04_studio Lagom_h Cube House.pdf

H-CUBE HOUSE

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Adajan, Surat, Gujarat Plot Area: 1,200 sq ft

Built-up Area: 2,400 sq ft Project Timeline: 2016 – 2017 Project Cost: 4,000 per sq ft

Designed by Studio Lagom architects and sited in the city of Surat, Gujarat, the house, with its modern and contemporary stance, rests saliently in its nondescript urban context with its arresting details and conspicuous design.

Sited on a 35’X35’ corner property in the densely-populated city, it is abutted by access roads on the west and south side. The major challenge was the compact nature of the site along with a lack of a primary axis, that usually defines the spatial integrity of a space.

STUDIO LAGOM, SURAT Principal Architect: Hardik Shah Project Team: Anisha Jariwala, Nishant Gandhi, Vivek Nayani, Raj Prajapati, Sweta Gajiwala, Doriwala, Kruti Sheta-Patel

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The conceptualization of this residence design commenced with a site-spatial zoning exercise

After leaving adequate setbacks, a 25’ X25’ footprint within the plot was allocated for the building. This box was further divided into vertical grids spaced at 10’, 5’ and 10’ respectively. The 5’ X 25’ rectangle which rests in the middle, was established as the primary entrance to the residence.

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Above: Water body incorporated in the courtyard adjacent to the staircase

Left: Lightwell created with the staircase to puncture the massive volume of the structure, providing light and air to an otherwise congested space

Connected to the discrete staircase at the rear portion that was part of the service area zone, the entrance is nestled between the wall of the elevated garden block and the structure. A water body was incorporated in the courtyard adjacent to the staircase, whilst creating a lightwell to puncture the massive volume of the structure and provide light and air to an otherwise congested space. In order to enhance the functional inquiry of the design, this exercise was extended vertically and internally.

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Due to its compact footprint, it was perceived as a three

Above: Living area as a semi-public area on the first floor

storey building, with the ground floor allocated to parking, and the upper two floors serving as living spaces forming a 25’ X 25’ mass in elevation, reinstating the concept of a cube which became the dictating notion for the design.

Facing Page - Above & Bottom Right: Master suite on the second floor. One example of the play of light and shadow in living spaces, with subtle muted material palette complimenting the serene and minimalist ambience

The first-floor seats the living area as a semi-public area arranged in a C-orientation, with the dining space serving as the connecting element. The second floor houses the two bedrooms, one of them being the master suite.

Facing Page - Bottom Left: A three storey building, depicting the concept of a cube

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Master suite on the second floor with a muted material palette complimenting the serene and minimalist ambience

The protruding cube in the elevation has been cast in exposed concrete, serving as a stand-alone visual identity of the design. Architecturally, the building is treated as four cubes, which have been altered and re-located to simultaneously achieve aesthetic and functional stability. The upper floor has been designed around the master bedroom, which emerges as the central defining Other bedroom on the second floor

theme, escalating the execution of a protuberant cube in the elevation.

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Right: Lightwell, to provide adequate light and air, perforating the built mass

Facing Page: Louvered fenestrations screened by local plants outside are incorporated in each of the living spaces in the south west zone

To perforate this mass with adequate light and air, louvered fenestrations screened by local plants are incorporated in each of the living spaces in the south west side that is premeditated to be the major wind direction. Recessed and exposed spot lights, along with articulate skylights serve as sustainable daylight strategies to reduce the load on artificial systems.

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Door opening up to the master suite on the second floor

Dining area on first floor, with adjacent kitchen intentionally designed to not be visible from the living area

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Product & Material Applications Lighting > Hybec Colour > Asian Paints Sanitaryware > Duravit Bath Fittings > Grohe Furniture > 3A Cube Inc. Design Studio Furnishing > Atmosphere Carpets & Rugs > Fabindia Hardware > Blum Ply > Century Veneer > Timex Laminates > Greenlam Stone > Kadappa Air Conditioning > Mitsubishi

Key Contributors Structural Design > Hitesh Rathi (Rathi Consortium) Civil Contractor > Nital Shah Landscape > Roots Design

Photography Credits Photographix | Sebastian + Ira

Enabling the client brief together with architectural

with form and spaces. This triple-storey design filters this

investigation, the challenges of a compact site and a crowded

residence from urban chaos to a peaceful seclusion without

neighborhood have been explored as opportunities to juggle

compromising on visual linkages and connection.