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Shripal and Venkat Villa (Chennai)
The single-family villa was conceived as a pavilion nestled between the East and West halves of the sprawling one acre site and a balance between the five elements. The house is filled with 'high prana', abundant light and air coming in from the large East and West openings and uninterrupted views of the ocean and the sky, it is a place where the Earth, Sky and Water are in perfect harmony. The fundamental idea behind the villa has been to strike a balance between nature and architecture. The planning is quite simple and adheres to Vastu principles to the maximum extent possible. The rooms are placed around a central axis between the East and West lawns and openings are strategically placed to provide cross ventilation and catch the land and sea breeze. This central axis is further strengthened in the landscape design by the cantilevered timber deck that hovers over the pool on the East sea-facing lawn. Right: Garden of repose
FIRM NAME SVA Shripal and Venkat Architects
PRODUCTS/VENDORS
BUILT UP AREA 10764 sq.ft.
Painting: External textured paint by SKK, Internal Asian Paints Aspira and Royale Shyne Furniture: Orro, Treasure, Custom designed by Architect Glazing: Fletcher and Metalfab Furnishings: D’Décor and Rumours from Shades CP Fittings/Sanitaryware: Duravit, Geberit, Hans Grohe, Grohe Flooring: Vietnam White Marble, Beige Travertine, Diana Kitchen: Alno Art Pro with Siemens and Franke Electrical: Philips, Bticino, Legrand Lights: Flos, Philips, Simes, Ligman, Mingji Air Conditioning: Toshiba Arts and Artefacts: Various Artists sourced from India and Bali
TEAM SIZE 15 people
CONSULTANTS/CONTRACTORS
PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT Shripal Munshi EDUCATION/AFFILIATION Msc Architecture and Urban Design, 1995, Columbia University, NYC GD Arch, 1990, Academy of Architecture, Mumbai COA, IIA
CONTACT Oxford Centre, 66 C P Ramaswamy Road, Alwarpet, Chennai - 600018 INDIA T +91 044 2466 3000 M +91 9940681000 E shripal@sva.net.in W www.sva.net.in
Structural: Buro Consultants Mechanical: SYS N Electrical: SYS N Civil: Client Landscape: One Landscape, HK HVAC: LAC - Laxmi Air Con Pvt Ltd PMC: Client
stimulating The terrace on the first floor in the SE corner with the open to sky void is the best place in the house. It beautifully captures the omnipresent connection with nature as well as the predominant wind direction. The 3 ton solid granite seat carved like a pebble placed in the SE corner of the East Lawn. Despite its weight it floats above the ground and was created after making a series of to-scale miniature 3D Xerox printouts which were fine-tuned and handed over to a master stone sculptor in Chengelpet who used the miniature as a guide throughout the carving process. The visual lightness of the façade was achieved by a clever combination of post tensioned slabs and shear walls eliminating the need for perimeter beams, big columns and allowing cantilevered floating planes which double up as terraces and family breakout places.
Top Left: Informal living room Top Right: East facade at night Bottom Left: Formal living room
“A classic example of state-of-the-art technology being used by our superbly skilled craftsmen.”
Top Left: East lawn and pool at sunrise Top Right: Parent’s bathroom Bottom Left: Entry foyer Bottom Right: Bedroom
sensually delightful
This structural solution enabled the large spans needed for the living and the dining areas strengthening the concept of the connection between indoors and outdoors. In my view, a perfect marriage of architecture and structural design otherwise this concept of fluid yet intimate space would not have been possible. Transparent facades framed by a striking combination of post-tensioned slabs and sheer walls, facilitates the infiltration of abundant daylight through the house. Cantilevered floating planes play the role of terraces and family break out spaces, but also importantly, as deep overhangs that protect the interior spaces from direct sunlight.
Articulating the architectural language of graceful surfaces and slender profiles, the interior is characterized by a seamless flow of spaces with selected focal points and feature planes. Consequently, there is an even and diffused light quality, punctuated with brighter highlights. The house is built on a 4-meter high landfill in order to get a better and longer view of the sea that is faces. As a result, not a single room of the house requires artificial light during the day. The bright day lit indoors is subsequently rendered in muted glows after dark, mimicking the warmth of the sunlight, but providing ample contrast to the elements around.
SITE PLAN
1 4
5 8
2
2
6 7
8 10 3
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
5 2 4
3
7 6
1 8
17 16
10 13 15
9 12
11 14
17
SITE PLAN
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
1. ENTRY GATE
1. FOYER
13. STAIRCASE
2. BUDDHA STATUE
2. POOJA
14. GUEST BEDROOM
3. TERRACED WEST GARDEN
3. FORMAL LIVING
15. GUEST TOILET
4. GAZEBO
4. INFORMAL LIVING
16. OFFICE
5. INFINITY EDGE SWIMMING POOL
5. KITCHEN
17. DECK
6. TIMBER BOARD WALK
6. STORE
7. STEPPING STONE
7. UTILITY
8. PARTY LAWN
8. SERVICE ENTRY
9. SLOPED GARDEN
9. PARENT’S BEDROOM
10. STONE SEAT
10. PARENT’S DRESSING 11. PARENT’S TOILET 12. DINING
the challenges The interior design is characterized by hardwood panels, contrasting veneer accents, ultra-thin ceramic sheets and a neutral palette of white and warm coloured soft furnishings. Predominant colour is sophisticated beige which is a sort of a trademark of the spaces created by SVA. The challenge was not about what to put in on the walls and spaces but rather what to keep out. Key focal planes are adorned by hand-picked original art sourced from India and Bali. There are no unnecessary superficial treatments or strategies to announce areas or attract attention.
the inspiration “The inspiration was a simple mantra of 'less is more and less is good' and this has diligently been followed in all aspects of the project - architecture, landscape and interiors. A perfect harmony of all the elements give you the perfect home� - Shripal Munshi
TEXT CREDITS Shripal Munshi
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS Coriolan Weihrauch - MiA Studio
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