Excerpt: Nithiyanandam Residence by RP Architects emerges as a thoughtful response to the need for calm, health, and simplicity in the chaotic urban sprawl. Built on a compact site, its vertical spatial planning layers spaces across three levels, each tailored to family life. With natural light, ventilation, passive cooling, and a rooftop garden, the residence reflects a design philosophy rooted in efficiency, sustainability, and connection with nature.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by architect] In the midst of the dense, chaotic urban sprawl of Chennai—marked by high levels of noise, air pollution, and visual clutter—the Nithiyanandam Residence emerges as a thoughtful response to the need for calm, health, and simplicity in city living. The client approached us with a clear intention: to create a home that would serve as a personal sanctuary for their family while being efficient, sustainable, and rooted in nature.
The site, like many urban plots, posed challenges due to its compactness—just 32 feet by 38 feet. Rather than being seen as a constraint, this limitation became a driving force behind the vertical spatial planning of the residence. Spaces were layered thoughtfully across three levels, each serving distinct functions tailored to the family’s lifestyle.
The ground floor houses essential utility and transitional spaces. It includes a parking area, a welcoming foyer, and a multi-functional room with an attached bathroom. This room is designed with flexibility in mind—it can serve as a client meeting space, a quiet home office, or a guest bedroom, particularly suitable for elderly visitors who may prefer ground-level access.
The first floor is the core of family life. It comprises a spacious living room that flows into an open dining and puja area, a compact but efficient kitchen, a master bedroom, and a balcony that offers a visual and spatial break from the dense surroundings. Designed to maximize natural light and ventilation, this level features large windows and openings that foster a connection with the outdoors. Cross-ventilation and light filtering through every space ensure that this floor remains airy, bright, and comfortable—qualities that enhance the family’s everyday interactions and sense of well-being.
The second floor is dedicated to the children—a son and a daughter—each with their own room, designed to incorporate individual study, play, and rest zones. Ample storage is integrated into the design to maintain tidiness in compact spaces. The rooms open onto a shared passage that leads to a semi-private terrace, envisioned as a spill-out zone for reading, playing, or family gatherings.
A key feature of this home is its rooftop garden, which transforms the otherwise underutilized urban roof into a living, breathing green space. With no access to a ground-level garden due to the site’s size, the terrace becomes a vital extension of the house—a space for growing herbs, vegetables, and flowering plants. This not only supports the family’s love for gardening but also improves thermal comfort and air quality.
Given Chennai’s hot and humid climate, passive cooling strategies were crucial. The house incorporates tall windows and strategically placed openings to promote stack ventilation, effectively flushing out warm indoor air. The use of Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEB) for walls enhances thermal insulation and reduces the carbon footprint. Deep roof overhangs shade the building envelope, while cool roof tiles significantly reduce heat gain on the top floor. The floors are finished in natural stone, which remains cool underfoot and avoids synthetic chemicals, further contributing to the home’s healthy indoor environment.
In essence, the Nithiyanandam Residence is a testament to how thoughtful design can achieve sustainability, comfort, and beauty within the limitations of a tight urban site and a modest budget. It reflects a design philosophy that values the connection between people, nature, and climate—and proves that a sustainable lifestyle in a harsh urban environment is not just desirable, but entirely achievable.
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