House on 46 / Kumar The Wedding

Text description provided by the architects. House on 46 is a multi-generational house located on a narrow urban plot in South Bangalore. The intention was to understand how domesticity, nature and privacy can be layered within compact urban plots while providing dynamic and generous layouts that can be adapted by the inhabitants. On the street side facade, a system of functional metal screens creates the outermost “skin” or exoskeleton and begins to blur the lines between private and public. It creates a dynamic connection with the street viewer, with fluid porosity depending on the angle of visual engagement. Manufactured using thin mild steel fins of various sizes and thicknesses, the panels are reinforced throughout the pattern, while minimizing waste due to varying lengths.

The screen is rendered in a deep reddish terracotta, reflecting light falling on the east-facing facade in multiple tones depending on the time of day. Enclosing generous balconies, the screen offers an adaptable facade according to user needs. Large planters are incorporated into the facade scheme, which enliven and shade the covered open spaces. The interior spaces of the house follow a pragmatic floor plan to maximize usable areas and open fully onto covered balconies. Crisp white walls stand out against striking yellow limestone floors with accents of gray granite, teak wood, and whitewash plastered wall finishes.

The ground floor houses a home office with the potential to be converted into an independent living unit in the future; the main living, dining and kitchen areas are on the first floor. A substantial source of light, air and outdoor family space comes in the form of an open courtyard on the first floor. This versatile space functions as an extension of the living space and increases the volume of the living space beyond its compact floor plan. It serves as a visual link between the floors while allowing climate regulation of the whole house, ensuring a constant flow of fresh air, especially during hot summers. The second and third floors consist of night spaces for the family as well as a usable open terrace.

House on 46 is an exercise in pushing the boundaries of efficiency in domestic architecture to meet the rich demands and desires of multiple generations of inhabitants while creating a home that allows for fluid exchanges and connection with the outdoors. .