Void House / i2a Architects Studio
+ 24
Text description provided by the architects. On the lush green 34 cent site is this client home that can only be seen in a cursory glance. Reflecting tropical modernism, this inviting elevation blends seamlessly into the landscape, creating a sense of curiosity in the observer as to what lies beyond, while preserving the privacy of residents. This modest east-facing home is heavily shaded and has courtyards to facilitate free airflow over the property. Porosity is maintained on all sides to ensure easy flow in the home. VOID takes its name from this porosity.
The planning consults with the site, explicitly protecting maximum trees within this green landscape. Upon entering the house, one is amazed by the grandeur of the interior spaces. One is welcomed in a well-lit guest quarters with adjoining courtyards on both the south and north sides of the house. These courtyard niches are used by the residents in the morning or evening hours for relaxation and guarantee cross ventilation over the lower part of the house with the public areas such as the living room, double height dining and kitchen area, laundry and circulation cores along with private areas – two Bedrooms. The Pooja is poetically placed in the center of the house to capture a viewer’s vision upon entering. The convergence point from all angles of the ground floor, this space is located in a sky-lit courtyard, allowing light to flow throughout the building. The sense of divine lighting combined with the courtyards at both ends of the residence creates a tranquil environment.
Light penetrates the patterned jhallis of the house idling. Dynamic shadows decorate the interior with their patterns. Since the warm air easily escapes through the jhallis on the first floor, there is a constant flow of cool air in abundance. The single slope of the house further lowers the overall temperature in the interior. This approach maximizes air circulation and minimizes the use of artificial lighting and air conditioning, making it the most ideal and ecologically sensitive residence.
The upper floor consists of a library next to the double-height courtyard and two bedrooms. One of the bedrooms has access to the linear courtyard, bringing nature to every corner, while the other overlooks the courtyard on the south side. The shadows perpetuated by the jhallis change vigorously throughout the day with different intensities and colors of the light streaming in. This soothing experience is unlike any other, accentuating modern minimalist architecture. It retains a simple yet vibrant color and material palette consisting of wood, concrete and natural stone.
The void in the courtyard between the mass of the building creates a harmonious visual and acoustic connectivity between the two floors. The design, from planning to interior, insists on a single idea to blur the boundaries between interior and exterior, fostering a reciprocal relationship with the landscape it hosts.
