Complete energy efficiency and a thriving landscape fit for a bird enthusiast—this was the driving force behind Breathe, Bangalore. With the residence only covering a quarter of the entire plot, an opportunity arose for the contoured land to be a sanctuary of sorts for the built form. Taking advantage of the inherent site levels, the house perches on the highest parcel, opening to a reserve forest to the east; BETWEENLINES designed “Breathe”, an earth house with locally-made compressed earth blocks, brick jaalis and courtyards.
“Breathe”, An Earth House With Locally-Made Compressed Earth Blocks, Brick Jaalis And Courtyards | betweenlines
Visit : betweenlines
Editor’s note: “BREATHE” is indeed an accurate name for this project. The earthen palette of chosen locally-sourced materials emphasizes an eco-living lifestyle. Here, the designers have incorporated various interesting details such as; graphical flooring patterns, stained windows in the staircase, perforated wall patterns in the bricks, and leaf inlays in the concrete. As part of the eco-living concept, the house showcases rammed earth walls with a clever tire foundation, another detail to consider. ~ Aditi Shah (editor)
Most of the material was taken from in and around the immediate site. Conventional SSM construction at the foundation was replaced with Rammed earth bed and Random rubble masonry unearthed from the site belly. As a further step, a redundancy study with the structural engineer replaced areas of lesser load transfer with vehicle tyres filled and rammed with earth making them into compressed earth discs, laid at infill zones.
This step effectively cut cost, energy, construction miles and added to the core philosophy. Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks made locally and rammed earth walls keeps the project contextually relevant and the house easy to maintain.
The concept of energy-efficiency extends to the inside, much like the rays of light through the perforations on the curved Jaali wall wherein the perforations also invite birds to nest in them—a living, breathing skin.
The Jaali aids in ventilation with micro Chajjas made with waste Granite trims from the quarry laid course to course adapting to the overhang-less edges of the house, and not only protecting the earth walls from weathering but also shading it from the western sun.
The inner courtyard enclosed on top by Ferroconcrete fins brings in a dynamic shadow play through the day. The system of courtyards provides thermal comfort. Athangudi tiles, handmade from the Chettinadu region was the farthest from which a material found its way into Breathe.
Having seen the adverse effects of excess quarrying, the clients were clear not to use energy-mongering tiles for the flooring. Hence Athangudi in available patterns were taken and a gradient was created.
Additionally, the muted earth walls were contrasted by the vibrant palette of the tiles, creating a specific ambiance to the house.
Upcycled wood in the staircase and window frames, reused tiles in the bathroom and decorative imprints of local leaves on concrete surfaces—a residence that takes from and gives to its surroundings. Perhaps most importantly, the surrounding rain garden helps make water become one with the land creating a small ecosystem.
The swale and retention pond – source, recharge and reuse water, supported by native plant species that create a lush habitat for the birds and animals that visit.
A wide range of native plant species was identified and planted around the swale and the rest of the plot landscape based on privacy, land marshiness, seasonal response and density.
By the completion of the project, the land attracted a lot more fauna than at the outset, achieving the goal of a thriving ecosystem. Thus the unbuilt gave meaning to the built, and the built, in turn, allows the unbuilt to flourish.
FACT FILE
Designed by : betweenlines
Project Type : Residential Architecture Design
Project Name : Breathe
Location : Bangalore
Year Built : 2022
Duration of project : 4 years
Project Size: sq feet : 2400 Sq.ft
Project Cost : 1.5 Crore
Principal Architects : Deepa Suriyaprakash & Guru Prasanna. C
Team Design Credits : Deepa Suriyaprakash, Guru Prasanna, Vanessa D’Souza, Jayanth G B, Dheeraj Belgaonkar, Aswani S L, Varsha Nambiar, Meenal Suresh, Anupama Prakash, Thamanna Fatima, Nainika Dasegowda, Iman Hashim & Vaishnavi.
Landscape Architects : Smrithi Balvalli
Photograph Courtesy : Raji Sunderkrishnan
Products/Materials/Vendors : Wall Finish – Earth finish with “Zycosil” weather coating / Flooring – Athangudi tiles / Openings – Upcycled doors and windows / Counters – Ferroconcrete finish / Storage – Pallet wood & packaging wood.
Firm’s Website Link : betweenlines
Firm’s Instagram Link : betweenlines
Firm’s Facebook Link : betweenlines
For Similar Project >>Chuzhi House Is A 2BHK Residence Designed With An Open Layout And Minimalist Interior Design
Editor’s Note: Some places feel rooted because they belong to their surroundings rather than trying to stand apart from them. Coffee Sangam in Andhra Pradesh takes this approach through a raw, tactile palette of brick, stone, teak, and mild steel. The random rubble compound wall extends the landscape into the architecture, while the Corten steel […]
Envisioned as a contemporary home rooted in Indian sensibilities, this residence sits on a south-facing urban plot. The design accommodates the evolving lifestyle of a multi-generational family. The project integrates architecture and interiors to create functional, climate-responsive, and emotionally connected spaces. Each level balances privacy with interaction. The design also allows flexibility for changing family […]
Editorial Note: Some homes are shaped by the memories, objects, and stories their residents carry with them. Ungana in Chennai, meaning “merge” in Swahili, brings together a well-travelled family’s collection of antiques and everyday rituals within a narrow urban plot. A double-height living space becomes the heart of the home, connecting the kitchen and dining […]
House of the Framed Atrium explores how a contemporary home can revolve around light, connection, and shared experiences. The design follows the ideas of a Living Atrium, Living with Nature, Framed Volumes, Vertical Living, and Timeless Materiality. The residence connects a sequence of interconnected spaces around a dramatic triple-height atrium. The atrium forms the heart […]
A Mock-up That Became a Home – For an architecture practice, a mock-up often helps test an idea before the team translates it into a larger project. It allows architects to work at full scale, examine materials and construction techniques, and understand their limitations. The process also gives them room to test different brick bonds and […]
The house began not with a formal brief, but with a conversation about the kind of life the clients hoped to build within it. Set between the denser urban fabric of Kannur and the quieter residential landscapes of North Kerala, the project responds to a desire for openness and connection. At the same time, the […]
“Pravah” — A House That Breathes is envisioned as the main concept of this home revolves around a fluid, light-filled home where architecture becomes a continuous experience of movement, air, and connection. Located in Pal Gamtal, Surat, the project is a residential redevelopment on a 1,850 sq.ft. plot within a dense urban fabric. The site, […]
Timeless architectural features, such as courtyards, are always associated with bringing the naturally public forms to the world’s heart, building the most peaceful, secluded outdoor areas. These outdoor spaces maximize the living experience with their private space feature, which gives one the option for leisurely relaxation, recreation, or gardening. Furthermore, it has also been a […]
Architecture font choices go beyond style—they shape how your work is perceived. From portfolios to presentations, the right architecture font instantly communicates clarity, precision, and personality. As architects, we design not just with space but with every detail, including typography. Selecting a strong architecture font shows your commitment to visual storytelling and design consistency. In […]
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 […]