Maya (n) A Sanskrit word with unclear etymology, probably comes from the root mā, which means “to measure”. The wondrous and mysterious power to turn an idea into a physical reality, a state of mind, or perhaps consciousness, an Illusion, or appearance.

Nestled discreetly is the home of lime plaster walls and agrarian roots. Away from the hustle and bustle of city life, carved into one of the many picturesque rock formations in the city of Hyderabad is a sprawling colony with lanes shaded by seasoned trees, roads sparingly lit by rays of filtered light that fall on a bed of red, yellow and green.

Editor’s Note: “With a simple, minimalist and meaningful facade, this residence design re-establishes the relationship between human and nature with creative use of materials. Punctuated with large openings and hand plastered lime skin, this abode evokes a sense of belonging and takes one back to the roots. The thoughtful planning and creative choice of materials, the residence strikes a difference and stands apart.” ~Simran Khare

The Home of Lime Plaster walls and Agrarian Roots | Nowhere

Inspiration

Taking inspiration in equal parts by the Telugu movie ‘Maya Bazaar’ and the story of ‘Maya Sabah’ from the Hindu epic ‘Mahabharata,’ the proposal attempts to re-establish the tactile relationships. Moreover, the family used to share with nature and elements and create a living house through the creative use of materials.

Large openings punctuate the solid periphery. Moreover, the layers of cement are carefully removed and replaced by a hand lime plastered skin. It is also mixed with salvaged brick and marble dust. This blend comforts the residents with natural elements while keeping them connected to nature.

Reclaimed wood doors have supplanted aluminum counterparts, with the latter melted down to forge brass-coated fixtures. Stones and earth displaced during construction find purpose in external paving and pigments.

Material Palette

The manipulation of common materials like—brick, marble, earth, etc.—alters their form and perception. Thus, creating novel experiences marked by a perpetual tension between what one knows, sees, and feels.

For example, in one of the rooms, the contemplation of a mature jackfruit tree’s view converges with the room’s color. This sensation of being enveloped by the tree emerges. Additionally, the surrounding hue, extracted from the leaves and pulp of that very jackfruit tree, remains unnoticed.

Similarly, in another room, artisans use waste marble dust from quarries as a pozzolan. They also use it in the final coat of a native Indian hydrophobic lime plaster. This method adds luster to the lime-plastered floor, which they further carefully compress and buff by hand. Thus, creating a different experience of a “marble floor.”

Again, the beauty of it is that a lot of these practices are not new but rather obscured through lack of engagement with them, only existing within stories told by those who still remember them.

Spatial Layout

The house is organized around a central courtyard sitting on top of a rainwater tank, surrounded by a living room, home office, dining area, kitchen, staff quarters, bedrooms, library housing a 14-foot high bookshelf, and also an adjoined study all rendered in various pigments harvested from the immediate landscape.

Its design crowns the three-storied house with a liminal pavilion, enveloped in translucent marble skin. Adjacent to it, a semi-open shower area is delicately enclosed by salvaged bamboo strips woven together. Moreover, the idea was to create clusters of public, semi-public, and private spaces and use circulation and glazing as two means to offer privacy.

Landscape

Moving further, the design introduces a lush landscape around the house to offer respite from the rapidly growing colony. Also, the water bodies create a micro-climate around the house, allowing it to regulate the surrounding temperature naturally. Due to the slopes of the colony, this particular house receives a large amount of storm water drainage from the surrounding areas.

The design carefully negotiates the existing impenetrable bed, leaves more open ground for water percolation vegetation, and incorporates an underground water storage tank that filters and stores up to 14,000 liters of water during the monsoons. It is also equipped with technology that allows water to be harvested from the air, ensuring that there is a constant supply of drinking water without having to rely on wasteful existing technologies.

Unique Fusion

Mayalogili is an ambitious project that represents a unique fusion of latent vernacular technologies with contemporary sustainability principles as it also seeks to redefine the conventional urban villa.

Conclusion

In summary, the design re-imagines the old, opaque, heavy, worn-down building, obsessed with permanence, as an open, translucent, nurturing space that embraces life and all that comes with it in an environmentally, socially, and financially conscious manner.

Fact File

Designed by: Nowhere

Project Type: Residential Architecture Design

Name of Project: Mayalogili 

Location: Hyderabad

Year Built: 2023

Built-up Area: 5775 Sq.ft

Principal Architects: Seetharam Vallabhaneni (Architectural Designer, RIBA Pt. 2)

Photograph Courtesy: Vivek Eadara & Seetharam Vallabhaneni

Manufacturers:  

Dornbracht, Aequo, Apple, Bowers and Wilkins, Daikin, Hyderabad, KMA exports, Kohler, LEVEL, Netgear, Nila Jaipur, Osolin, Philips, Saphed, Siemens, The Antique Loft, The Hesperus Store, Villeroy & Boch , Ware Innovations

Structures: Shiva / Furniture: Ekta Wood Works / Rainwater Collection: Retas Enviro Solutions Private Limited / Sound Design: Vector Systems Pvt. Ltd. / Site Supervisors: Ramu Vallabhaneni, Venkanna Donakonda / Wood: Gautam (Team Lead), Sunil, Vikas, Ajay, Mohan, Sanoj, Bablu / Stone: Nagesh, Ramu / Marble: Balaji Stone Work, Gaurav Sharma, Bhoora singh / Ips (Indian Patent Stone): Md. Rehman, Md. Feroz, Md. Hamidul /

Lime Plaster (Araish & Surkhi): Durgalal, Raju, Ravi / Masonry: Babu, Ramu, Narasimha / Bamboo (Structures): Md. Kurban Ali, Mitu Sheik, Karim, Ashaul / Bamboo (Objects): Md. Feroz, Md. Isa / Helpers: Srinu, Naidu, Shiva, Gauri Naidu, Vamsi / Electrical: Vinod, Raju / Plumbing: Md. Jaki, Ashutosh & team (external) / Air To Water Generator: Akvo Atmospheric Water Systems Pvt. Ltd. / Hybrid Solar Energy System: GV SUNPRO SOLARSYS (I) PVT. LTD. / Textile Artist (Area Rugs): Sabiha Dohadwala / Program / Use / Building Function: Single Family Home / Metal Fabrication: Megha Fabricators (Porch) / Water Strategy: Pangaea Trade Team Pvt. Ltd. / Home Automation: Wozart Technologies Private Limited

Source: Archdaily

Firm’s Instagram Link: Nowhere

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