Reconfiguring home

This project is focused on the understanding of Typology in Design and its intrinsic relationship to Spatial Patterns of Life and Living and Material Phenomenologies. The site chosen for field study includes historic settlements, which have evolved from settled social, cultural and climatic forces over years and have a coherence in architectural form. The objective of the project is attuned to understand settlements and intervene in them through an understanding of type, spatial patterns, material assemblies and phenomenological readings.

Settlement -

Sinnar -

This settlement is situated in a small town called Sinnar in Nashik city which has a great history of King Fattehsingh. So, around the palace, all the traders around the town started coming for their business and eventually they bought the land and started living there. That is how the road started to develop and later it was called ‘ PETH ‘.

The palace was demolished in 2000 and later a builder constructed commercial buildings on the land. Half of the land is still kept open and that is used by the people living in the settlement for community gathering space and parking.

There are houses and shops on both sides and the road is about 15 ft wide. All the houses in the settlement are mercantile houses built with similar logic and construction. There are shops at lane fronts and old wada' s at the rear.

Type study -

Moving forward into individual house type study, this house belongs to Khivansara family and it's a mercantile house type. They bought this house about 80 years ago and before that they were living in another small village in the town. There is a grocery shop on the ground floor which is the only source of income for the family. The house was initially constructed of stone, bricks and wood. In 2004, the house was renovated on a small scale and only the flooring was changed and some furniture was added. Otherwise, the structure is exactly the same as before.

These sections show how half of the space is for staircase and then half space is for circulation and storage. On first floor, the entry for the space is underneath the staircase. Also, it is showing the use of wall niches and how the things are stored in them.

After entering the house, there is a shop first and a godown space ahead. There is a large utility space with a toilet and bathroom in it. On the first floor, the living room and kitchen are the most active and lively spaces. All the activities which happen throughout the day are mostly over here. On the second floor, there two bedrooms and storage spaces. This is the most inactive part of the house which is used mostly for sleeping.

The first wall section show the sidewall of the house. The half of the wall of the ground floor is built of stone and all other walls with brick, As this wall is 2 feet thick, there are niches created inside it, And the front wall is comparatively thin about 230 mm with wooden frames and windows in it.

Patterns and Phenomenological readings -

Closed staircase in between two thick walls

Void on floor for communication

Interconnected spaces

Open and live courtyards in between two wada' s

Diagrams and logic of existing structure -

Plans of existing structure

Space division throughout the house

( Red - Utility, Blue - Shop, Green - Living space )

Placement of staircase and utility space exactly above each other

( Red - Utility, blue - Staircase)

All three floors has similar logic of spaces. There is a large space and then a staircase and again a large space and utility at the end

Patterns to retain on Ground floor -

Interconnected shop godown

Attached toilet

Patterns to retain on the first floor - Ventilation Void on floor

Interconnected spaces

Patterns to retain on Second floor -

Efficient use of wall niches

Walkway making circulation easier

Design intervention -

Going floor by floor, in the ground floor, the ventilation is to be improved, to change utility space and the openings are south faced which directly are directly exposed to heat. So in our design, the large utility space is converted to a varandah so that there will be natural light in godown as well and then another entrance can be added from there. Windows will be there on each of the walls for cross ventilation.
On the first floor, For reconfiguration, the dining space should be used efficiently, and the same issue of opening is exposed to heat. For that, a cantilever space with similar logic to the existing wall is added to the living space so that it acts as a double wall for direct heat. And there will be sitting and storage space inside that. Then, the kitchen is shifted forward and above the varandah, there will be a balcony attached to the kitchen. And also the pattern of interconnected kitchen and living space is retained over here.
Then, on the second floor. For reconfiguration, the south faced openings, storage spaces and to provide utility space. So exact same cantilever space is added. The partition walls of rooms and storage space are removed to make them one whole space. Attached balcony for the room is made for a light opening.
As the idea of open space is completely missing in the house and there is limited free space inside, the terrace becomes a very active space. therefore the terrace can be converted into a garden and the different levels in between could be used for different activities. Some of the part will be semi covered for gatherings.

The cantilevered space has small balconies overlooking the road. The balconies at back will also have sittings and gardening space. And as this space is 2 feet, it won't disturb street activities a lot. To go to the terrace, a staircase with similar logic is added. Also all the wall niches are changed and enlarged according to their use.

In the existing elevation, the windows of all the houses are creating an aesthetic in itself. They have similar logic and construction material. Also as there are shops on the ground floor, they have window cum door openings. The first floor are common family spaces which also have large windows so that when they are opened, the whole room itself acts as a balcony. But, as there is private space on the last floor, the window size is decreased gradually with double shutters

So, the cantilever space will have this same logic so that this existing rhythm to surrounding houses will be followed. And these openings will have wooden frames and windows to retain its original quality. As it is cantilever space, wooden structure will be appropriate as its lighter than brick construction.

Final design -

This volumetric drawing indicates all the reconfigured and new elements highlighted. The cantilever space, new staircase and the balconies are the main redesigned elements.

Even though many elements have been added and changed, the logic of buildings hasn't changed at all. Even the cantilever space which is added follows the pattern of the existing structure.

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