Excerpt: Aamra, a residence by Betweenlines, is based on the concept of ‘Jagli katte’ that runs along the boundary of the house, creating as many semi-open spaces around as the indoor spaces. The house form consists of two rectangular bars, one horizontal and another perpendicular to it, creating an L-shaped structure. The interior spaces open up to lush greenery, from flowering plants to productive gardens and a mango tree orchard.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by architect] Aamra is a farmhouse, nestled between the Mango trees in a village called Gurukere Doddi, Kanakapura. Like its namesake tree, the house wants to be rooted, have an inconspicuous presence, and remain uncomplicated. Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication and it is this idea that the architects chased throughout the design and execution process. The material and finish palette were a few and plenty at the same time.
The client is an accessory designer and a brilliant food photographer. So, the project from the outset was her vision, which was manifested through the medium of Architecture.
Jagli katte (Verandah/sitting area) was the inception point of the spatial organisation. With a beautiful Mango farm around and a mountain view to the North, the house wanted to have as many semi-open spaces around as the indoor spaces. Hence a deep Jagli runs around the house, except the service end – East side.
The indoors simply consists of two rectangular bars, one horizontal that includes a spacious living room, with an open kitchen, service, store, and washrooms stacked from West to East. The sleeping quarters, two in number, run perpendicular to the horizontal bar at the East end, creating an L-shaped built form. The large living area opens into an open lawn, streaming the enclosed space steadily outdoors. Layers of green are plenty in the farm from flowering plants in the immediate surroundings of the house to more productive gardens in the lower levels, along with the mango tree orchard.
Considering that the view, elevation (altitude), and light all best served the North, the spine wall of the house running East-West inclines 12 degrees, lifting the roof slab by the same angle perpendicularly, allowing for the North clerestory light condition. This inclination of the roof slab also makes it a suitable host for solar panels and solar geyser units.
The geometrical shift, defines the interior space as a trapezoidal extrusion, with light cutting in from the North-South side. Essentially, the house is this tube, flanked by the low Jagli roof all around. The perforation design works through large openings, louvre shutters, brick jaalis, ventilated skylights, and breathing panel doors, keeping the airflow constant throughout the house.
The material palette is mainly grey and red oxide, mud plaster, wire-cut bricks, Kota green stone, local Sadarahalli stone tiles, slabs, and terracotta tiles. The interiors of the house are painted a warm white with a dash of yellow, complimenting the hand-done oxide finish over the inbuilt furniture units. Reused wood, fluted glass, and mild steel props find their way inharmoniously. Hints of colour and textures come from the inclusion of characteristic elements by the client. Antique light switches, Capiz (Oyster shell) mosaic on the kitchen table, handmade shades, handles, posters repurposed Padmini car bonnet sofa et all add to the aura of the house.
The architectural aesthetics however grows out of the low floating form, its minimal and stark elements highlighting the function it hosts. Hence, the Jagli, with its inbuilt seating meets the reclaimed wooden columns, meets the upcycled swing set, that flows into the utility, climbs up the terrace through a brick wall suspended staircase, and uses the roof form as both a sky gazing and reclining area, converses with the sheet of tree canopies near too far, collects and flows water through gravity, and peeks down at children playing, pups running, farmer bringing the yield of the day, adults going about their chosen activities, all within a panoramic view from the terrace. Hence, it blends the slow life with craft, architecture, and agriculture.
One could learn the name of Mango in 15 languages walking through the farm, through the placards on the trees, hand painted by the family, one of their many projects dedicated to the house and the land around.
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