koba house

Koba house is situated on the banks of the river Sabarmati, north of Ahmedabad, and part of koba village. The site is part of an undulating landscape of silt mounds that stretch along either sides of the river.

The house was designed for an elderly couple and their grand children who visited over weekends.

The family entertains regularly and enthusiastically and the program responds by way of providing a variety of usages of spaces. Fundamental to the fit with this lifestyle, site and climatic context, thus, is the relationship between inside and outside.

client:

usha & balwant brahmbhatt

location:

village koba, gandhinagar, gujarat

Architects:

Uday & Mausami Andhare, indigo architects, Ahmedabad

design team:

uday andhare, mausami andhare, mitesh panchal

consultants:

v.r shah structural

site area:

4000 sq.yd.

building area:

450 sq.yd.

completion year:

2008

civil engineers:

maitri constructions, ahmedabad

photo credits:

uday andhare
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Architectural response

The natural gradient towards the river has a balanced cut and fill to tuck the built form and to provide a visual barrier from the main approach.

The built form, comprises, a retaining wall that holds the excavated earth, forming a berm. The dining and bedroom spaces flank the sides of the central court, built in massive masonry walls.

The long sweeping verandah held between splayed exposed concrete end walls and supported by a light metal structure provides the shade and contrast.

The design uses a mix of defense (against the afternoon heat) and advance (towards the view) to achieve the fit. The house is aligned north east-south west with few walls exposed to the morning and afternoon sun. It backs up against (and cuts slightly into) an existing mound on site, which shields its north-western side from the sun. In addition, the service spaces- toilets, utilities, staircase etc- help insulate the living areas further.

An open courtyard is formed along a connecting passage between the kitchen-dining block and that housing the master bedroom.

The passage is completely openable to veranda and courtyard

Architectural response

The natural gradient towards the river has a balanced cut and fill to tuck the built form and to provide a visual barrier from the main approach.

The built form, comprises, a retaining wall that holds the excavated earth, forming a berm. The dining and bedroom spaces flank the sides of the central court, built in massive masonry walls.

The long sweeping verandah held between splayed exposed concrete end walls and supported by a light metal structure provides the shade and contrast.Read More