This u-shaped home surrounds an inner courtyard containing a holly osmanthus that has been cherished for many generations. It is designed to allow the tree to be viewed from any part of the house including the living room, dining room, the front entrance, and Japanese-style room.
The Japanese-style tatami room is planned to be used as a guest room. While it follows certain traditional aspects such as the sizes of the wood used and vertical length of the entranceway, by using as few parts as possible to keep the appearance simple, the aim is for one’s gaze to naturally be drawn to the greenery beyond the window to the right of the tokonoma (alcove). To maintain a dignified look, electronic equipment is functional yet kept discreet by integrating it into the architecture.
The living area is designed for the family’s daily activities. It is created with finishing and details that give a sense of “softness” to accommodate the everyday life. The vicinity around the open ceiling is designed to be the gathering area for the family to relax, play, cook and dine in. The screen used for watching movies for fun was successfully and sleekly concealed by using a combination of wood and steel.
Respecting ancestors, cherishing the present, and connecting to the future.
Imparting the message of austerity into the free and flexible living space of today.
Materials used for the finishing are diatomite, marble flour, washi (Japanese paper made of grass and tree fibers) wallpaper, and solid wood. Insulation is made with cellulose fiber. By using natural materials throughout the building, a healthy environment has been created.
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From the architect. Designed as a ‘Retreat within Retreat’, the 20,000 Sqft spa block is a new ‘insert’ at a well-known Yoga Retreat in Indiathat offers spectacular layers of spaces and experiences.
The Architectural Vision is planned as a sustainable model, focusing strongly on the connect of man in the realm of nature. The main block disappears into the earth and is half submerged to connect to the isolating quality of the earth, with the light and air movement planned from a series of sunken courts. The approach to the main area slowly opens up a plethora of spaces which are programmatically planned to suit the smooth spatial transitions of the guests.
The entire feel is organic with natural light washing the exposed walls and ceilings with a spectacular play of light and shadows. The spaces are further held together with a strong design language of Hand crafted jaali screens, solid wood doors and openings which merge the interior and exteriors, quite literally.
The Guest Lounge area opens up to a Central Court with water body on one side, and to a Sunken Court on the other. Private Consultation rooms are part of the main spaces, but are silently tucked away beside the water body.
The spa block is seen as a semi-detached sequence that utilizes the adaptive approach with each unit fitted to the purpose it serves. Each spa room (measuring upto 600 sqft) is positioned to offer spectacular views of the site / surroundings, whilst concealing the guests from the outside with local exposed brick jaali works as the shell. The structure’s porous cell conceals a softer environment inside and the private open to sky lounge spaces (for after treatment relaxation) bringing in natural daylights into all spaces. With the spa offering an array of treatment options with the 10 massage rooms, one can experience the holistic Ayurveda treatments based on age-old therapies, or choose from the Oriental and western offerings from the menu.
The landscape merges the geometry of network of the surrounding paths to form break-away spaces for the guests to lounge. These buffer zones create smooth transitions from the exterior, to semi covered spaces, and also offer a beautiful play of light.
With each block growing from the sunken gardens into the sky, often blending into a series of greens, the organic approach seamlessly fuses the inherent sense of lightness expected from a space so serene. The feel is further exaggerated on the upper level, in the 2000 sqft Meditation and Yoga pavilion, with large openings on the east, allowing natural sunlight to create a powerful setting for the Yoga sessions at sunrise. The Large Pavilion opens up further to a series of private Yoga and Meditation Spaces offering beautiful varied settings using the natural play of light and shadows of the sun against the roof jaali’s / screens.
Sig Nordal 