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
Editors’ Note – This colonial house in Delhi carries an ambience of grandeur, infused with the elegance of Victorian-style colonialism. Expansive living, dining, and kitchen areas open into light-filled spaces framed by large glazing that connect seamlessly to the surrounding landscape. Inside, tropical interiors with bold geometry add a contemporary layer of comfort. The residence […]
“Hilltop House” is envisioned as a contemporary yet context-sensitive residential project that harmonizes architecture and interior design to create a sanctuary perched on a scenic elevation. The design will respond directly to the topography, climate, and panoramic views, while delivering a highly functional, comfortable, and aesthetically refined living environment. This Hilltop House in Indore Is […]
In the layered urban grain of Manjeri, the Timeless House reimagines a 1970s sloping roof residence through careful transformation. It’s a home that doesn’t shout for attention, but quietly repositions itself within its time and place, a sensitive reinterpretation of memory, material, and movement. Originally built in 1972, the house was structurally sound, featuring load-bearing […]
Editor’s Note: There’s something truly special about homes crafted with thought and care—where every corner and detail speaks to its users, becoming part of their memories. For siblings Akhila and Kaushik, Sona Reddy Studio brought this vision to life in One Summer House, a rustic farmhouse tucked within the vibrant city of Hyderabad. Designed with […]
This southwest-facing bungalow, with golden accents in its interiors, is a refined expression of contextual and climate-responsive modern architecture. The home embraces its orientation with an intelligent façade design that balances aesthetic appeal and environmental performance. With the sun’s harshest rays hitting the structure in the latter half of the day, the architects incorporated a […]
This North Facing villa opens towards the East to always soak in the cool and diffused light. Its orientation is mindful of the adjoining clubhouse and its expansive garden. The planning allows the villa’s private lawn to visually merge with it, creating a larger and cohesive space. With a connection to the open space at […]
An Urban Sanctuary Woven with Craft, Warmth, and Light Explicitly tucked into a quiet residential pocket, this home with a jaali facade is a thoughtfully layered expression of calm, character, and craftsmanship. Every surface and corner is rooted in intention — where light, material, and memory meet. The Jaali Design in this Layered Home Exudes […]
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 […]
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 […]
Aangan is a modern residence that seamlessly integrates with the lush environment of Kerala, showcasing a tropical home design. Designed to embrace the region’s warm climate, the house features a striking sloped terracotta roof at varying levels, enhancing both its aesthetic appeal and functional efficiency. The structure is enveloped in a vibrant tropical landscape, adorned […]