Excerpt: Tete a Tete, a residence by Nestcraft Architecture, features a humble use of materials and a close connection to nature by opening up the inside to the outside. Natural textures and colors evoke an artful feel throughout the interiors. The residence involves the user with varying personalities of nature while navigating through core ideas of simplicity, minimalism, and sustainable architecture.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by architect] A home on a river side, espoused to the sound of streaming river water,
A home on the pedestal of a peak , worshipping the woods!
‘tete-a-tete’ having a profound hum with mother nature
Clients brief: Mr Alex & Sini, a couple with a kid approached the architects with a need of a 4 bedroom home in which every space should be connected to the exterior environment, they needed to be in tune with the outer world and never wanted an introvert home. They wanted to enjoy and be involved with the varying personalities of nature around the home. They insisted on a no gimmick interior treatment with a very minimal approach. The challenge was to optimize the balance between the comforts of a roof over the head and to be in connection with the outer environment.
Concept note: The land for the home to be designed is located on the bank of a river which changes its nature in the rainy seasons, the water level rises to + 5 m and the plot is surrounded with lush natural vegetation. The design concept was to stay humble in the usage of materials, staying close to nature by opening up the inside to the outside. In one sentence, the idea was to incorporate touch of nature (welcoming breeze inside), sound of nature (streaming water and the woods), view of nature (sunlight in interiors in varying moods according to the different hours of the day).
Design process: The two floored residence in the thickly vegetated area alongside the Western Ghats of India nests 2840 sq.ft. of building area on 24.5 cents of land. The ground floor consists of a covered porch, three bedrooms, living and dining space, a kitchenette and a courtyard. The courtyard, three bedrooms and the living spaces have large windows overlooking the river and capturing the North light, among which the living space is physically opening up to the backyard having natural landscape. The first floors have a large bedroom which is multipurpose in function to use as a guest bed/study room etc. Since the plot is located in a heavy rainfall area the design ensures proper overhangs above all openings and has adopted a straightforward traditional sloped tiled roof structure.
The project explores the balance between sustainable building materials and maximum utility in every sqft. The right mix of least carbon footprint, recyclable, natural materials and passive lighting and ventilation engages visual connection with the surroundings. The interior treatment is having natural textures and colours to deliver an artful feel. Finding the maximum flood level of the area from history and placing the building in such a way that the client can enjoy and be involved with the varying personality of the nature around his home was an intense journey. The architects believe this home named tete-a-tete stays true to its name and navigates through core ideas of simplicity, minimalism and sustainable architecture.
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