Agam House is a house of epic proportions and minimal natural materials in Velachery, Chennai. This two-storey home strategically addresses Chennai’s hot weather and its dense urban context through an expressive solid facade that makes a bold statement. The project was started with the intent to create a healthy living environment that is refreshing and nurturing for the body and mind. The main challenge was crafting a response to the limited footprint of the site.
Agam House Is A House Of Epic Proportions And Minimal Natural Materials | Mawi Design
visit : Mawi Design
Agam House is a home of centuries anchored in the client’s appreciation for both the comfort and joys of living. It was truly humbling to know that it evoked ecstatic feelings on retreating to this house after a long day. The home with its life-giving spirit infuses a sense of wellness in the inhabitants.
A design resolution to this challenge involved splitting the volume into a grid of three, a central porous volume of circulation flanked on either side by solid functional volumes of space. The resulting volumes become layers of naturally lit intermediate spaces as compositions of opacity and transparency, material, or immaterial rendering the spaces immersive.
Articulated by Golden proportions, these volumes facilitate a stack effect ventilation performing passive cooling to provide thermal comfort. This arrangement creates an enhanced visual and social dialogue between the inhabitants on various levels providing an enhanced experience of their daily living.
Articulation of depth through a strategic play of openings of different sizes on all floors renders harmony in the flow of spaces. These openings are adorned with a hundred- and fifty-year-old heritage in the form of doors upcycled from the High Court of Pondicherry.
The two centuries of expert craftsmanship that stood through time became a facilitator of worlds left to each family member to be folded open to unveil expansive views of the city or closed for privacy. This gateway gives way to the inhabitant’s desire to retreat from or engage with the world beyond.
As an ode to this time, an environment of minimal natural materials acted as a rich tactile backdrop to this heritage. The palette was an amalgam of exposed masonry, concrete, cement finish, and wood with construction techniques such as filler slab roofing and rat trap bond masonry to help ensure a living breathing structure of good thermal comfort.
Aimed at providing sustainable comfort, the use of these materials also resulted in a restorative quality of light. Direct and diffused lighting in living and sleeping areas respectively was used to enhance a sense of orientation, and create feelings of safety, delight, and visual comfort.
The house thus inspires a state of well-being through its shell stoking awareness of the passing day and all the changes of the season, among the inhabitants. The essence of bringing in restored heritage was subtly echoed in other repurposed elements within the house.
Fact File
Designed by : Mawi Design
Project Type : Residential Architecture
Year : 2022
Location : Chennai
Project Name : Agam House
Area : 3528 Sq.ft
Principal Architect : Malli Saravanan
Project Architect : Venkatesh, Vijay Prakash & Akash Raj
Structural Consultant : Archetype Design
Photography Credits : Kavin Kumar Lasa
Firm’s Instagram Link : Mawi Design
Source : Archdaily
For Similar Project >> BRICK SCREEN HOUSE: AN ABODE OF SUBTLE INDIAN AND EARTHY AESTHETICS
In a landscape where aspiration quietly waits, Granthalay emerges as a circular building and sanctuary for learning—gathering people, knowledge, and place into a shared civic moment. Granthalay is conceived as a civic institution that extends beyond the conventional idea of a library, responding to the acute lack of educational and community infrastructure in the district […]
A dilapidated old manor house in Jaffna peninsula, with warped roof beams, warped door windows and many structural defects were presented to the architects for refurbishment- by clients- to be refurbished as a retirement home for themselves who were returning to Sri Lanka after escaping to overseas due to the 25 years old North East […]
This residence is a sincere exploration of how architecture can remain simple, climate sensitive, cost-effective, and emotionally grounded, without compromising on spatial quality or design intent. Conceived as a 3BHK modest home for a small family, the project stands as a testament to what is possible when thoughtful planning, craft-oriented construction, and material intelligence come […]
Design, when it emerges as a living tapestry, turns the experience of living into a vibrant everyday narrative. Baldota House in Alandi, Pune by ARCHOS accommodates three generations under a single roof in the area spanning 7500 Sq. Ft. Spearheaded by the family’s desire for a generous space and a theatrical essence along with balanced […]
Few homes are celebrated for their iconic interiors, while some are celebrated for their open layouts. True to its unique context and subtleties, this home with a monochromatic palette, designed by Ar. Saumya Khanna & Ar. Sudhir Ambawata Co – founders & principle architects of SSDA Architects brings the essence of volumetric design and a […]
Adopting sustainable living today, both in design and daily life, is crucial for reducing our environmental footprint and preserving resources for future generations. In the design of this bamboo pavilion, this means using eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient technologies, and creating spaces that harmonize with natural surroundings. In daily living, sustainability involves mindful consumption, reducing waste, conserving […]
Tucked into the lush landscape of Thiruvananthapuram, Aashiyana is a residence that balances context, climate, and craft. Designed by architect Srijit Srinivas, this bungalow is conceived as more than a tropical retreat-it is a spatial journey where bold colour, filtered light, and thoughtful materials orchestrate a distinctive atmosphere. Nestled Amidst Lush Landscape Aashiyana Balances Craft […]
Situated on a compact 1200 sft south-west corner plot, this residence was conceived as an inward-looking sanctuary for a family of four — a home that balances privacy and openness, light and enclosure, within the dense urban fabric. This Residence Was Conceived As An Inward-Looking Sanctuary For A Family Of Four | The Insideout Studio […]
Project 1374 is located in one of the plotted developments in the north of Bangalore, characterized by well-demarcated plots, open spaces, spacious roads, and organized infrastructure. Trees flank the wide streets, dividing the plots with dense canopies offering shaded avenues. Abutting the plot stood a cluster of trees- a quiet presence. We borrowed these trees […]
‘Roots’ was an experiment to build sustainably but not confer to the design language typically associated with sustainable buildings. This residential project re-considers the expression of sustainable architecture through a minimalist and materially grounded lens. Located on a 4,000 sq.ft. plot, the designers conceived the house for a family of three and their pet, organizing […]