Contact us
For any inquiries please email
archivedsgn@gmail.com
share
Copyright © 2024 DSGN arcHive
- January 27, 2021
- 2:52 am
share
PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS
Project name: PIROUETTE HOUSE
Architect’s Firm: Wallmakers
Website: www.wallmakers.org
Completion Year: 2020
Gross Built Area: 196 sqm
Project location: Maruthamkuzhi,Trivandrum, Kerala
Lead Architects: Ar. Vinu Daniel
Photo credits: Jino Sam
Design Team: Ar. Oshin Mariam Varughese, Ar. J.M.Srivarshini, Ar. Gayatri Maithani, Ar. Swathi Raj, Ar. Keerthi Kausalya, Ar. Shiuly Roy, Ar.Neeraj S. Murali, Ar. Dhawal Dasari
Interns: Nihaal Gafoor, Smit Zalavadia, Apoorva Goutam, Harshita G Tophakhane, Manav Muralee, Rohith Krishna, Bharati Gupta, Yash Sukhwani, Neeraj Viswam
Engineering: Adcons Infrastructure Pvt Ltd
Landscape: Vinu Daniel and team
Fabrication team: Kunjumon James and team -J.K steels
Carpenters : Sarath Prasad and team, Shivadas
Masons: Ezhil and team, Deepu and team
Elegantly anchored in a densely populated urban neighborhood of Trivandrum, stands an architectural work of art called Pirouette. The residence is pitched into an unfamiliar and awe inspiring choreography that is very different to its neighbors, yet polite and least imposing. What is interesting about this intervention is the nature in which its uninspiring plot was transformed into a stage to showcase so many virtues, all at once. A stage that manifests tribute and revival of near extinct design techniques of the region; and a stage that sheds light on minimal waste generation, which is indeed the need of the hour, considering our present day insensitive property-development climate.
With imposing privacy constraints all along the edge of the property, the house was conceptualised as an inward looking structure from the onset. To render this visual in the best way possible, the essence of the design of Pirouette takes great inspiration from the unique masonry technique coined by renowned architect (late) Laurie Baker. It specifically deploys a reinterpretation of the rat-trap bond masonry technique used for wall construction; for effective thermal efficiency, reduced volume of bricks used, and an aesthetic means to conceal structural and service elements.
This inspiration steered the project in a clear direction to revive the use of kiln fired bricks which are on the verge of extinction in a now machine mass-producing era. Having the most suitable techniques in cue for a successful inward looking intervention, the house then took shape organically into a comfortable 3-bhk abode.
Today Pirouette showcases a naturally earthy appeal that is conceived off the ground organically scaling two floor levels like flames of fire. Hints of the structural members pierce horizontally through these flames comprising ferrocement floor slabs. Amidst this theatrical display, the uniqueness of the rat trap bond masonry renders a very tactile-rich pattern across the elevation, interior and exterior Architecture. Reinforcing the focus on the beauty of the kiln fired bricks, the remainder circumambient finish of the interior spaces are considerably toned down. Grey oxide flooring and walls, exposed concrete ceilings instil a sense of balance; whilst pops of yellow oxide accented walls creates an element of surprise.
The abode responds to the local climate in the most appropriate fashion. Its layout is set across two floor levels where all the spaces naturally wrap around a central court. The more communal spaces occupy the ground floor level while the private spaces occupy the first. The court reinforces privacy to the household which the plot fails to provide, all the while, being revitalized by ample daylight streaming in from the East and West edges of the building. These edges are lightly veiled in elevation by screens of treated cane and grillwork, re-energizing the spaces with seamless cross ventilation.
A noteworthy aspect about Pirouette above all is the heightened level of sensitivity given to waste management post completion of the project. Scraps of repurposed scaffolding pipes were welded together for grillwork and the central staircase; waste timber was used as floor boards in the living space. Enhancing the rusticity of the interior spaces without losing the element of design in each of these creations.
Although the architecture of Pirouette restricts to such humble methods of construction and choice of materials, its magnificence truly lies in its Architectural craftsmanship; where abstracting & reinterpreting were the key to ‘create’ a mould-breaking intervention.