THE FLOATING COURTYARD

Location:Vadodara
Plot Area:1770 SQ.FT
Built-up Area:2540 SQ.FT
Programme:Homes
Status:Completed
Completion Year:2022
Photographer:Vinay Panjwani

Set in a mundane neighbourhood in the city of Vadodara surrounded by residential and commercial plots, the Floating Courtyard House is a response to the client’s brief of wanting a unique and functional home with a requirement of a five-bedroom house on an extremely compact site of 1770 sq. ft. The site, which upon excluding the mandatory setbacks, elicits just bare minimum floor space for the house. And thus, started our journey of planning this house with a search for a core space which binds all the spaces at all levels together. A common open space, for the family to come together and interact or more or less a space which acts like an additional spill over for individual members. From this evolved the concept of a double height courtyard on the first floor, where all the interior spaces can overlook and create a holistic experience for the end users.
The massing, in sync with the planning has evolved around the floating courtyard. The courtyard’s void in the façade is balanced by a brick jaali solid mass which casts dramatic shadows in various spaces. Unlike the modern times, the house is built with pure brick construction method. The thick brick walls provide for a reasonable thermal comfort inside the house making it climatically responsive. Some concrete elements are added in the form of overhangs and weather sheds to complete the design. All the ceilings are also exposed concrete and the flooring is done in grey kota stone. The furniture in wood completes the natural design palette.
Together, the massing, the planning of the house, the way the courtyard is introduced in it, the natural construction methods, materials used and the way each space draws light and ventilation as well as the way they connect with the court, present a breath-taking experience which is difficult to imagine on such a small plot.