Nestling on the gentle slope of a rolling hill, one of many in Kottayam Kerala, is the “Fluid House” designed for a family of five. The clients required a house capable of a multi-generational family dynamics. They desired generous spaces while maintaining an intimate feel to their abode. The team responded by creating a functional and efficient living environment that is broken into two floors to ensure both family interaction and personal privacy, while establishing an indoor-outdoor relationship. The home, rich in curvy lines is provided with linked spaces, capable of hosting all the different activities simultaneously, in a fluidic manner.
Project Name – Drs. Gerald and Anilas’ Residence
Architecture Firm – Myspace Architects, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India/Principal Architect – Ar. Alex Joseph
Office Website – www.myspacearchitects.com
Contact Email – alex@myspacearchitects.com
Completion Year – June 2018
Built Area –2900 sq. ft.
Project Location – Kottayam, Kerala, India.
• Google Map Coordinates – https://www.google.com/maps/place/9%C2%B037’45.9%22N+76%C2%B031’22.3%22E/@9.629429,76.5206823,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d9.629429!4d76.522871
Photographer – Jino Sam and MidhuSreenivas
• Website – www.jinoandmidhu.com
Other Technical Info –
Client – Dr. Gerald Johnson
Budget –Rs. 1.1 Crore
Lead Architect – Ar. Alex Joseph
Team – Ar. Dona Alex, Jr. Architect Danny C. Mathew
Consultants –
• Structure – Srishti Projects, Delhi, India/ Er. Noble P. Thomas
Collaborators –
• Interiors – Bajrang Interiors, Delhi, India/Mr. Shanti Prasad Semwal
• 3D Visualization – Spawner Visualization Studio, Delhi, India/Ar. Rajat Arora
Website – www.spawnervisualizationstudio.com
• Metal Works – IONA Steels
Website – www.ionasteels.com
• Staircase Details – VEGA Associates (Rajeev Raveendran)
Manufacturers/Products –
• Exterior Finish – Archi Concrete Asian Paints
• Glass – Saint Gobain
• Mosaic Tiles – Palladio/Italia
• Other Tiles – Nitco, Kajaria Eternity
• Kitchen Accessories – Hettich, Ebco
• Interior Furniture – ALM Furniturehttps://almprojects.com/
The house is of a minimalist reading, with volumes mainly defined by the vertical and horizontal planes. These planes, built in concrete, are one of the characteristic features of the project. The exterior is striking with a series of curves that soften the building’s impact and help the structure meld into the surrounding landscape. These curves wrap around and lead you through the spaces, at different points revealing and framing different views as you move around the house. Incorporation of sleek lines creates a beautiful flowing experience; provide the house with a unique identity while being in sync with its regional and bioclimatic context, reflecting a constructive honesty in its elements and materials. The result is a home that allows the architectural languages of the contemporary and vernacular to embrace each other and form a stimulating and respectful dialogue.
The ground floor houses the social functions through a welcoming double-height space where the sculptured staircase gives access to the subsequent floor. On the ground level, the family living room, dining room, kitchen, and two bedrooms and snugly placed along with a separate drawing room for the guests. In these spaces, extra wide windows with narrow grill bring the outside in. Thus the vegetable garden establishes a dialogue for the living and dining area. On the upper level of the house, the bedrooms, study and a library are all organized around the central void. The double heightened space along with glass balustrade provides visual connectivity between the two floors functioning as a grand living unit. An interplay of large and small apertures contribute to a low energy dwelling, naturally flooded with air and light. The windows and doors that open onto decks and balconies, the walls that extend out of the house and into the site, the curved profile which responds to the surrounding hillsides, all blend this home seamlessly into its site—a connection that the occupants can truly cherish.
The interior takes the same design cues, blending harmoniously with the exterior. Usage of materials such as glass, wood, and metal contribute to the volumetric definition of the composition. A modern minimalistic theme keeps the interior simple but certain panache and warmth envelopes the interiors through the contemporary furnishings. The vogue of the house lies in the bold usage of a simple colour palette in the exterior as well as in the interior. The home has a unique stairway featuring exposed steel and organic wood timbers, seemingly floating to the level above with punctures creating a dance of light and shadows. The usage of wood and metal in the cantilever staircase further heightens the eclectic character. The strategically placed mirror creates a mirage of an unending staircase, rising up to the heavens. This reflection adds to the grandeur of the overall space. Materials are selected for their robust and tonal hue responding to the beautiful native flora of locality that envelopes the site.
MYSPACE ARCHITECTS is a dynamic, design-driven studio focused on delivering unique, functional and affordable solution. Since their inception in 2013, they have been collaborated across various disciplines and industries to bring buildings and infrastructure projects to life, winning several awards /recognitions across national & international platforms.
With an approach that is distinctly contemporary yet comfortingly familiar, they have made their niche in the market. They enjoy tinkering with texture, colour, light and mass to bring what they call “aesthetically functional spaces”. Ultimately, they perceive every design as evolution of an idea, for which their greatest inspiration is their own clients !
Alex Joseph & Dona Alex: The young energetic architect couple leading the multifaceted practice in two verticals: architecture & interior design. They have projects pan–india and are specialised in designer homes, resorts, institutional campuses, commercial buildings, auditoriums, & corporate offices.
