Excerpt: Viswam Residence by N&RD is a vacation house that provides a comfortable and tranquil setting. Using a split level layout with a porch, master suite and guest rooms stacked on top, as well as a living-dining area between floors, the building negotiates levels between two extreme entries. The project features a unique massing pattern, characterized by the stacking of adjacent blocks above, below, and sideways of the master suite at the program’s center.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by architect] The site, located in Kottayam District of Kerala, India, was a steeply sloped terrain with two accesses at two levels at a 20 feet difference. The client was a businessman who resides quite far from the city in which his business is centered. The need of a second home near to his business center, yet away from the hustles of the city; brought him to this calm and laid back property with the right kind of privacy and accessibility he was seeking.
He wanted the architects to design it as a vacation home where his family could stay for holidays, or as a business meet up place where his colleagues could get together for a party and for a place he can unwind after a hectic week, at his own pace.
The client wanted the building to negotiate the levels between both entries which are at two extremes. In order to achieve this, different programs are set up at different levels. Programs included a small guest area, living- dining hall with a spill out garden, kitchen and utility, master suite with an attached pool, two additional bedrooms and a media room.
The design follows a split level configuration where the porch, master suite and guest rooms are stacked on top of each other and the living- dining area is placed between two floors. The roof of the living area matches with that of the master suite, giving the common area a good fifteen feet high volume.
Main entry is accessed through a number of elaborate terraced steps with landscaped pockets that also act as a part of the front elevation. The service quarters’ block which includes staff stays, service kitchen and laundry, provides a defined edge to these steps. A tall entry door opens up to the cozy foyer which sets the mood for the scenes beyond. This is also the level to which another access is provided from the lower level with parking and gym. Another series of steps, which follows the same rhythm as that of the landscape steps leading to the entry, leads to the master suite level.
The common area which consists of the dining space and living area and the master suite share most of the spatial volume of the entire building. An open kitchen with a breakfast counter is provided right next to the dining, which also can be served from the service block through another access. The long common area also has a lawn garden along its length on the East. Common area and master suite share a large skylight with two internal courtyards below which are at different levels, and are split vertically by a solid wall.
The Master suite houses a large bedroom, a balcony overlooking the front yard, an internal courtyard with an open shower, a lounge, a private dress and a luxurious bathroom that extends into a serene infinity pool.
The top floor consists of two guest rooms, home-theater and a terrace from where the valley below can be seen and a glimpse of a river a little further. All the rooms enjoy broad views of the outside through big glass windows.
The master suite being the center of the program, it needed to be in the mid-level of both entries which are at two levels. Stacking of adjacent blocks above, below and sideways of the master suite gave way to an interesting massing to the project. And a series of steps are envisaged right from the outside entry towards the master suite giving a sense of continuity as one walks through them.
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