Excerpt: Gems House by Living Earth Architecture harmoniously blends thoughtful design with functionality, aesthetics, and environmental mindfulness. The key feature of the residence is its colored glass facade, designed to interact with morning sunlight. The glass casts vibrant rays as the sun rises, creating a dynamic atmosphere. Each piece transforms into a radiant gem, enhancing aesthetic appeal and fostering a serene environment.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by architect] Colored Glass: Colored glass is incorporated into the east-facing elevation of the building, designed to interact beautifully with morning sunlight. As the sun rises, light filters through the colored glass, casting vibrant, colorful rays throughout the interior and creating a dynamic, uplifting atmosphere. Each piece transforms into a radiant, gem-like feature when struck by sunlight, filling the room with shifting hues that enhance the aesthetic appeal and foster a serene environment. Additionally, colored glass helps regulate indoor temperatures by filtering harsh sunlight, balancing beauty with energy efficiency.
Bamboo Sunshade: Opting for bamboo instead of concrete for the sunshade significantly reduces construction costs while introducing a natural, eco-friendly element. Bamboo’s lightweight and easily sourced nature makes it a cost-effective alternative to traditional materials. Its texture and flexibility allow for creative designs, enhancing the building’s aesthetics. As a sunshade, bamboo casts intricate shadows on the sit-out area, creating a serene, visually engaging space. This contributes to an open, breathable structure that improves ventilation and connects occupants with nature. Overall, bamboo adds warmth to the elevation, contrasting beautifully with harder materials.
Varying Ceiling Heights: The design incorporates varying ceiling heights throughout the space. This strategic decision reduces construction costs while enhancing the spatial experience. Lower ceilings in transitional areas allow for expansive, double-height spaces elsewhere, making the interior feel grand and allowing abundant natural light to penetrate deeper into the building. This thoughtful combination of ceiling heights maximizes spaciousness and optimizes ventilation, enhancing the home’s aesthetic and functional qualities.
Interior Pond: An interior pond is integrated into the design for its aesthetic appeal and natural cooling effect. Water helps regulate temperature, creating a refreshing indoor environment. Positioned beneath a double-height space with a skylight above, the pond becomes a central feature. The skylight floods the area with natural light, reflecting off the water’s surface and creating beautiful light and shadow interplay. This combination of water, light, and vertical space enhances cooling, ventilation, and tranquility within the home.
Open Courtyard: The open courtyard serves as a natural hub for ventilation and light, allowing fresh air to circulate freely throughout the home and reducing the need for artificial cooling. It enables abundant natural light to filter into surrounding rooms, brightening the interior and promoting environmental efficiency. This feature creates a pleasant, airy atmosphere that fosters a closer connection to nature.
Mezzanine Floor: The mezzanine floor functions as a dedicated space for painting and reading, illuminated by a skylight that creates an inviting atmosphere. A handcrafted bamboo chandelier, made by the architect, enhances the organic feel of the space, blending function with artistic expression.
Jali: Jali, a perforated screen, allows natural ventilation and diffuses sunlight, keeping interiors cool while reducing glare. With intricate patterns, jali provides privacy without blocking light, merging traditional design with modern architecture for a sustainable and visually striking element.
Room Arrangement: The rooms are arranged around the courtyard, acting as a visual connection between them. This layout fosters a sense of openness and continuity, allowing occupants to enjoy views of the courtyard from multiple angles, enhancing interaction and the overall aesthetic appeal of the home.
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