The design for this upstairs house in Trichy did not begin with a form in mind. But we were clear about the materiality and the kind of spatial quality we wanted. With the limited area available, the intent was very simple: to bring in sufficient light and air.
There were two difficult decisions to make.
The first was the openness of the kitchen. When I say open, it is open enough to make the living space feel breathable. Coming from a house with a walled kitchen, this was not easy for me to adapt to. But this openness led me to a realisation of how spaces actually work.
Of course, cooking is messy. An artistic mess, with a lot of effort going into making good food. Why hide it behind a wall, especially when space is limited?
This open kitchen also questions a common gender-biased notion in our society, where cooking is expected to remain out of sight and is often assumed to be the responsibility of women in the household. Here, as a couple, we share the kitchen, cooking together and letting it become a space for conversation when guests are around.
The other important decision was to have a small courtyard space next to the kitchen.
This space emerged from the understanding that the client may, at some point in the future, build another portion on the remaining half of the first floor. By carving out this courtyard, we ensured there would still be an outdoor space within the house.
The courtyard was initially designed with an open ceiling, which was later covered with a transparent sheet due to functional constraints.
The other important decision was to have a small courtyard space next to the kitchen.
This space emerged from the understanding that the client may, at some point in the future, build another portion on the remaining half of the first floor. By carving out this courtyard, we ensured there would still be an outdoor space within the house.
The courtyard was initially designed with an open ceiling, which was later covered with a transparent sheet due to functional constraints.
Some decisions made during construction added more life to the house. A low ledge wall between the kitchen and the courtyard now works as a surface to dry washed utensils in sunlight that enters through the skylight.
We moved the main wall near the staircase slightly inward after observing that the landing after the first flight of stairs felt less welcoming. A built-in seater with storage for shoes was added here.
Another seater was introduced at the studio space window, which receives soft golden light in the mornings.
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Walls are plastered in lime and cement oxide. Terracotta tiles are used for the studio room flooring and cement flooring is used in the other areas. The bedroom has a Rohtak dome ceiling, crafted by a team from Haryana, while the other spaces are roofed with Mangalore tiles. Achukal, or flat bricks, have been used for the living area wall and old roof tiles have been reused for the courtyard wall. The bricks used in the jaali were custom made.
Walls are plastered in lime and cement oxide. Terracotta tiles are used for the studio room flooring and cement flooring is used in the other areas. The bedroom has a Rohtak dome ceiling, crafted by a team from Haryana, while the other spaces are roofed with Mangalore tiles. Achukal, or flat bricks, have been used for the living area wall and old roof tiles have been reused for the courtyard wall. The bricks used in the jaali were custom made.
