The Silhouette House’s design philosophy revolves around creating a harmonious balance between functionality, aesthetics, and emotional connection. Inspired by the client’s diverse lifestyles—a merchant navy officer’s quest for serenity, a PR officer’s need for warmth, and the joy of nurturing young children—the home, with its sloping roof design, is designed as a sanctuary that blends modern living with nature. The house celebrates familial bonds, reflecting the memory of loved ones while focusing on a sustainable and timeless design. It is a home that evolves with the family, offering functionality and beauty at every stage of life.

The use of custom metallic screens allows light and shadow to animate the spaces, creating a dynamic yet calming environment. A central courtyard fosters natural ventilation and serves as the heart of the home, bringing the family together. Spaces are thoughtfully zoned to cater to the needs of all generations, offering privacy, comfort, and openness.

Editor’s Note: The Silhouette House is more than a home. Moreover, it is an experience of light, air, and emotion woven into space. A sanctuary where movement feels effortless, where shadows dance with time, and where every moment lingers in quiet beauty. Here, architecture doesn’t just shelter; it embraces, nurtures, and inspires. ~Isha Bora

Silhouette House’s Sloping Roof Design Blends Modern Living & Nature | Hatch n’ Thatch Design Studio

Concept

The Silhouette House is a serene retreat designed for a merchant navy officer, inspired by the interplay of light and shadow. The name “Silhouette” reflects the dynamic patterns created by custom-designed metal screens, which filter sunlight to cast intricate and ever-changing shadows across the interiors, enhancing the spatial experience.

A central courtyard with a water feature brings a sense of calm while facilitating natural ventilation. The floating staircase, framed by lush greenery, acts as a sculptural centerpiece, seamlessly connecting the levels of the home.

The design emphasizes openness and harmony, blending nature with modern living to create a tranquil sanctuary. Much like the client’s journeys at sea, defined by shifting horizons and light, the home celebrates the elegance of movement and the timeless beauty of silhouettes, embodying poetry through architecture.

Entrance

The entrance design exudes simplicity and elegance, blending contemporary elements with a welcoming aesthetic. A minimalistic portico is framed by bold vertical and horizontal concrete lines. Thus, creating a clean and defined approach to the home. The flat roof of the porch offers practical shelter while maintaining a streamlined look.

The sloping roof above, finished with wooden textures and intricate geometric patterns, adds warmth and a subtle sense of tradition to the modern facade. However, this juxtaposition of forms creates visual interest and harmonizes with the tropical surroundings.

The entrance steps are wide and understated, leading to a recessed wooden door that enhances privacy and gives a grounded, earthy feel. The tiled pathway, interspersed with lush green grass joints, provides a soft, organic contrast to the hardscaping.

Overall, the design reflects functionality, elegance, and a sense of balance, creating a warm, inviting entryway that seamlessly integrates with its environment.

Central Courtyard with Staircase

This space artfully integrates architecture with natural elements, fostering a serene ambiance. The staircase, with its floating wooden treads and slender metal railing, exudes lightness and modernity. Additionally, the wooden finish adds warmth, contrasting elegantly with the rough-textured grey plastered wall in the background.

The adjacent double-height courtyard features perforated metal screens with intricate patterns, allowing dappled sunlight to filter through and create dynamic play of light and shadow throughout the day. These metallic screens provide privacy while maintaining openness and ventilation.

At the base, the indoor garden is a calming focal point, complete with lush greenery and a water feature. The gentle sound of the cascading water enhances the sensory experience. Thus, connecting the space to nature. Above, a skylight ensures ample daylight while visually expanding the area.

Skylights

They allow hot air to rise up and help in air circulation. Moreover, the skylight in this space features a modern and functional design, using GI (galvanized iron) frames and wooden panels.

The GI frames provide structural strength, ensuring durability and stability, while the wooden panels add warmth and aesthetic appeal. Positioned strategically, the skylight allows ample natural light to flood the interior. Thus, enhancing the play of light and shadow.

The wooden slats are spaced to diffuse sunlight, creating a rhythmic illumination pattern throughout the day. This house with its sloping roof design not only reduces reliance on artificial lighting but also contributes to a seamless indoor-outdoor connection, fostering a bright and inviting ambiance in the space.

Fact File

Designed by: Hatch n’ Thatch Design Studio

Project Type: Residential Architecture Design

Project Name: The Silhouette House

Location: Thrissur, Kerala

Year Built: 2024

Duration of the project: 2022-2024

Project Size: 2940 Sq.ft

Principal Architects: Ar. Sonu Surendran

Team Design Credits: Ar.  Abdul, Ar.  Alice Pious & Nikhil

Photograph Courtesy: sonuu_surendran

Consultants for the Project: Civil – Structure engineers – Sasikumar Associates / Civil – Sasikumar Associates / Interior Designers – Wall 2 Wall Interiors and Developers, Thrissur / Landscape Architects – Poornima Home Decors

Firm’s Website Link: Hatch n’ Thatch Design Studio

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