‘Plot 33’ is an honest study about how to achieve a balance between inside-outside, work-life, privacy-openness, reused-new materials, adaptability-single use, etc. This project is also an attempt to amalgamate the aspirations of an Architect duo coming from diverse backgrounds – South Asia (India) and Southern Europe (Spain) – in the rapidly growing city of Rajkot, India.

Editor’s Note: “This residence and architecture studio in the streets of Rajkot stands as a testament to minimalism and functionality. The linear facade acts as a shield to direct sunlight and allows for maximum views of the surroundings. The planning of the spaces is efficient and flows seamlessly between indoor and outdoor spaces.” ~Simran Khare

To Achieve a Balance Between Inside-Outside | playball studio

The site is located in a tight urban residential neighborhood, adjacent to the region’s university campus. It is a 10 x 24 meters parcel of land, with the northern short side facing the road that leads to the university. On the opposite side of the plot, across the road, there is a small public park with large sheltering trees.

The Architects believe that the first approach to a site should always be based on the climate rather than the program. The plot location and its orientation led the Architects to start with a gesture of opening up towards the north. As it was sheltering the other sides by having cavity walls on the east and west, and placing the circulation core on the south.

After finalizing these conceptual decisions over a Plan, the team conceived the rest of the project through a series of sections. The design proposal includes a courtyard on the north edge to act as a buffer between the habitable areas and the outside.

The entire program was then stacked like a diagrammatic section. An independent direct entry places the studio on the ground level. The planning further designates the first floor as the ‘living’ area and the second floor as the ‘private’ area.

The third floor acts a multipurpose space with a combination of guest and activity rooms. The floor plates were significantly optimized based on the area requirements for each of these functions. Hence, the front side courtyard turned into a cascading volume, stepping back as it goes up.

To maintain the inside-outside balance, a series of overlooking green terraces weave together all floors.

A simple system of perforated metal sheets shields this dynamic volume. This was significantly designed to achieve zero material wastage and maximum stability. This material allows the courtyard to breathe. Hence, letting it remain in sync with the local climate while simultaneously adding a layer of security.

The arrangement of the solar panels shelters the courtyard from the harsh sunlight with their substructure. Two planters cap the road-facing screen. Firstly, at the bottom blurs the road from the living floor by merging with the foliage of the trees in the front. Secondly, the one at the top hides the solar panels and softens the skyline of the building.

At the ground level, there is a lush champa tree. This further dividing the entry to the studio and the open stairway to the house.

The design of the entire structural system ensures that the cavity walls on the east and west sides absorb the columns.

We’ve sequenced the functions in a way that places all areas requiring plumbing connections next to the circulation core. Hence, ensuring easy access to the maintenance ducts.

These ‘wet’ areas also absorb the beams and sunk slabs within their false ceiling portions. This allows the rest of the slabs to be free of any protruding structural elements. We’ve exposed all slab bottoms to exhibit the staggered pattern of the 300 x 3000 MM reclaimed wood shuttering members.

We strategically place a series of openings and skylights on the east and west walls to allow ventilation and natural light to permeate through to the internal spaces, ensuring that the future development on either of the adjacent plots does not disturb the character and privacy of any of the spaces.

Following a similar logic, the circulation core comprises a delicately designed lightweight metal staircase which allows air and light to trickle through the entire volume.

Internal walls exist only for toilets and bathrooms; otherwise, there are none. All floors follow an open-plan configuration, enabling the furniture pieces to act as space-making elements. This allows all floors to be easily reconfigurable, as and when the functional requirements change.

The flooring also follows this seamless logic, with hand crafted 300 x 300 MM terrazzo tiles, made with chips from marble waste and glass bottles; the overlooking terraces have cast in-situ flooring using waste kota stone pieces, organized in a random pattern.

The simple yet strong architecture efficiently opens up and shelters itself from the local climate, ensuring that every space maintains a continuous visual sensation of being connected with the park and the open sky. This stays true to the distinct core idea behind the making of ‘Plot 33’.

Fact File

Designed By: playball studio

Project Type: Private Residence & Architecture Studio

Project Name: Plot 33

Location: Rajkot, India

Year Built: 2023

Built-up Area: 4327 Sq.ft

Principal Architects: Ronak Gangdev & Celia Fernandez Duque

Photograph Courtesy: Atik Bheda

Consultants for the Project: Structural Consultant: Varun Suchak / MEP Consultant: Elements MEPF / Civil Works Contractor: Precision Engineers and Coreline Consultant / Metal Fabrication Works: Bhagwati Fabrication / Carpentry Works: D N Furniture / Paint Works: Pappu Sahani / HVAC Agency: Shree Hari AirCon / Aluminium Louvers and Windows: Wintech / Elevator: Express India / CCTV Agency: Let’s Begin Technology / Solar Panels: Equinox Solar

Firm’s Website Link: playball studio

Firm’s Instagram Link: playball studio

For Similar Project>>> Captivating Views Of The Landscaped Courtyard From All Corners