A soft tension pervades this amazing architect-designed home. It is at once extremely contemporary,
crisp and modern … but at the same time it draws on traditional architecture and landscape design for inspiration and decoration.
At the heart of this unique home by Morphogenesis is something of a cross between a traditional hearth and a modern multi-story greeting area – something that spans the gap between personal and corporate in a strange but compelling way.
The lush interior landscape incorporates aesthetic aspects of traditional Indian design and certainly responds to the harsh climate of the country yet in some ways could be located anywhere in the world.
A combination live, work and social space for three generations of a single family, this house is designed to be a little bit of everything to every one – a lobby space leads to living areas, cultural events coexist with private functions.
Open and green spaces are the keys to connecting disparate parts of the project, built without any obvious sign of being extremely sustainable – despite landscape and structural considerations throughout, including a thick Western wall intended to block out excess heat, and surprisingly dense interior partitions to absorb sound and create a virtual naturalistic landscape under an artificial roof.
“The house sets about to create its own terrain, a veritable oasis, within its inscribed territory. The forecourt is landscaped with gracious steps and pools. Crisp clear planes are articulated with materials: stone, wood, concrete which are simply striated or set in interlocking patterns. They come alive when light hits the different horizontal surfaces. Transparency is achieved by not only by glass, but a combination of water, reflection, and modulated lighting. At night the house appears magical, glowing like a lantern and allowing glimpses of activity within.”
