Brick Facade House | Design Work Group
Design Work Group has completed a family home in the Indian port city of Surat, which features a gently undulating brick facade that offers shade from the sun.
The building’s location at the intersection of two roads informed the architects’ decision to divide it into two contrasting zones – one encased in concrete and the other in brick.
“The site is a part of the residential area on a corner plot approached from the road on the west edge,” explained the studio, which is based locally. “The layout was organised so that the private zone was at the inner side, and public zone at the front.”
The more private side of the house is located at the south-west of the site, away from the road, and comprises a kitchen, dining room and bedrooms, as well as an area for the client’s staff.
By contrast, a large lounge with a terrace at either end is positioned overlooking the road, where it is joined by a carport. Opaque red brick screens extend out to afford a degree of privacy on the terraces, which are fronted with glass balustrades. But perforations in the brickwork at eye level allow the residents to peer out over the street.
The double-height living room forms the main space of Brick Curtain House, but due to its position, it was exposed to direct sunlight throughout the day and at risk of overheating.
“The spatial organisation brought with it the biggest climatic challenge – the front facade with large surface areas are exposed to the west side, intensifying the heat gain throughout the day,” explained the architects.
To ensure this space was usable throughout the day, Design Work Group tried and tested a number of potential interventions that would ensure the building remained cool. The final outcome was the protruding brick facade.
Undulations in the facade enable the wall to shade itself, while the overhangs prevent direct sunlight into space, working concurrently to reduce heat gain.
While serving a primarily functional purpose, the brick facade also embellishes the otherwise plain concrete walls of the house.
To complement the exposed brickwork, the public spaces are complete with autumnal-toned furniture. Natural-coloured finishes feature throughout the rest of the house also, with wooden cabinets and tables teamed with marble flooring and areas of exposed concrete.
Project credits:
Design team: Dinesh Suthar, Bharat Patel, Jitendra Sabalpara, Sonakshi Berlia, Bhavika Suthar, Vishakha Jain, Ankit Sojitra, Chirag Katrodiya Photography: phxindia (Sebastian Zachariah and Ira Gosalia).
source
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 […]