Wall-to-wall House

This was a narrow site measuring 20 ft by 60 ft with the shorter span facing the road in the West. Buildings of two-storey height were adjacent to the site along the longer spans on either side. Design requirement was a Three-Bedroom Apartment on First Floor for the client and two small apartments on the Ground Floor for tenants.

Since fenestrations were not possible on the longer spanned walls, bringing in Natural light and Cross- ventilation was a challenge. To address that, we reduced the ceiling height of Kitchen and Dining to just the required height and introduced a Mezzanine Floor for the third Bedroom. This is to catch the natural light from the Double-height above the Staircase.

To make the maximum use of this, we also increased the ceiling height of the Living to 14’ (4.2m). A part of the ceiling in the north end was given a sky-light to ensure maximum possible daylight.

Image showing how the windows facing the offset corridor on the North East corner of the building defies the adjacent building from blocking the natural light and ventilation

Sectional Perspective (1:100) drawing towards the East showing how the different slab levels come together to bring in Natural light and Ventilation from the offset spaces in the North and the South

Image showing the Staircase to Mezzanine Floor, Kitchen and Dining Spaces

Image from the Kitchen showing the high-ceiling Living Room with skylight

THE IMPRESSION

A strangely self-contained, dimly lit, already existing corridor that leads to the residence at the First floor. But then we open a door and the square room that we now enter is spacious and light. Four large, rectangular windows, all of the same size, open onto the balcony at the North and transform the living room of the house into a kind of pavilion, open to all sides —an impression that is made all the stronger when, in fine weather.