PREFER A QUICK READ?
- Rohini Gomez Braganza
- October 26, 2020
- 4:56 am
ARTICLE CONTENTS
PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS
Project name: T House
Type: Residential
Principal Architect: Kalpak Shah
Architecture Firm: Studio Course
Firm’s website: https://www.studio-course.com
Project location: South Gujarat, India
Year of completion: 2020
Gross Built Area: 500 Sqm
Photo credits: Fabien Charuau
Photographer website: https://www.fabiencharuauphotography.com
Mid Century modern architecture was a style of design that took the world by storm during the 1940s, originating in America. Iconic for its clean lines, minimalist taste in finishes and functional spaces, the trend set the stage for a new era of designers to emulate and practice. It was quintessentially characterised by, building the architecture into the landscape, open floor plans, large fenestration that married the inside spaces with the outside, flat roofs, finished with natural sustainable materials, and extensively sporting neutrals and wooden accents. The style is also famous for gracefully incorporating subtle remnants of old practices, not departing away from it completely. Achieving a timeless style, that its influence can still be felt mongst millennial generations even till today.
T HOUSE
One such example of a contemporary design that showcases the influence of mid-century modern interior design, can be found perched in a quiet residential neighbourhood in South Gujarat. Known as the ‘T House’ because of the profile of its layout, the design was executed by award-winning Pune based Architecture firm, Studio Course. The design extensively references the golden era of mid-century modern, sporting the timeless look with a contemporary twist. As per the request of the client, the design had to also withstand the test of time and own a timeless appeal that could be carried forth by his daughter for future generations to behold.
The scheme devised by Studio Course, had to restrict itself indoors in line with the prerequisites set by the developers. As the villa is part of a community of 15 other similar villas, the exterior Architectural language needed to be coherent with the theme set out for the community. With this set in stone, the external Architecture could not be hampered with in any way. Circumventing the pre-existing shell that was restricting by nature, the design team worked within these constraints to showcase their design prowess in the best possible way.
Program
The 3-bhk villa is planned across 2 floor levels, within a T shaped profile in layout. In plan the meeting point of the x and y axis of the letter ‘T’, is treated as the core, where the services of the house including passages and circulation are accommodated. From here branch out the rest of the family spaces, communal and private. The ground floor accommodates the living space, kitchen & dining, and one bedroom with an attached bath. The First floor accommodates 2 bedrooms with attached bathrooms and a family room.
This unique T profile in layout enables each of the branched out spaces to avail of 3-sided light and ventilation, reducing the need for artificial energy sources.
The Concept
Referencing to mid-century modern interior design, the aesthetic scheme showcases a calming composition of spaces with a very zen appeal.
Words like, simple, minimalist, clean, linear, natural and functional, resonate in the design vocabulary of the scheme, inventing a classic and sophisticated composition of spaces.
The design shows subtle hints and twists of contemporary aesthetics as well. For example rustic wall finishes, accentuated skirting details that are taller than the customary, the open floor layout of the kitchen and dining, modern electrical and sanitary fixtures, kitchen appliances.
Tones & Finishes
Most mid century modern homes follow a tasteful palette of finishes focussing greatly on natural and sustainable materials. The ‘T House’ emulates the very same principle by also introducing local craftsmanship into the picture. Wood is the core material used extensively across the scheme, as seen in the wood panelled walls, hardwood floors, delicate louvered foldable shutter windows, wood framed bay window seating, wooden staircase and cabinetry. The warmth of these wooden tones are juxtaposed with cold neutrals of grey stucco painted walls, light grey kota & black granite flooring, creating a sense of balance. This base palette of warm and neutrals creates an ideal canvas to accessorize with vibrant artworks and installations to pep up the space.
Fluted glass panels used for wall partitions dissolve into the space rendering them with unique patterns.
The design team also laid a lot of emphasis on the microdetails of the scheme, in an attempt to stay true to the concept.
“Details make the Design; details are as integral as the whole of Design”
– Kalpak Shah, Principal Architect, Studio Course
Elements like natural brass handles & latches, fluted glass partitions were all custom designed to match the overall aesthetic language of the house.
The design truly celebrates the essence of natural materials and showcases a fine tapestry of plain surfaces rendered beautifully with patterns and raw textures. Strategically drawing one’s attention to the tactual nature of the material palette.
Fenestration
The 1940s era of design presented to the world the enchantment of seamlessly stitching the indoors and outdoors as one. Large fenestration dissolved into the landscape visually welcoming natural beauty into the spaces indoors, making one feel equally part of both. At the ‘T House’ the idea of marrying the outside world with the inside also means that the experience can be devoured for a longer period at the window itself. The beautifully wood framed bay windows in each room translates into a place to pause and ponder whilst mentally immersed with the events of the world outside. Hints of potted greens appear calmly perched by the windows to enhance the experience.
Furniture
What is the meaning of a sophisticated space without chic seating?
Bespoke furniture designed by Studio Course occupy the spaces, sporting teak timber tones finished with fine textures of woven rattan, Danish cord wickerwork.They sport artful silhouettes of furniture created by renowned designers like Hans Wegner, George Nakashima and Pierre Jeanneret.
Lighting
All the individual elements that constitute the interior finishes, come to life holistically with ample daylight streaming in through the large fenestrations. Making the requirement for artificial sources redundant during the daytime, in turn saving on energy costs. Sunkissed textures and patterns add a dynamic sense of finesse to each space, rendering them in new light every moment of the day.
By night the spaces are illuminated by ceiling mounted linear spot lighting and modern ceiling hung pendant lights.
TURNING BACK THE CLOCK
The ‘T House’ is a tasteful convergence of the old and the new. Translating into an exercise that revisited a golden era of design principles to emulate greatness, amid a millennial rat race of “futuristic” interventions.
The scheme sets the stage for new and better expressions whilst embracing the old, showcasing greater possibilities as opposed to limitations.
This mould breaking effort in design is well deserving of a new title, a new movement in our present time that embraces the trends of yore.
We could coin it as the “Millennial mid-century modern” movement.
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