The Naked House: Unravelling The State of Spatial Nakedness
Every now and then, an architect meets a project that makes him/her pause and think. To question every sinew of design ethos adopted so far and to introspect what's learnt to unravel the unlearnt. The Naked House in Bengaluru has been one such project.
Concept of ‘The Naked House:
To represent a monotone ensemble across all surfaces, the design team unanimously agreed upon adopting the color grey. Grey represents a sense of muteness, of being unbiased, neither warm nor cold and works as a perfect contrast for every other material. To achieve the correct shade of grey for each of the surfaces; be it the floor or the walls or the ceiling or the furniture- the design team had to undergo a rigorous sampling process. If there ever was an architect’s version of “50 shades of grey”, then this would be it.
The endeavour at each stage was to resist every other design application and stick to the rooted concept of nakedness. To begin with, the team identified each of the partition walls that were rendering the rooms small. The designers opened up all walls and retained only those which are absolutely necessary. This allowed a fluidic nature of designing.
The clients are a young NRI family settled in the US. They desired to revamp their old family home in Bengaluru and convert it as a holiday home. They intended that the home exudes a sense of novelty that is distinct from their everyday home and renders it a perfect holiday home vibe. Apart from it being their home during holidays, they wanted to let the house out for homestays during the rest of the year. A home that is minimalist, unique, cost-effective and cozy.
A brief so specific, the team had to have a definite approach to design. The space had to be a getaway from the urban jungle homes. Since the house will host many guests during their homestay visits apart from the family, it had to steer clear from reflecting a distinguishable design taste and rather be an open palette that welcomes all kinds of guests.
As we enter the house, the monotony of the space is seen immediately. An in-situ seating snugs to the curved wall flanking the adjacent open kitchen. The foyer and the open kitchen are enveloped in a beige-colored lime plaster that adds a contrast to the overall grey palette.
The living room is a sparsely populated space bereft of all embellishments that we see in a usual living space. One side has a series of long racks stacked up in clean horizontal lines. The wooden racks are supported by slim steel bars. These racks house the client’s book collection and curios picked up from across the world. Along the same wall is a custom-made couch. On the opposite side is a cast-in-situ tv unit that rises from the floor in a seamless fashion. This meanders onto the adjacent wall to be a part of the wooden-slit crockery unit.
The kitchen is a fully equipped kitchen that amalgamates within the decor. Oakwood finish shutters make the under-counter space that serves as a natural contrast to the beige floor. The counter is a C- shaped one that ends in a cantilevered form. This cantilever serves as the breakfast ledge for dining. The backsplash is again an in-situ terrazzo dado wall.
The master bedroom is again a minimalist one. A re-purposed wooden log acts as the headboard of the lime plastered box bed. The flooring is rustic white hardwood. The bedroom opens into the garden. The room has been designed so as to enjoy the view while resting. The wardrobe shutters comprise of linen fabric sandwiched within glass panels.
A fluted glass panel and door makes up one part of the bedroom wall. These fluted glass panels are visible from the Kitchen zone too. The work desk is a quaint little corner within the room. Made of wood, this is a perfect working zone for all remotely working professionals. On the other side, is the standalone bed with wooden strips as back panel. The wardrobe in this room is a compact one which allows luggage to stack within it.
This language of the project runs into the washrooms too. Lime plaster is sealed with a hardener substrate to ensure it withstands water and chemicals.
This is the highlight of the project around which the house has been planned. The living and master bedroom opens completely into the garden space. The garden is a finely curated space with native trees, floral canopies, and a cozy bistro space to enjoy the morning coffee.
The whole project is something that needs to be experienced and not just visually. It is so stark and yet cozy. It is a space that grows on you and with you.
