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INDIAN DESIGN
AND INTERIORS - (Feb-Mar 2004) |
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VERTICAL PLANNING
Architect couple
Anshu and Pradeep Pathak work on a vertical
plan in a Noida
home in a way that no floor remains isolated--text by Anshu
Pathak |
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WHEN WE FIRST met our client
Mr.Gupta, the brief given to us was that he wanted a grand house on a small
size of plot. We automatically conceptualized a vertical limit
and thought of capitalizing on the vertical space available
hence. For designing this home, a pragmatic creative connection
with the different levels as well as with the outdoors was
required, Pradeep opted to intensify and internalize rather than
follow a typical household design. The client was willing to
experiment and this resulted in the story of a true split level
home where functionality and aesthetics are in total sync. Once
inside the house, the visitor faces a choice-to follow a half
flight of stairs up or down. The decision recurs time and again
as the steps zig-zag to connect the staggered levels. For the
vertical axis, Pradeep created a major design element with a
delicately fabricated staircase to give a feel of ambiguity.
Discreetly placed against the sidewall, it conserves vital floor
area and becomes an interesting design element. |
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Hanging from
the top is a huge double height window that brings along with
it the promise of enough skylight. The walls inside are
freely hand painted in yellow and orange hues and furnished
with massive openings that bring in the right amount of
light. A focal point in this level is a peacock painting worked on
glass b me. Three steps down is the living room brightened
by its own door looking out into the back courtyard. |
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"Here an entire wall is covered with
a painting from my Shivoham series." Flanked by a brass Nandi and
a king size chair, it adds warmth to the room.
PRADEEP
HAS WORKED on uniformity with materials for floor
patterns that merge with the overall aesthetics of the house. And
this overcomes the dimensional difference between the floors. The mezzanine
is suspended over the formal living room. Here visual privacy and
a large floor area are the major concerns. This floor boasts of a
family lounge, a master bedroom, a puja room, a kitchen, dining
and a master bath. In the family lounge I worked on a huge wooden
panel in mirror work and acrylic colours. The master bath has
stone cladding on the walls and two grand niches carved out with
stone columns.
Functional flexibility connects the
next floor that has the children’s bedrooms. For the
college-going young son, we chose a solid deep blue scheme with
wrought iron bed. The bedroom has an attached huge walk-in
dresser and natural skylight streams into the bathroom done in
aqua green and ultramarine. The daughter’s room is a pretty
feminine pink. Adjoining is the dress and bath done in the same
hues. This level also has a lounge for the young children. |
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THE TOP FLOOR has a guest
bedroom done in the Shekhawati style and a terrace. |
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Natural light and air flow
around freely in the house, moderating their effect in all
the rooms. The fine balance between vertical and horizontal
planning makes for both intimate gatherings and lively
groups.
Landscaping has played a
powerful role in this project. The adjoining land was added
later when the house was completed. We insisted on elevating
the lawn level to the mezzanine. Two platforms, one in blue
and the other in orange-blue were designed on the lawn. Some
of the design motifs inside the house find a place in the
lawn area as well, reflecting a unique synergy. |
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