A holiday home under water

February 19, 2021
2:29 am

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS

Project Name : Aurelia – House under a pool

Project Type: Private residential property

Location : Alibaug

Architecture Firm : SHROFFLEóN

Location of Firm : Mumbai, India

Principal Architects : Kayzad Shroff , Maria Isabel Jimenez León

Team : Kayzad Shroff, Maria Leon, Rumy Shroff, Ronnie Babara, Dhaval Jain, Divya Shetty, Pratibha Singh, Siddharth Ghodke, Tanushree Agarwal

Carpet area : 1500 sq.ft.

Built-up area : 2000 sq.ft.

Consultants : Structural consultant – Girish Wadhwa ; Pool consultant – Niren Pimeta ( Samunder Pools) ; Specifications and Quantities – Shirish Patki ; Fibre optic lights – Versalite

Photography credits : Sebastian Zachariah (Photographix) and Atul Pratap Chauhan

Materials : Techlam tiles, black granite, Vetro, Dholpur stone, Cumaru wood

Anchored daringly alongside a hilltop escarpment stands a work of Architecture that glares into the distance at the world beyond. The contemporary build poses crisp and boastful linearity, yet conceives a sense of fluidity by the manner in which it commands its plot. What is most unique about the hillside escapade is its acoustical contribution to the natural orchestra of birdsong and rustling leaves that corsets its plot along the periphery. Enhanced by its expansive showcase of cascading water features and bespoke swimming pools, this one of a kind work of Architecture namely ‘Aurelia’, is indeed all the rage and the talk of the town.

The building by virtue is a celebration of geometry. The nature of choreography between shape, volume and composition that it conceives, may reference the mid-century modern era of Architecture; where form and function becomes more straightforward, the building is more sensitive to the landscape of the plot, less ornate more linear, sporting large fenestration that visually diminishes the boundaries between inside and out. On similar lines, Aurelia’s facade is a showcase of cascading expansive horizontal slabs; whilst the space in between is veiled delicately with glass fenestration, artfully concealing the structural columns. Adding a bit of theatre to that effect, is the design of an idyllic infinity pool that charges towards the horizon, in a state of meditative levitation between floor levels. The significantly reduced opaque surfaces are adorned with Techlam tiles in the neutrals, whilst all else is dressed with black granite.

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The two bhk holiday home conceives an ‘L’ shaped footprint. The upper floor level accommodates a spacious formal living space that spills onto a deck rendered with al fresco vocabulary right out of a ‘holiday dictionary’. Encompassing a jacuzzi, a water body that translates into a waterfall, heating island, a large infinity pool, bar, organic lounge grass pods, ecomesh barbeque pavilion, sunkissed decks; all of this served up with perfect vantages of the hills and sunset.

What may surprise at this level is that the pool-to-home volume ratio is almost equivalent. The lower floor is where the ratio of ‘home’ increases, unexpectedly tucked away under the large infinity pool. Here is where the private spaces begin to unfold. Two private bed & bath suites and a glasshouse accommodating a lounge, align one after the other in a linear arrangement under the pool, corseted by uninterrupted views on all sides. The visual connect between man and nature becomes more tactile as the glasshouse lounge spills onto an outdoor lounge deck set into lush lawns and pebble beds. Should one want to truly immerse in the orchestra that Aurelia has to offer, a moat-like deck pitched alongside the falling waters of the level above, is worth patronizing.

Aurelia is designed strategically to embrace nature’s every hue, within its anatomy and out. In response to this approach the interiors showcase texture rich spaces but in a subdued palette of neutral tones. Hints of timber accents instil a sense of warmth in each space seen in floor boards, cabinetry, wall mounted consoles etc.

By day, the glazed shell of the building politely dissolves into the sceneries of the hillscapes, rendering ever-changing paintings of nature along the edge of each room. The generous filter of green and sky becomes part of the interior decor enriching neutral toned surfaces into all else.

As the black blanket of night envelopes Aurelia, the building comes to life in an array of mood lighting features that brings a multitude of textures to the fore, all the while reinforcing a calming and much sought after ‘holiday vibe’.

Through the course of the day, varying light intensities kindle every inch of Aurelia’s geometric makeup in fresh light, unfolding a theatrical play of light and shadow.

This dramatic showcase is what truly stages the essence of its Architecture, portraying ‘Aurelia’ in its most charismatic element..

…..humming with the hills

the end

Project drawings, specifications & Photography provided by the respective design Firm

Analysis & Article written by Architect Rohini Gomez Braganza