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This Modern Mud House is Designed in a Vulnerable Ecosystem | Vy architecture studio

This Modern Mud House in a vulnerable ecosystem had to be a breathing edifice, born of the earth, slowly ebbing into the soil. Birds fly and make homes in lands far away. Vedanthangal is a chosen land for migratory birds. The untouched vegetation and aquatic plants maintain the bird sanctuary in Vedanthangal as one of the country’s oldest protected regions.

Editor’s Note: This Mud House is a Sculpture masterpiece in the form of a residence designed by VY Architecture Studio. As the name suggests, this house is a ‘living structure’ with its unique curved shell covering the central courtyard. By deliberately melding cultural aspects as well as modern architecture, this structure is more than a house; it is also a recreational space for the surrounding community. ~ Rajvi Dedakiya

This Modern Mud House is Designed in a Vulnerable Ecosystem | Vy architecture studio

Modern Mud House Design

Design Approach

A living home for living beings. The client’s story is that of a man caged in the walls of a city. Setting him free in this chosen land was our role as architects.

Modern Mud House Design

With reference to the indigenous construction practices of mud architecture and courtyard houses, our design approach was grounded in history and equally modern for the city dwellers to adapt.

Modern Mud House Design

Shell

The shell had to allow the gaze to penetrate the surfaces. Additionally, it bears witness of age and history on its skin and withholds the openness of the client in its layout. 

Modern Mud House Design

Amid a cluster of family-owned houses, the north-facing rectangular site belongs to a borderless neighborhood with the only true boundary being the thinnai—a raised, covered veranda intrinsic to Tamil households. However, this space, where the family chit-chats with neighbours and feeds dogs is the heart of belonging.

Modern Mud House Design

Zoning

The plan divides into three zones. The communal spaces—thinnai, living room, and courtyard—connect seamlessly, while the more private kitchen and bedrooms are arranged linearly to ensure visual continuity throughout. At the core of the house is a courtyard.

Modern Mud House Design

Modern Mud House Design

Modern Mud House Design

Modern Mud House Design

Modern Mud House Design

Modern Mud House Design

A wall curves through the volume of the courtyard and shelters the west from harsh sun. On the east, the curve extends to the roof, forming an open space to bask in the morning sun.

Modern Mud House Design

Modern Mud House Design

Modern Mud House Design

The curve, more than a sculptural element, is a play wall to climb up to the roof and lie back, watching clouds drift by. The curve connects the ground and the roof, creating a three-dimensional recreational area.

Modern Mud House Design

Modern Mud House Design

The perforations in the curve let the sun cast patterns on the earth-like oxide floor and shower rain into the courtyard. Additionally, the river rocks in the courtyard are mnemonic objects, reminiscent of the river flowing nearby.

Modern Mud House Design
Modern Mud House Design

The courtyard invites not just the family but also birds, insects, dogs, and cats, turning the home into a sanctuary for all. Here, the home celebrates the climate’s veracities—bare feet on cool, damp soil, raindrops from the open roof, stargazing at a clear blue sky—breathing life into the narrative.

Fact File

Designed by: Vy architecture studio

Project Type: Residential Architecture Design

Project Name: VAAZH

Location: Vedanthangal

Year Built: 2024

Principal Architect: Ar. Venkatesh & Ar. Yogalakshmi

Design Credits: Srinivasan & Ramesh Kumar

Photograph Courtesy: SYAM

Firm’s Website Link: Vy architecture studio

Firm’s Instagram Link: Vy architecture studio

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