FARMHOUSE BY THE RAVINES

Location:Vadodara
Plot Area:5400 SQ.FT
Built-up Area:2363 SQ.FT
Programme:Homes
Status:Completed
Completion Year:2020

Second home is more like the houses we see in movies or we read about in a book. Away from the chaos of the city, surrounded by lush green farmlands, pleasant sounds of birds chirping and engaging fragrances of flowers. The client wanted something which perfectly fits the description. To escape the urban life and enjoy the calm serene life close to nature, they bought a plot of 30000 square feet by the edge of ravines in a gated community in the outskirts of Vadodara city. Client’sonly requirement was to have a house very different from their first home with huge garden and a pool for families and friends to spend time together.
Concept - The concept of the house is derived from the traditional courtyard houses with sloping roofs. The courtyards break the continuous flow of built space as they act as transitional elements. Executed in a very modern way, these courtyards dissipate tropical feel to the interiors. The design interpretes the traditional concepts and appropriates it to the present context in a modernist language.
Planning - As the plot has ravines on the rear side, our first instinct was to place the house near the ravines to enjoy the beautiful view. Following the basic planning & elevation of the builder, we added 4 courtyards in the house. These courtyards provide ample natural light in the house throughtout the day. The house has main central area consisting of public spaces- the formal living, dining, informal seating and open kitchen, each opening onto the stone verandah covered with sloping roof above and the view of the garden and pool in front. The outer 2 masses are private spaces consisting of bedrooms, toilets and kitchen. The patios on both the sides, are spaces within nature where one can come out and enjoy the serene views, sip a hot cup of tea, take a dip in pool next to it or take a walk in the extended garden. The long overhang roof extending over the patio keeps the interior cool.
Material - We started with exploring options for the flooring. The guiding lines for us were the words ‘not like first home’. We came up with a very natural and very bold flooring material which one thinks twice before using in their first home- kadappa stone. The black flooring gives a differernt dimension to the house. The teracotta roofing tiles, the white walls and wooden furniture give a natural and earthy feel to the house.
Sustainability - The sloping roof with teracotta roofing tiles give good thermal insulation to the house. Further, the end of three roofs act as water channels which collects the rain water all year round. The courtyards help in passive cooling ensuring the hot air to escape upwards through the skylights. The long and deep verandahs are cdesigned strategically to avoid direct harsh sunlight in the house which helps in maintaining the interior temperature.
Conslusion - The choice of materials which we have used, the typology of furniture, the artifacts, the spill-over spaces created, the landscape which we have designed and the views which we have chosen to frame are all very divergent from those of first home. The natural and experiential feel which we have achieved is what makes this a home different than first home, a second home.