Editor’s Note: Matharoo Associates created this unique expression of design, where textured concrete façades hide quietly behind the surrounding landscape that has been carefully retained. With thoughtful deliberation, they achieve a perfect balance where practicality, creativity, and functionality come together seamlessly. As sunlight falls across the surfaces, it creates an intangible texture, almost like watching light dance. This home truly shows the possibilities that can be explored to create well-designed spaces. ~ Yamini Patil

Trees Sliced Through

The city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat is in a sandy and dry area. Almost flat in terrain, the region has recently seen measures introduced to curb desertification triggered by the Rann of Kutch’s steady expansion toward the city. The climate is of the hot semi-arid type with temperatures reaching up to 48 °C. It is extremely dry aside from the monsoon season, making it common for droughts to occur.

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Location

Ahmedabad, the fifth most populous city in India, added 9,00,000 vehicles to its roads between 2015 and 2017. In the same period, the district lost 20 sq km of green space (Forest Survey of India).

Context

A tree count conducted within Ahmedabad municipal limits has revealed that there are only 11 trees per 100 people in the city (Social Forestry Department). The green cover of the city is now only 4.66% of its geographical area, and is depleting.

Retaining the Existing

While the norm is to cut trees and clear vegetation before even approaching an architect, our clients shared our belief in preserving nature. They chose not to lose a single one of the 23 Neem trees on their 1000 sq. m. site.

Site Location

Located in a housing society on a busy commercial road, the site faces large houses to the south and west. Some more homes are soon to rise along the east.

The shorter side of the plot faces north, with the house covering half of it. The remaining half opens to a large community green space that would remain open.

Design Meets Functionality

The challenge was to save the trees throughout the construction period and let them flourish. The locations of spaces were based on the cardinal directions while following Vastu. Another task was to accommodate the complex program of the three generations of the family – a young couple expecting children, their ageing parents, as well as their dogs.

Simple Retaining Techniques

The first decision was to protect the trees with brickwork all around and to tie them to each other lest they lean or fall during excavation. We marked a 10-foot diameter circle around each tree to define the minimum distance for construction.

Solid at the Core

The second decision was to go for a pile foundation, so the amount of soil movement was minimal. This approach allowed the roots to grow freely and stay nourished beneath the ground.

Open Layout

The third decision was to keep all spaces completely open on two sides so the trees would seamlessly be a part of the inside space. The rooms are all aligned to the North and South to get long views of the site and common landscaped plot beyond, and the 23 trees dictate the arrangement of the composition.

Thoughtful Material Selection

The building, cast from waste in rough wood shuttering (now registered as the architects’ intellectual property), complements the trees through its horizontal cut direction. Unlike conventional form-finished concrete, it avoids continuous vertical or horizontal joints, transforming the walls into textured planes that catch shifting nuances of sunlight.

Feature Elements

The floor is in cool dark Kudapah sand stone and the moving parts like doors and panels are cased in terracotta shades. The epitome of this moving feature is a custom designed main door with counter rotating top and lower panels making for an element of delight.

Design That Merges with Nature

The organic position of the trees is also translated in the articulation of the house.  There is a diagonal disposition of spaces that preserves the feel and primordial habit of transgressing under the trees.

Nature in Focus

While the long parallel walls shut off the views from the road and neighbouring plots, they connect the trees on either side that enclose, shade, shield and become an integral part of the lives of the family. It is envisaged these trees will become a part, growing living and flourishing with the members of the family.

Fact File

Designed by: Matharoo Associates

Project Type: Residential Architecture Design

Project Name: Trees Sliced Through

Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Year Built: 2018

Client: Chinmay and Prapti Thakkar

Built Up Area: 10,950 Sq.ft

Principal Architect: Gurjit Singh Matharoo

Team Design Credits: Trisha Patel (Project Architect) Jayati Agarwal (Intern)

Photograph Courtesy: Vinay Panjwani, Edmund Sumner, Matharoo Associates

Consultants: Structural engineer: Rushabh Consultants / HVAC Consultant: Pankaj Dharkar Associates Plumbing Consultant: Aqua Utility Designs and Management Private Ltd / Electrical Consultant: JIT Engineering Services Consultant / Interior designer: Matharoo Associates / Landscape architect: Vagish Naganur

Firm’s Website Link: Matharoo Associates

Firm’s Instagram Link: Matharoo Associates

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