Villa in Chennai
Location: Olive Sands, Chennai, India
Architect:
Inventarchiects
Material: Concrete
Completion date: 2017
Site area: 455m2
Built area: 372m2
Lead Architects: Vivek Kumar, Nanda Devi
Photographer: Dinesh Jayavel
Consolidation: Balachandar Baskaran
Project Team: Er. Balachandar L, Er.Sudhakar.S
Photographer: Dinesh Jayavel
Story:
Text provided by the architects:
The Villa is located in a posh locality along the East Coast of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The design envisioned for the project was to create a user experience where one can feel the coastal breeze along with the water, without having to access the beach in the vicinity. The concept behind this design relies on the spatial arrangement of semi-public areas which maximizes the connectivity within the house through light.
To convert this idea into reality, the design consists of a solid plane that protects the residence from the secondary southern heat, and the west consists of a solid volume that contains the private spaces - bedrooms. The remaining volume forms the exponent which holds the semi-private space.
The subtraction of volumes from the exponent forms open spaces which comprise of the swimming pool and the parking below. Along with that, it helps the user from inside to interact with space outside. The design and position of the swimming pool area is an important constituent to the design of this residence as it facilitates the user who can appreciate the view of the beach.
The home-theater forms as a resultant volume after the final stage of subtraction which in turn opens out to the terrace. This extended space can also be converted as a multi-use space.
The conceptualization of the semi-private area involves intersecting ‘L’ volumes. Their interactions within and outside are marked as a frame that accentuates the view. This setup facilitates a well-lit double-height living space. The junction created by these ‘L’ volumes houses the vertical circulation elements, the lift, and the staircase. The staircase enhances the aesthetic quality of the living space and promotes visual interaction.
The void frame on the north complements the solid frame introduced on the south side and it adds to the overall form of the design.
There are two forms of water that complete the design. One is the internal form, which is from the infinity type swimming pool and the other is the external form which is collected from the inverted roof. Both water forms are collected onto a small entry pool which adds to the aesthetic value of the landscape at the entry. The idea was to associate water as an entity that flows from all the levels, inviting every individual who enters this residence. Likewise, an individual at the entry, to his vista will be able to relate the water at each level – The entry pool- landscape water body, the “Reflected Swimming pool water” which is cast on the ceiling and “Gutter Water” from the inverted roof as it rains or overflows from the tank.
Related architects:
