search

This Chennai house and Studio is for a Textile and Mixed Media Artist Couple | Fictional Project

This Chennai house and studio is designed for an artist couple who work with mixed media & textiles, respectively. “Tiered Realm” draws on the visualization of ‘home’ not just as a dwelling for two individuals but also as a space for one’s work & community – a world abuzz with creative energy and the spirit of the individual finding meaning within the collective. The home was conceived as a container for the dynamic dance between work and life. It is also the celebration of collaborative artistic processes, and long-standing friendships.

The house studio project is situated in Ambattur, on the outskirts of Chennai. It is a neighborhood representative of sprawling Indian suburbia. Along with brightly painted 2-3 story houses occupying tightly apportioned plots of land. “Tiered Realm” deviates from the typical ‘BHK’ format, its burnished brick façade unfolding gently upwards from the street along the west edge of the site. Thus, this Chennai house conceals a tapestry of interwoven spaces united by a communicative vertical void.

Editor’s Note: “With its burnished brick façade and tiered concept, this residence in Chennai weaves a tapestry of interconnected spaces united by a communicative vertical void. Careful planning positions the staircase as the central hero, binding the residence together. The blend of workspace and living quarters creates a captivating narrative through varied materials and textures.” ~Simran Khare

This Chennai house and Studio is for a Textile and Mixed Media Artist Couple | Fictional Project

chennai house

Neat and Clean Planning

The realm of work meets the street, generously opening along the edge, ushering one into the Chennai house. The ground floor features a space suitable for large-format work and accommodating larger groups, with an attached storage area neatly tucked away towards the rear.

chennai house

The indoor garden that runs along the North-south axis roots the open core of the building, illuminated by a skylight along the north edge of the roof. Light from above washes across the multiple spatial layers to varying degrees, revealing the connectedness between spaces.

chennai house

The staircase is a vital seam stitching together the many realms of the house that gradually cascade upwards through split levels of varying proportions. The landings expand to alternatingly form zones for work, rest, and recreation.

chennai house

The act of stepping the volumes results in conversations crisscrossing through the realm of work, where each space also acts as a staggered gallery to its neighboring workshop across the core. The workshop for mixed-media work is the largest, with subtle mediation along the west edge to filter the daylight entering the space.

The workshops for textile art run along the eastern edge, implying the twin nature of the artistic process, which thrives as much on collaborative work as it does on spells of individual rumination. The open workshop below accommodates elongated worktables. Whereas the space above is enclosed with a system of wooden shutters, creating a retreat akin to an atelier-like nest.

chennai house

Moreover, the realm of residence crowns the house with a compact kitchen that can gather near and dear for a meal. The penultimate landing of the staircase expands into a living area and a private bedroom with a balcony along the west. The social, celebratory realm caps the house in the form of a terrace with stepped seating overlooking a lake in the distance, a space for get-togethers at the end of the day.

chennai house

Material Explorations

Material explorations bear further testament to the spirit of artistic collaboration. A restrained palette of hardy IPS flooring unites the workshops, while handmade Athangudi tiles enliven the residential spaces. The pigmented plaster surfaces of the internal walls derived their shades from consultation with the artists and the respective functions of the spaces.

chennai house

Workspaces feature lighter shades, while areas designated for rest and repose adopt darker hues that embrace shadows. A sliding door is crafted from recycled wood. It reuses wooden ceiling & column ornaments from older constructions to form a welcoming collage along the street edge.

Moreover, the bands of brick laid in differing configurations imbue the street-facing façade with composed animation. Thus showcasing the wealth of craftsmanship native to the land. The brick skin is a skilled expression of a series of relationships that continues inward. Thus reflecting the nature of the artist’s mixed-media explorations.

Fragmenting the whole and layering it anew to discover new relationships could very well be the most relevant metaphor for the architectural process. This allows each “tier” to be a realm unto its own within an interconnected whole.

