Villa 367 - Invocating the Earth

Completed in April, 2019, the Villa 367 was commissioned to the architect with a requirement for an interior and landscape solution for a newly constructed villa in a township situated in Hyderabad. The clients wanted, in their limited budget, an earthy contemporary aesthetic for their home . Covering a total built up area of 2470 sq ft with a carpet area of 1730 sq ft, the duplex villa was already completed in terms of the civil work when the architect was involved into the project. The architect envisioned the design as an amalgamation of the earthy contemporary aesthetic along with the client’s love for local arts. Their affinity towards the earth and local art is manifested through regional art works which made its way into the decor of the house. . The Pinjrakari pattern style from Kashmir has been used throughout the project. A local artist was also involved in a mural custom made for the clients.

Having lived for over a decade in an apartment, the villa was also required to provide them with large expanses of spaces, otherwise unavailable in a flat. Keeping this in mind, the architect worked with each of the spaces to make them multipurpose. This is manifested in the sliding door between the living and dining room which could be closed and opened when required to accommodate a spill over from the living room. The design of the door also reveals how the architect has hidden its function well into its aesthetics. Throughout the house, a tinge of yellow has been added to all the furnishings and material palette to pop up the house like a ray of sunshine.

The landscape of the entire project was also limited to local materials continuing the design language. Hollow bricks were used as jaali walls, planters and as landscape elements. The name plaque was also a locally sourced boulder with the name and house number etched by the client herself to add a personal touch to the project. The architect was able to invoke the earth into the projects through conceptualizing not only the interior but also the furnishings with a material palette in mind. This continuous design language has made the entire experience in the house, one that's closer to nature.