SITE:

The project is located near Satirje village of Alibag. It is approximately one acre with access through the village road. The plot is lower than the village and there are water logging problems at the site for which extensive filling and site drainage measures were taken. The site shares the typical hot humid climate of Alibag / Mumbai with hot summers, severe monsoon rains and fairly pleasant winters.

 

PROGRAM:

The project is a weekend home for a multi-generational family. The family will use it for celebrations and to congregate during festivals and holidays. Other than the functional requirement for 6 bedroom suites and other domestic requirements, the client expressed a desire for a space that would be unlike a typical space; they wanted a spatial experience that will have intimate connections with the landscape and a completely non-linear geometry in the plan.

 

Apostrophe A+uD's point of departure was to map the existing trees and view corridors along with the slope of the site to create a plan that navigated between the fixed site parameters. The plan meandered to open up into the landscape and folded in to create courtyards.

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DESIGN CONCEPT:

A petal, that ephemeral moment between sprouting and wilting, reminds us of the constant unfolding of time but more importantly to cherish the here and now. Extracting oneself from time, from thought and from action necessitates a pause to explore the sensory wonder of the petal, its form, texture and fragrance. A petal is simultaneously complete within its folds and yet arrayed around a central nucleus to form a flower; a larger more complete version of itself.

 

The Petal Villa seeks to exist in this transitory space; as part of the continuous landscape from sea to mountains yet creating a moment of respite and pause within it’s folds. The spaces of the Petal Villa flow and suggest rather than dictate activities. It’s surfaces dissolve along curves to accept the natural world and accept the continuity of landscape, time and atmosphere while constantly celebrating the individual. It is impossible to find a beginning and an end to the villas form, and in its undulating walls are suggestions to keep exploring the space, noticing the movement of light and shadow along it’s creases and searching yourself. The petal, the flower or the villa are but totems; we explore them not to uncover their mysteries, but rather to place our own spiritual center within the flow of landscape and time.

 

VAASTU:

The Mandala that underlays and guides all Vastu principals speaks about sustainability. It’s tenets arise from an understanding of primary natural phenomenon; the passage of the sun with it’s energy and restorative power, the movement of wind that cultivates our environment and comfort, the flow of water at once a source of nourishment and a power to be respected. It speaks about placement of activities that respect these natural elements and defers our actions to their rhythms. The Petal Villa has unflinchingly adhered to the principals of Vastu. Placement of habitable spaces, courtyards and waterbodies arise from Vastu as does the orientation of activities and the choice of materials, textures and colors. The house harnesses the age-old wisdom of Vastu for creating courtyards that temper the climate and solar heat gain and to integrate the overall house form into the landscape. Intrinsic details such as placement of furniture is oriented per Vastu principals at a basic level, diving deeper is the invitation of natural light and the play of shadows with respect to it’s wisdom.

 

MATERIALITY:

The project is constructed in a typical RCC frame and slab system. The landscape is a primary material and will be used for cladding several aspects of the building including a landscape ribbon that runs along the roof line and is used to shade windows from solar gain as well as rain.

The project is also terraced with landscape performing an integrated role in shaping the architecture at a site tectonic level.