We believe that architecture is a response to many parameters, context, site, vegetation, geography, and climate. When building in a dry and arid place like Bharuch, the heat, locally called “loo” in Guajarati was a big such parameter that the architecture had to respond to.
The Cool House Is A Classic Example Of Contemporary Architecture | Samira Rathod Design Atelier
VISIT : Samira Rathod Design Atelier
When making a house, it is imperative to take cognizance of many practical parameters of comfort, and for this house in Bharuch it was particularly tackling the summer heat.
The name Cool House has come from the way the house has been designed, a respite in the summer, a tree’s shade under the scorching sun, the house as in the words of our patron is like a funnel that channels all of Bharuch‘s wind into the house, making it a cool comfortable haven to live in.
Designed like a track with rooms on either side the house is punctured vertically making two courtyards on either side of the central track-like corridor. The courtyards begin from the first floor and frame views of the sky from the house.
Being in a tight row house fabric in the town the context really is another house in great proximity. The house is designed like a box, rather inward-looking with windows that are strategic to bring in the cool breeze and diffuse the sharp light.
The south facade is kept fairly dead and the wind is allowed to pass from the southwest courtyards and escape from the northeast courtyard ventilating the entire house.
One courtyard has shallow waterbody that cools the incoming wind before it enters the house. This courtyard also has a jali that allows for the wind to be channeled and then thrown into the house like a whiff of a cool breeze on a summer afternoon.
The other courtyard has trees on the first floor making a sort of context for the house from within and allowing internal windows to see the tree crowns.
Although inward looking there is a constant choreography of inside and outside movement within the house where you encounter the courtyards and can step out to them from the central track.
To help with beating the heat, the house also has thick external walls and a cool soothing interior done in lime “chuno” that helps cool the rooms from within.
The Cool House is a classic example of contemporary architecture that heavily relies on our innate knowledge of climate and materials that work in such harsh climate regions.
The house, like a box from the outside, has unique materiality, one painted black and the other very tactile using small custom cute siporex bricks, the semantics makes the logic of a track corridor and volumes on either side very evident. Small pockets have been identified within the mass that punctures it and green is allowed to grow from within.
The ‘Cool House’ in Bharuch has been a surprise for us all. Although everything has been consciously designed within the house, the breeze in the house at the peak of summer has really blown us away, literally and figuratively.
Fact File
Designed by : Samira Rathod Design Atelier
Project Type : Residence Architecture
Year : 2022
Location : Bharuch
Project Name : Cool House
Area : 10500 Sq.ft
Principal Architect : Samira Rathod
Project Architect : Jay Shah
Structural Consultant : Rajeev Shah
Photography Credits : Niveditaa Gupta
Firm’s Website Link : Samira Rathod Design Atelier
Firm’s Instagram Link : Samira Rathod Design Atelier
Firm’s Facebook Link : Samira Rathod Design Atelier
Source : Archdaily
For Similar Project >> THE LAKESHORE HOUSE ON THE BEAUTIFUL LAKE OSMAN SAGAR, HYDERABAD
This multi generational home is a testament to the ability of the design practice to blend aesthetic appeal with practical functionality. Keeping environmental sustainability and the welfare of the community at the forefront, Bhowal designed a home that was truly ahead of its time. His visionary approach and the Design Consortium’s expertise in providing a […]
In this modern luxury home, courtyards spill into living spaces, and the lines between inside and outside dissolve into a seamless whole. This 17,800 sq. ft. bungalow in Anand, by Hiren Patel Architects, blurs the boundaries between landscape, architecture, and interiors, creating a home where nature isn’t just the backdrop but an integral part of […]
Nestled in the foothills of the Shivalik range, the Himalayas is our latest project, Ekasham — a private residence refurbishment and redevelopment project, spread across an area of 2177 sqm. The monolithic home, through its volumes, composed of old and new structures, merges into a singular silhouette evoking the presence of a monolith from which […]
Ishaar is rooted in the belief that architecture should not just be seen, but deeply felt. Drawing from brutalist principles and natural tactility, the holiday villa is designed as a sensory retreat, where material, sound, light, and temperature shape the guest’s experience. Set amidst rural farmland, the villa dissolves into its landscape through a choreography […]
“Vishram Vaadi Nu Ghar” means a serene retreat amidst mango and chikoo farms, crafted to reflect the client’s vision in their mother tongue Gujarati. Vishram is a serene ground-touch structure offering breathtaking views of the Purna River and is a thoughtful example of countryside house design. Nestled amidst lush Amba and Chikoo Vaadi, the design […]
This single-story sustainable home in Ezhupunna blends traditional Kerala architecture with tropical, eco-friendly design. Inspired by the “kullakadavu” concept, a central pond encourages family interaction while enhancing the landscape. This Ezhupunna Home is Rooted in Eco-friendly Design | Judson Associates Architects & Interiors Despite being near lakes and beaches, adding a pond improves year-round moisture […]
In the heart of New Anjar, a small town tucked into the arid landscape of Kachchh, Gujarat, sits one of those modest houses designed with a quiet sense of clarity. Built for a Muslim family spanning three generations, the home isn’t trying to make a bold statement from its street-facing façade. Instead, it leans into […]
AME Studio was envisioned as a versatile yet understated architectural expression, reflecting our love for modest and unassuming architecture. AME Studio was envisioned as a versatile yet understated architectural expression, reflecting our love for modest and unassuming studio architecture. The design of AME Studio went beyond fulfilling a set of functional requirements; it was about […]
The house showcases a modern three-story residence exemplifying contemporary architectural design through its clean lines, geometric volumes, and a balanced interplay of materials. The facade skillfully combines textured tile cladding, smooth plaster, and contrasting color blocks in neutral shades of gray, black, and earthy rust, adding visual depth and dynamism. Expansive glass panels framed in […]
House of Silhouettes is located in Navratan, Udaipur. The plot is a corner one facing north and west 60’x40′ with a built-up area of 6500 sq.ft., designed in contemporary modern architecture as an independent house at three levels, including terrace. House of Silhouettes Reflects Contemporary Modern Architecture | Shaunak Singh and Associates This contemporary residence […]