interiors Despite being near lakes and beaches, adding a pond improves year-round moisture […]
In the heart of New Anjar, a small town tucked into the arid landscape of Kachchh, Gujarat, sits one of those modest houses designed with a quiet sense of clarity. Built for a Muslim family spanning three generations, the home isn’t trying to make a bold statement from its street-facing façade. Instead, it leans into […]
The house showcases a modern three-story residence exemplifying contemporary architectural design through its clean lines, geometric volumes, and a balanced interplay of materials. The facade skillfully combines textured tile cladding, smooth plaster, and contrasting color blocks in neutral shades of gray, black, and earthy rust, adding visual depth and dynamism. Expansive glass panels framed in […]
House of Silhouettes is located in Navratan, Udaipur. The plot is a corner one facing north and west 60’x40′ with a built-up area of 6500 sq.ft., designed in contemporary modern architecture as an independent house at three levels, including terrace. House of Silhouettes Reflects Contemporary Modern Architecture | Shaunak Singh and Associates This contemporary residence […]