Excerpt: ‘Samip: An ingenious Forecourt in an urban context’ by Studio Roots and Studio Lagom is a unique and innovative approach to old city streetscapes. The landscape is raised on a podium, with parking underneath, creating a clear connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. The skewing of the central Kund creates dynamic vistas and visual lines. Transition spaces explore the complex language between areas for an elaborate landscape experience.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by architect] SUMMARY: Back in 2011, due to its proximity to industrial areas, Pal Gam- a town in Surat was turning into an upmarket residential society. Addressing the concerns for creating a personalized, isolated space for a private residence amidst the cluster of high rise buildings, the architectural program and the client requirements set the parameters for landscape design. The Landscape was raised on a podium with the parking tucked underneath for a clear connection between the indoor and outdoor spaces with three different axes defining the access.
The skewing of the central Kund at an angle fostered a dynamic effect of the layered vegetation buffer- creating vistas and visual lines.
The potential for the design of the transition spaces was explored. This left the observer to decipher the complex language between the areas from their experience for an elaborate landscape experience.
Samip is an ingenious take on old city streetscapes while being entirely unique to its context.
CONCEPT: The story began in MARCH 2011, when the designers visited a small site located amidst the towering masses- as was peculiar for that part of SURAT. However, the idea of designing the landscape for a private bungalow- to create a PERSONALIZED, ISOLATED space and the middle of what could only be described as a CONCRETE JUNGLE was challenging.
The profundity of the challenge was not lost upon us as the designers started to brainstorm a plan of action to create a tailored space for the house.
The Challenge
The design had to be a RESPONSE to the architecture, and of course, the ELABORATE set of requirements from the client, established the conditions for the landscape.
The Idea
A RAISED outdoor space serving as a Front yard or an ANGAAN to the house gives a sense of a deep CONNECTION to the Earth- a herculean feat that today’s Urban Areas strive to achieve.
Transition spaces
With due respect to this CHARACTER, the designers categorically identified the transition spaces- between the entrance foyer raised front yard, and the ground storey of the house.
Accesss of significance:
- North-East Entry :VEHICULAR access leading to parking and Main Entrance to House
- Exclusive Party lawn access RAMP serving as PEDESTRIAN and HANDICAP access
- Walkway within Garden that terminates into a BALCONY for visual connect to the street
Layers of interaction
An Exclusive RAMP connects the entrance to the raised yard. It serves as a pedestrian and party Entrance. A peculiar feature of this ramp is the extended Garden pathway that becomes an overhead Bridge Terminating into a BALCONY. A simple but significant connection to the streetscape while being in the safe zone of house – a modern take on the OLD CITY STREETSCAPES, yet unique to the context.
The multi-fold advantage of skewing
-It breaks the monotony of a linear design, creating VISTAS, and interesting nooks for the eyes to rest with variations in design
– A VISUAL LINE to follow for pleasure of thought.
-A significantly LARGER CENTRAL SPACE could be achieved.
– It allowed a STRONG viewing angle to perceive the house while sitting inside the pavilion that flanks the party lawn or AANGAN.
Adorned by dense foliage at the periphery, a lawned courtyard with a KUND sits at its center creating a subtle but strong link to our CULTURE.
This inspired the Rangoli like impression of paving pattern.
The planting palette
The PLANTING PALETTE is rich and vivid with colourful foliage and flowers giving an exotic tropical feel to the party lawn. The skewing has allowed to increase the number of varieties and the layering of plants giving more depth to the premise.
The design elements
The BALCONY is adapted for the needs of people of disabilities and connects to the streetscape without compromising PRIVACY.
The KUND with its elegantly crafted work is a BEFITTING FEATURE that binds the design together and celebrates the space.
The FORECOURT: Be it interesting textures, aromatic flowers, visual cues for pleasure of thought, sculptures and artefacts for generating a sense of objectified association with space and last but not the least , the soulful music of the wind chimes, the forecourt offers ENRICHING EXPERIENCE for each of the FIVE SENSES.
The transition
The extended Garden Pathway BRIDGE above Ramp.
The Exposed Concrete PUNCTURED WALL at the ramp overlooking the main road CONNECT the viewer to the outside world in a detached manner.
The Kadamb (Anthocephalus kadamba) trees grown within 3 years create an immediate buffer from main road.
The entrance is flanked by beautiful TAPESTRY OF CURTAIN CREEPERS on either side.
The PARKING under the podium is out of sight once we are inside.
The experience
The orange undertones of the VALSADI teak CONTRASTS with the greenery. Water body and skylight pulled inside the house from the Aangan merge the indoors with outdoors.
Few STONE, METAL and WOODEN ARTEFACTS procured from travels in India such as the deepastambh, metal birds, decorative pots, urali’s , sculptures, ornate brackets, chimes , canoe and tortoise near waterbody placed articulately adorn the landscape gracefully.
The PAVILION is the most popular place by virtue of which one is able to appreciate the house.
The planting
The planting palette is a mix of indigenous varieties and colorful foliage plants that dot the softscape. From edible plants like lemongrass, pudina, tulsi, basil; Fruit trees like chikkoo, banana, lemon, etc., Natives trees of Neem, Kadamb, Bauhinia for shade, Fragrant white flowers of Champa and Jasmines to the colourful bright Jaswands and lotus for sufficing religious requirements wreathe the landscape.
A beautiful HARMONY unfolds as we see the CONVERSATION between these spaces with the elements of nature along with objects of possession. They not just invigorate memory but also stimulate new associations.
Front elevation with the Balcony connecting the Podium Landscape to the STREETSCAPE.
The CAR PARK is located under the podium so there are no vehicles obstructing one’s view – REINFORCING the CONTACT with the GROUND.
Section cut through the Kund.
Drawings & Diagrams
Images
