The private residence of the master architect Dr. Balkrishna V. Doshi at Ahmedabad, Gujarat, reveals how sustainable architecture can be generated from a rational and sensitive approach towards one’s own context and resources.
From the very entrance, architect B. V. Doshi’s house, with its brick paving, exposed brick walls, timber doors and the green peeping from in between, arouses an earthy and rustic feeling. Further on, the play of volumes, the magnetic charm of an M. F. Hussain painting, cosy interiors and an engaging display of sculptures further intensifies the allure.
Inspired by a visit to a brick kiln, Doshi came up with a square shape supported by 4 columns as a core generating a cross-plan with 4 parts. All the functional spaces like living, dining and the 2 bedrooms were housed in these 4 parts. The utility spaces like kitchen, entrance, staircase and toilets were accommodated into the arms of the cross.
Appearing quite simple and obvious in its organisation, the house enjoys manifold benefits, recognised on closer inspection. Compactness achieved through minimal transitional spaces with a critical juxtaposition promises natural cross-ventilation and light throughout.
The square plan gets modulated with the addition of niches towards its outer edge. These niches vary with the orientation such that it is of optimum depth in the east and north directions and is of greater depth in the west and south. This arrangement generates a buffer zone between the core internal functional spaces and the outside.
“I have a dislike for the protruding nail like chhajas. I thought of the temple I had visited in Pune. I recalled its verandah profile that not only protected the inside from the inclined sunrays but also made the temple look low, as if hugging the ground,” recalled Doshi.
He devised an assembly wherein the chhaja got transformed into a box which would catch and reflect the natural light from the terraces and ensure a comfortable microclimate within and at the same time grant the house with an intimate, low profile that would truly speak of the owner’s modest and humble personality.
“About fifty years ago when this house was constructed, both steel and concrete were expensive, not only in terms of material cost but also cost of labour. On the other hand, good quality bricks and skilled labour were easily available locally,” explains Doshi. This rationalism gave way to the language of exposed brick and concrete.
He explored the concept of a curtain wall constructed using a red trap bond wherein the stretchers of the bricks are laid on edge and the headers span the whole thickness of the wall. This results in a cavity within a 9-inch wall. This innovative system keeps the house warm in winters and cool in summers.
The house seamlessly opens towards the sprawling lush green garden spread over almost half of the site. All the terraces of the house have 1 mt.-high parapets and a natural shade provided by the proximity of dense tree foliage.
“A home should be intimate enough for the immediate family and yet have enough space for unions with the extended family. The flexibility of this house inevitably provides an ample venue for the multiple family functions through the year and is also capable of adapting to the changing needs of the growing family. This avoids an extravagance at several levels,” explains the architect.
