Todd SumamnoThe brick house designed by iSTUDIO Architecture has been inspired by both the philosophies and the works of Laurie Baker and Nari Gandhi. Each room flows into another, leading into a seamless space held by the central courtyard. Climatology and the solar path, along with jalis and arched openings have played an essential role to introduce light and wind into each interior space. Exposed materials, which give the entire house a very earthy feel and the construction techniques using rat-trap bond, filler slabs, arches have contributed to the low cost of the project.
The Brick House, situated amidst rural settlements in Wada, near Mumbai,India, is a 2500 sq.ft. farmhouse set within hills and farms. The impact of the architecture of the structure is strong, always leading the viewer to a new observation, not allowing him to be complacent about the space which he occupies. An individualistic piece of architecture, the organic form emerges from the ground and flows into the skyline, following curved dips and peaks.
Each space flows into another along curved lines, leading into a seamless space held by the central courtyard. The observer begins his journey along the curved jali brick wall offering tantalizing glimpses of the interior, thus drawing him into dramatic compositions of light and shadows.
The stark contrast of a stone entrance wall against the exposed brick work lends itself to the realization of texture of both materials. As one enters into the structure, one is greeted by the soft sunlight falling to the central body of water and the coolness within the structure. The interior space is dominated by the two huge arches of brick and stone, opening to vistas of farms and hills. The furniture seems to rise and fall from the walls or floor dramatically leading one’s eyes to play of materials against each other.
Brittany Maslo