Excerpt: Pier House designed by Flyingseeds Design Studio creates a Farm House using building materials that work well for the hot Indian climate that inhibits heat transmission hence ‘Mitti’ in its contemporary form was chosen. Rammed earth walls, which possess insulating properties and bamboo roofing, as bamboo is a structurally resilient and eco-friendly alternative at the same time resonating with the client’s brief. In addition to locally sourced materials, the environmentally sensitive home includes a rainwater harvesting and recycling system as well as passive air circulation.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by architect] Pier house derives its name from the group of piers penetrating into the marshy pool. These piers are basically the foundation system adopted from the Japanese traditional post-stone foundation technique (Tsukaishi-kiso).
Since the existing site had no context to design around we let the natural factors like Optimized climate analysis, wind direction and River swelling during monsoons derive the core concept. Hence we created an earth-berm at the southern side of the site, resulting in this. This secured the structure white inducing a micro-climate in the interior areas.
The earth-berms are proposed to house geothermal, air-tunnels underneath. Since the client runs a successful transport business he was excited about creating these mounds in salvaged automobile tires, as fillers.
The Pavilions resting on piers are free-flowing spaces promoting natural ventilation and air circulation. These are positioned facing the direction that receives maximum breeze. Large openings on the sides allow cool currents to enter the home.
Large overhangs with big openings for cross ventilation without exposing the interiors to heat, providing cutouts (skylights) atop the roof hot air to escape, at the same time filling the spaces with direct sunlight in winter.
While selecting building materials that work well for hot Indian climates that inhibit heat transmission we chose to explore ‘Mitti’ in its contemporary form. Rammed earth walls, which possess insulating properties resonated with the client’s brief as well as bamboo roofing, as bamboo is a structurally resilient and eco-friendly alternative at the same time! In addition to locally sourced materials, the environmentally sensitive home includes a rainwater harvesting and recycling system as well as passive air circulation.
A well-sheltered bio-pool provides respite from the heat in the outdoor transmission area.
Design Process: The entry to the home is through a semi-covered open foyer covered with glass and bamboo pergolas. The rammed earth wall acts just as a transitional element providing the enclosure from the approach area and opening up towards the water pool completely.
The formal drawing room and the ancillary social areas like the gazebo and workspace/temple are placed independently, lifter on pier with open rock foundation. Pivoted, tilt-able bamboo screens are used to offer protection from excessive heat or glare whenever required.
The roofing was the most integral and extensive part of the design, we wanted to replicate the vocabulary of Indian and Japanese traditional homes resulting in designing pitched roofs for all the units, designed as a frustum of rectangular profile.
The overhangs of the same secured the longevity of the walls. The entire roof skeleton is designed in bamboo, sourced from NE India, and supported on a sturdy MS portal for each unit. A central court, looking into the pool serves as a family lounge and ensures that more internal spaces can benefit from its cooling effects.
The all-natural Bio-pool contributes to a significant temperature drop. Water-loving plants aid in natural filtration and further cools down the air entering the home since they release moisture. This pool is lined with lime plaster and natural filtration (biofilters) systems have been introduced so that it is safe for usage by both fish and humans. The pool is divided into two parts the deeper end is the wading area.
The entire landscaping is proposed keeping in mind the principles of Permaculture. To transform approx. 1.5 acres of land in Noida, into an organic food forest for growing vegetables, crops, and fruits. In addition, the project will involve the strategic planting of various locally adapted fruit trees & native species, within different zones.
The Pavilions resting on piers are free-flowing spaces promoting natural ventilation and air circulation, with large sliding open-able glass shutters on the interior and rotatable bamboo screens on the exterior leaving a circulation alley in between both. Strategic skylights are devised atop the pitched frustum roof for the hot air to escape, at the same time filling the spaces with direct sunlight in winter.
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