Inspired by a cube

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Sweating over every inch, often while designing a space, we say that we wish we had more space in hand to play around with. Today we will break that common belief that size of the space is a major contributing factor to the success of the design. 
This week we will step out of Mumbai and walk through an energetic design, by my friend architect Hardik Shah. Contemporary in vibe with innovative designing in a constraint plot size of 35’ x 35, in  a densely populated community of urban Surat, this design derives its form by cutting up the structure (specifically, the levels that house the living spaces) into four cubes, and shifting one quarter (on the upper level) out, to create a cantilevered block. 

The footprint of the house, after leaving out regulation setbacks, was approximately 25’ x 25’. Within this square was a set up a grid that finally yielded three rectangular blocks: two of 10’ x 25’ and one of 5’ x 25’, with the smaller block allotted to circulation, services and storage. The house can be accessed via a discreet, tunnel-like and narrow staircase nestled between the wall of an elevated garden block and that of the structure, a deliberate attempt to move away from the open-to-public-view staircases seen otherwise, with little or no thought behind their design. The elevation also strikes an equilibrium between solidity and lightness; opacity and transparency. Below the cantilevered concrete block of the master bedroom, for instance, is a long L-shaped puncture spanning the two walls of the living room.



The internal zonal articulation is also as simple, with a distinct horizontal delineation of semi-private and private zones. The semi-private zone (living room, kitchen and dining) is housed on lower level, with two bedrooms being situated on top. The street level is devoted to a car park.  The constituent spaces of the semi-private zone are arranged in a C, with the dining forming the connecting element between the other two. The living room and the kitchen are separated by a large storage block which can be accessed from all four sides.  On the level above lie two bedrooms on either side of a landing. The living room of the H-Cube House is essentially an open space brightened with a slit-like L-shaped window. A cordon of green outside filters the urban chaos and endeavours to create a feeling of serene seclusion. The dining area brims with earthy warmth, thanks to wooden furniture set on rough Kadappa stone. The exposed concrete ceiling prevents the space from slipping into the clinical. The sense of calmness on the lower level is further heightened by an internal waterbody complete with a cascade and tiny island replete with plants, that has been created in one corner of the living room. A hichko, a staple of every Gujarati household popularly seen on verandahs or patios, makes an appearance in this internal version of a verandah. This triple-storey courtyard is actually part of a strategy to establish visual linkages and connections, to avoid a feeling of being hemmed in and isolated. This light- and air-well connects both the levels, invites natural light into the space via a skylight, and, at its base, functions as a water court that imbues the space with serenity. With the staircase abutting the triple-height volume, this space is faintly reminiscent of the step-wells of yore. 




One level up, the master bedroom, which faces the main road, also opens into this void, establishing important sight-lines to the lower level. Exposed concrete, white plaster, black limestone and teakwood are the mainstays of the unobtrusive shell, which is then overlaid with bright (but not overly so) soft furnishings and accessories. The materials have been deliberately left bare, bereft of any cosmetic additions, to let their purity shine through. The master bedroom has been given a slit-like skylight just above the bed, which creates a living artwork on the exposed concrete wall, with the sciagraphy that plays through the day, and indeed, across season. Using these daylighting strategies, the dependence on artificial light is minimal, and mainly achieved through exposed and recessed spotlights.



Given its location, the house necessarily became an introvert glowing with inventive modern energy. The materials have been deliberately left bare, bereft of any cosmetic additions, to let their purity shine through. The H-Cube House reinforces the belief that size doesn’t matter, that there are always solutions. The design worm works best with trim detailing and sharp innovations.

Note: 
You could write to us at teamatpatterninchaos@gmail.com if you need any further help in finding design inspirations for your home. You could send us pictures of your home and we would be happy to sieve through them for a possible feature in this space.


Thank you Hardik Shah and Team Studio Lagom  for sharing your creative work with us.
Thank you  Photographix| Sebastian and Ira for sharing the lovely images with us. 





About Post Author

Architect, Photographer, Bookworm.
Lifestyle and Design Hunter. In search of Pattern in Chaos.

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1 comment:

  1. Unknown16 December 2017 at 01:32

    Amazing H-Cube concept by the architect Hardik Shah creates a novel look and optimum space utility. Very well written and lucidly explained by you. The accompanying photographs are well complimenting. Great digest for those with a taste for novelty.

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Architect.
Photographer.
Bookworm.
Lifestyle and Design Hunter.
In search of Pattern in Chaos.
teamatpatterninchaos@gmail.com
Expert design advisor at www.homeonline.com
Design writer at Better Interiors

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