Fact File

Designed by: Fictional Project

Project Name: Tiered Realm House and Studio 

Location: Chennai

Year Built: 2023

Project Size: 3500 Sq.ft

Principal Architect: Chinchukumar Sreekandan

Photograph Courtesy: Syam Sreesylam

Design And Execution: ChinchuKumar Sreekandan, Julie Ann tharkan, Francis Kurian, Naina Johnson

Graphics And Design: Madhu S murthy

Graphics: Hiba Farsanah Hanif

Program / Use / Building Function: Artist Studio and Residence

Source: ArchDaily

Firm’s Instagram Link: Fictional Project

For Similar Project>>> A Climate Responsive Courtyard House In Kerala With An Earthy Palette And Natural Materials | Coax Group

This Bungalow Style House Is Rooted in Vastu and Modernism | The ART Container

This bungalow style house influences the site context and can be visualised in multiple facades of sharp edges & cuboidal form. Her,e salient features like U-Projection are an expression of the bench on a level one. The house divides itself into three bays. On the ground floor, where first bay acquire all public activities like […]

Read More

Console House’s Modern Architecture Design Floats Above The Forest | Hello Wood

Imagine yourself on the terrace of your hidden mountain retreat, drinking a fresh cup of coffee as you admire the sunrise emerging from behind the rolling hills across the valley. This serene atmosphere is exactly what Hello Wood’s latest project, the Console House, is designed to offer. The Console House showcases modern architecture design while […]

Read More

This Contemporary Tropical House Design Captures The Essence Of Rural Charm | Urban Hive

As cities continue to grow and evolve, there is a growing desire to incorporate elements of rural living into urban design. By embracing rural living principles, cities can create more eco-friendly and sustainable spaces. Rural living is not just about wide-open spaces and rolling hills. It’s also about community, sustainability, and a connection to nature. […]

Read More

This Home Is An Ode To Luxury Residences That Embrace Earth and Elegance | Vitthal Todkar & Associates

Located in the thriving city of Ichalkaranji, this is an example of luxury residences is a seamless blend of timeless elegance and modern sophistication. The striking exterior, adorned with brick and natural stone cladding, exudes warmth, character, and permanence. These rich textures create a visually captivating façade, harmonizing tradition with contemporary design while making a […]

Read More

Stone in Architecture: 10 Must-Know Projects In India

Throughout history, stone has embodied permanence, artistry, and raw beauty in architecture. From the grandeur of Roman amphitheaters to the earthy elegance of modern villas, stone remains a beloved material for its strength, sustainability, and aesthetic richness. As design trends evolve toward natural materials, eco-conscious decisions, and biophilic design, stone has found new expressions — […]

Read More

This Biophilic Office Design Is Sculpted in Daylight | AD Studio9

The space adopts a biophilic office design and climate-responsive approach, creating a workspace that reimagines urban interiors by deeply embedding them with nature. The style is earthy, minimal, and modern with a strong contextual sensitivity to its location. Also, a lush canopy surrounds the bare-shell site on the first floor, allowing for abundant daylight and […]

Read More

Saba House Is A Wind-Catcher of Memories and Modernity | Project 51 A (h)

The design started from an old house where a family of seven stood, one yet to be born. Hari & Sreelakshmi, Usha-Hari’s mother, Malathi, teacher, Hari’s grandmother, kids, Sankari, Paru, and yet to be born Sreebala. Four generations living in a 60-year-old house that had begun to show its age with dimly lit rooms, leaking […]

Read More

This Wellbeing Centre Blends Seamlessly with the Dense Canopy and Natural Surroundings | Urban Circle

The clients’ requirement was to create a wellbeing centre at Oleander Farms, Karjat, Maharashtra, that would be a tranquil sanctuary for their visitors. Walking through a dense canopy of trees, hearing the soft chirping of birds, we slowly embarked on an expanse of a 2-acre of land that was both open yet heavily tree-laden. This […]

Read More

This Office with Garden Blurs Boundaries between Work and Retreat | Arcline Architects

The thought was to create a space which would act as a formal real estate workspace in the daytime and a family retreat in the evening. By its name, as it is, ‘Leveled. This office with a garden is defined using levels, in terms of volumes, surfaces as well as edges. These levels are rationalized […]

Read More

These Courtyard Villas Connect Deeply with Nature and Everyday Rhythms | The Grid Architects

Nirmay (निर्मय) reflects purity and holistic well-being. Envisioned as a quiet sanctuary amidst the noise of urban life, these courtyard villas offer a way of living that is calm, conscious, and deeply connected to the land. Rooted in sustainability and ecological harmony, the design responds to both nature and the everyday rhythms of its inhabitants. […]

Read More
  • The Initial View Sets a Tranquil Tone for the Rest of the Aesthetic House | 23DC Architects

    15 Hindu Temple Designs to Enrich Your Home's Spiritual Aura