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Shebanti Chakraborty The House with a Skylight (Pune)
When the client has a very good taste, contemporary thoughts and a simple personality, the house needs to be a reflection of these as well. The family wanted an interesting house that would emulate their tastes and likings. They were very clear about what they expected. They also considered the architectural point of view but their clarity in thoughts and expectations made it possible for me to transform this house in to a home which is now their pride and love. The Living, dining, kitchen and the parent's bedroom unit with walk in wardrobe, toilet are on ground level apart from Puja area, a car porch, Patio and Utility. Puja area had to be spacious for the ten day Ganapati celebration. There are four more bedrooms and a family space with open to sky terraces on the first floor. The second floor is occupied by a huge game room comprising of a snooker table, a TT table, a carom board and relaxation areas overlooking a spacious garden terrace.
FIRM NAME Silhouette Architects & Designers PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT Shebanti Chakraborty ASSISTANT ARCHITECT Poonam Dhanal EDUCATION/AFFILIATION PG Diploma in Urban Design, CEPT, Ahmedabad IIA, IUDI BUILT UP AREA 4000 sq.ft. TEAM SIZE 7 CONTACT F-101, Jai Ganesh Vision, INOX Complex, Off Pune Mumbai Road, Pune 411035, INDIA M +91 9822452824 E silhouettearchitects@gmail.com
PRODUCTS/VENDORS Paint: Asian Paints CP Fittings / Sanitaryware: Aquaint, Kohler Furniture: Adorn, Carpentered at site Furnishing: Kukreja Furnishing, Hind Carpets Kitchen: Faber, Nirali, Hafele Electrical: Philips, Anchor Roma Arts and Artifacts: Collected from Rajasthan, Assam Air Conditioning: LG CONSULTANTS/CONTRACTORS Structural: S.M. Kanitkar Civil: Narayan Tandale Landscape: Silhouette Architects & Designers
naturesque The garden at the front, a result of our planning, and an existing lake called the bird valley just one plot away were the two strong potentials that guided our Built Form. The lake was visible from the upper floors. As it was located on the south west, it brought in cool breeze towards the house. Nature peeps into the house through large windows and the skylight. Recessed windows on west pull the breeze in. All the large windows overlook a green patch and the experience has been enhanced by placing a swing or a window seat next to it. The client shares that the best place to sip his morning cup of tea on a drizzly morning with the morning newspaper spread in front is the wooden platform by the lawn, merely separated by the low framed windows with bamboo blinds , enjoying the pitter- patter of the rain and whistling of the palm. The effect of breeze and view of the lake are most felt in the games room.
Top Left: Living space with a connection to the patio Top Right: The view of the patio from the lawn Bottom Left: View of the dining space and stairway to the upper level
“The built form is an attempt to interweave the built with the surrounding green and natural elements.�
Top Left: View of the washroom with a play of mosaic tile work Top Right: The master bedroom coupled with an easy chair and ornate swing for relaxation Bottom Left: Games room on the second floor with skylight Bottom Right: The adjacent terrace
divinity meets simplicity
Pergolas in different forms have been extensively used to enhance the effect of sun and shadow. At all levels there are horizontal planes in the form of patio and terrace with planters doubling as seats projecting into the surrounding green. Stone clad vertical planes complete the visual composition. The courtyard was replaced by an interesting skylight. The attempt was to retain the earlier freshness and energy by pouring in sunlight right at the center of the house through a series of cut-outs in the slab at all 3 levels across wooden pergola that cast changing shadows patterns on the white stone clad wall adjoining the dining space. The ambience of the lost courtyard was recreated in the patio adjoining the living space.
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
FIRST FLOOR PLAN
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13
7
10
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8 6
5 12
14 4
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3 2
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FLOOR PLAN 1. CAR PORCH
12. POOJA
2. ENTRANCE VERANDA
13. BEDROOM
3. PATIO
14. FAMILY ROOM
4. LIVING SPACE
15. TERRACE
5. SKY LIGHT
16. SIT-OUT
6. DINING SPACE 7. KITCHEN 8. MASTER BEDROOM 9. WALK IN WARDROBE 10. TOILET 11. UTILITY
the challenges This house was an expansion of the earlier one done by us. The challenge was to rethink the whole concept and build extra rooms upon the courtyard that the client wasn't keen on giving up. It was necessary to sacrifice the courtyard, but the whole ambience of the courtyard was reestablished in the patio adjoining the living room.
the influences “We tried to utilize the potentials to the maximum that is interweaving the built and the green. The simple sturdy built form and the simple spaces are an expression of the simplicity of the clients. The furniture and interiors are all very austere.� - Shebanti Chakraborty.
TEXT CREDITS Shebanti Chakraborty
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS Devdatta Kashalikar
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