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THE MANGO HOUSE, ALIBAG
INTRODUCTION
Sailing in a ferry far from the madding crowds of Mumbai, towards the quaint coastal town of Alibag; the rattle and hum of the city is silenced. The prelude to the experience, that is The Mango House, is set in motion on arrival – a walk down the sunlit pier and a short drive from the port along a long silent dirt road under a canopy of lush green trees.As one steps through the gates it takes a moment to look past the trees and find the house sitting almost inconspicuously between them. The age-old inhabitants of the site – the mango trees – governed the simple form of the house. As a direct response to the resolute and intricate network of roots, careful attention was paid to leave them unharmed and unhampered. The unwavering desire to allow the house to blend in and become one with the land is accentuated by the earthy tones of exposed brick and concrete that complement the verdant landscape around it. An experience which is carried forward into the abode.
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DESIGN
A strong connect of the dining with the kitchen and its visual connect with the pool deck gives rise to a dynamism that allows each space to spill out into the other – unhindered and welcoming. Every space becomes a stage for new memories to play out. Where every space relates with the next. Alluding to the vernacular, a rich sense of culture and tradition is ever present – The Mango House helps the city-dwelling family to connect with nature by being organic in both spirit and content. A space where Design meets Life – bridging the growing gap between us and the natural environment. Rising up to acknowledge the trees and to compensate for the narrow site, the volume opens up to an expansive sloping Mangalore tiled roof. The design manages to ostensibly hide this feature and create the impression of a modern contemporary flat covering. Achieved by orienting the gradual slope of the roof towards the entrance and the backyard - effectively rendering it invisible from ground level – the subtle gradient thus can only be experienced from within the abode.
