Imagine residing with nature at this Holiday Home in Chandigarh. On a quest for a compact spot among the mango, chikoo, and guava trees, you will find an amorphous one surrounded by fruit trees everywhere. Finding one of these is challenging in an area close to the city boundaries.
Editor’s Note: “This farmhouse in Chandigarh embraces nature seamlessly with its open expansive windows and stark white built form. Emerging from the lush greenery, stepping into this sanctuary instils a profound sense of serenity and comfort. The open layout, functional partitions, natural materials, and radiant skylights transform every corner of this abode into a celebration of the timeless connection between humans and the natural world.” ~Simran Khare
Reimagining Residing with Nature at this Holiday Home in Chandigarh | Design i.O
Situated in Chandigarh, this 3800 sq. ft. holiday home denies its identity as a built structure amidst nature, instead embracing the notion that it emerged from nature itself. Rightly so, they have conceptualized, laid out, and crafted it to camouflage with the surrounding silence and solitude.
House of Mango Shadows greets visitors with a compact yet refreshing entryway with trees on either side of the paved walkway.
Upon entering through the main door, one is revitalized to witness the absence of brick walls and concrete columns, setting the tone of this serene sanctuary to contemplate after the mundane routine.
House of Mango Shadows is composed to harmonize with nature and to let in as much as desired. This is strategically done by incorporating expansive, slide, and fold windows from ALCOI, softening the architectural boundaries silently and seamlessly.
Walking into the open floor plan, the common spaces, such as the living room, dining room, kitchen, pool room, and TV lounge, are segregated by functional partitions, which serve as part screen and display units.
Going further, private spaces, such as bedrooms, consist of more secure openings, sliding doors and windows, and a bamboo screen to offer additional privacy. Each bedroom has an attached washroom, which features a private courtyard with an outdoor bathing area.
Natural materials, including teak and ashwood for doors and furniture, Kota stone for flooring, green spider marble, and jaisalmer stone for the washrooms, reflect stripping the nonessential ornaments and evoke mindfulness and minimalism.
Unbound by the conventional perceptions of a roof, the project houses three skylights, lighting up the spaces effectively and naturally.
“Although we signed this project to build it as a farmhouse, on visiting the site, we experienced a distinct sense of realization. At that very moment, we knew we wanted to build on the sense of oneness and further encourage spiritual reflection.” Saurabh and Palak, co-founders of Design i.O.
In the tapestry of architecture and design, where human aspirations meet the raw beauty of the natural world, House of Mango Shadows in Chandigarh embodies a harmonious blend, echoing the sentiment of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe: “We should attempt to bring nature, houses, and human beings together in a higher unity.” Here, amidst mango, chikoo, and guava trees, walls dissolve and expansive windows open to the organic world.
Crafted by Saurabh and Palak, it serves as a living testament to the inseparable bond between human design and nature’s grace—a sanctuary where architecture and nature converge in a higher unity, offering space for contemplation, reflection, and spiritual oneness.
Fact File
Designed by: Design i.O
Project Type: Residential Architecture Design
Project Name: House of Mango Shadows
Location: Chandigarh
Year Built: 2023
Built Up Area: 3800 Sq.ft
Principal Architects: Saurabh Singla & Palak Singla
Design Team: Himanshu Agrawal & Darshan Paliwal
Photograph Courtesy: Jeevan Jyot
Structural Engineer: Rakhra Associates
Manufacturers: ALCOI, Asian Paints, Jaguar, Kriglow, Legrand & Ziba Homes
Firm’s Instagram Link: Design i.O
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