Subhashini Nagaraj Residence – Structural Aesthetic

The systematic conceptualizing of the house before the construction enabled the client to save money and resources. This echoes the sustainable approach throughout the project.

Completed in the year 2018, the Subhashini Nagaraj Residence was built on a site of 250 square yards with a built of 4200 sq ft, divided into 3 floors. The vertical spatial planning divides the house into a hierarchy of public to private spaces and this is manifested in the built. The ground floor is imagined as an extension of the public arena with space allotted for 2 cars, along with a servant’s quarter and a 1 bhk unit. As one ascends onto the first floor, a living, dining, kitchen and a bedroom for guests greet them. The second floor comprises the private space for the residents of the house with a master bedroom and a kids bedroom, connected well to the outside with sit-outs, accounting for ample ventilation.

As mentioned earlier, since the entire conceptualizing process was completed before the civil work began, the aesthetic requirements of the building were embedded into the structural components. Thereby one can observe circular columns, filler slabs, and split levels adding to the spatial and functional value of the house.

The use of limestone for flooring and the exposed brick masonry, double up as both cost-effective measures simultaneously adding to the aesthetic value of the house. The filler slab used on the top floor with inverted pots reduces the usage of concrete and steel, at the same time cooling the space by the thermal comfort of the clay pots.

The overall house was built on a budget of 65 - 70 lakhs as per the client's requirement, compliant to Vaastu. The building is an amalgamation of various materials, complementing each other in every frame to form the perfect ambiance for the owners. This has been the intention of the architect and a visit to the house, a couple of years after the completion reinstates this.