White Skube House: A Minimalist Approach In Making A Skewed Home | Srijit Srinivas-ARCHITECTS
The design brief from clients Mrs. Saseenkumari & Mr. Jayakumaran Thampy for their second home on a five cents ( or 202 square meters) property in a densely settled part of Trivandrum city, was a pithy requirement for ‘something special’. The building was intended to house their joint family consisting of their son and his wife, as well their daughter – all of whom are medical doctors.
Visit: Srijit Srinivas-ARCHITECTS
The skewed shape of the restricted plot footprint organically allowed for a skewed cuboid (or ‘SKUBE’) form to emerge. This was presciently painted in white to augment the sereneness of the morphed platonic form – highlighted as it were by the pandemonium of its busy surrounding neighborhood. The functional requirements for the tight site were particularly challenging and consisted of a car porch to house two vehicles, living and dining spaces, kitchen and attached work area, four bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, as well as a family rumpus room in the upper floor.
A bare minimalist approach to design has been adopted to great effect throughout. The main entrance is from an external verandah via an entry niche into the living room, which then faces a mini landscaped ‘court’ in front. The adjoining dining room opens out to a similar feature in the rear allowing for cross ventilation. This rear court is capped by an open skylight treatment, allowing sunlight to drape the internal walls and to visually denote a vertical link. Horizontally also, this space wraps around to the open kitchen plan to form one harmoniously flowing, continuous space.
Adding to this schema is the use of the latticed front façade wall with its neat ‘brick bond’ pattern punctures, which accentuates the visual effect of the pristine white external paint finish, whilst also allowing light and breeze ingress pathways into the building without compromising on the need for privacy.
In contrast to this, the terracotta louvers screening the balconies to two bedrooms on the first floor, add a splash of warmth and visual interest to the external façade. The ambitious functional brief for the house left no space for deploying any double height treatments, but this was more than compensated for by judicious spatial planning and the discerned use of proportions. The ground floor bedroom too similarly opens out to a courtyard. The first floor has a total of three bedrooms, in addition to a small open-to-sky terrace space. The ceiling – with its exposed concrete finish, along with the floors both follow a similar calming grey-based colour palette, whilst the walls are painted white for contrast.
Internally, the staircase and its pared back, almost visceral ‘poured concrete’ design, is cocooned by wall-like screen panel handrail design, ensuring visual privacy for the stairs. The stairwell also has an ethereal ambience to it on account of the various embedded openings allowing for easy penetration and flow of light, air, and sounds. This unpretentious house elegantly sits amidst all the visual noise of its surroundings, and is a quiet cynosure of the curious eyes of passersby.
Fact File:
Designed by: Srijit Srinivas-ARCHITECTS
Project: White Skube House
Project Type: Residential
Year of completion: 2020
Area: 232 sq.mt.
Location: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Design Team: Remya Raveendran, Sriya, Deepika
Clients: Mrs. Saseendrakumari I., Mr. Jayakumaran Thampy, Dr. Sreejith Thampy, Dr. Anjali P.K, Dr. Parvathy Thampy
Photography: Justin Sebastian Photography
Text: J. George
Source: ArchDaily
The site of this south east facing house is next to an old house of the client’s parents. There are few farmlands and plenty of trees – neem and tamarind trees, surrounding the site area. This South East Facing House Is Next To An Old House Of The Client’s Parents | RP Architects Design Strategy […]
Ar. Anup Murdia and Ar. Sandeep Jain, the founders of Design Inc. share their journey of embarking architecture with the passion for understanding spaces. Design Inc. is an architectural firm situated in Udaipur, founded by Ar. Anup Murdia and Ar. Sandeep Jain in 2011. The firm believes in creating spaces with overall understanding of certainties […]
Ameer Residence is a visionary architectural endeavour melding the elegance of contemporary kerala house design with minimalistic approach and vernacular. With contemporary architecture’s use of large glass facades and skylights, this project redefines the contemporary Kerala house. It infuses with vernacular sophistication and a sense of openness. Situated amidst Kerala’s lush landscape, this glass house […]
An earthen house on a forestry farm in Coimbatore for a client committed to feasible living represents a harmonious marriage of environmental awareness and conventional craftsmanship. An Earthen House On A Forestry Farm In Coimbatore | Bhutha Earthen Architecture Studio The design of this earthen house prioritizes constructing a symmetrical living space that encourages interaction […]
Nestled in the picturesque Rajliya Village, this neoclassical house design in Rajasthan epitomises opulence and functionality. It is located away from the busy city and in the scenic embrace of the beautiful Aravalis and Khejri trees. Additionally, the panoramic sunset from the large open terraces imbues the area with a serene vibe. This Neoclassical House […]
This 7000 square feet house has a fusion style of traditional Kerala architecture with contemporary sustainability principles. Thannal, a stunning architectural marvel crafted by Montimers Architects And Interior Designers, Kochi, Bangalore, stands proudly in the bustling heart of Bangalore city. It creates a harmonious abode that seamlessly blends tradition with modernity. “Thannal” is a Malayalam […]
There are a lot of challenges that one faces while designing the interior of the house. One of which is giving the right choice of the types of ceilings. While looking out for the theme a house sets, the elements through which the theme is directed are also important. One such important element of the […]
The home in Surat stands as a testament to minimal intervention and contemporary design as per the client’s vision, harmonizing architectural and interior elements to craft a serene living space. Nestled on a corner plot, the “Nilkanth” project spans 1400 square feet, its facade meeting the road on one side and embraced by lush greenery […]
The interior of this luxurious 5 Bedroom House is a testament to impeccable design, attention to detail, and an unwavering commitment to luxury living. The design of each space pivots around the purpose of its end use and has been carefully curated after exploring material and design alternatives. A home is not made by the […]
Stilt floor, staggered cutouts and skylights are highlights of this home called the Slender House. It is a private residential project designed for a family of five. The home nestles within a small and slender site measuring 6 meters by 18 meters. The vision for this home was to create a space that not only […]