The Old House

I was working on the "Old House" situated in Dahisar Village, Palghar district. This 117-year-old house is maintained by a solitary elderly resident. Adjacent to the house lies an ancient wooden workshop and a flour mill. Despite alterations in the workshop and mill over the years, the house remains unchanged. Initially a cowshed in 1929, the adjacent space later transformed into a wine shop in 1984, and presently serves as both a flour mill and workshop.

Evolution of the place adjacent to the house 

Observations:

Throughout the day, individuals of different age groups utilize various spaces. The elderly resident predominantly occupies the hall, bedroom, kitchen, and verandah. Children utilize the verandah and the alley between the house and workshop while commuting from school to home. Certain areas within the house, such as the workshop and two rooms, remain unused and neglected. Notably, the verandah wall serves as a social barrier, impacting neighborhood interaction. Despite this, the verandah remains a gathering spot for afternoon chats, particularly among children, who engage with the elderly resident through storytelling.

Intent

 Recognizing the increased interaction among children and neighbors in the verandah space, the aim was to establish an area conducive to children's play, learning, and participation in various activities. Additionally, the goal was to provide a space where community members could gather for small-scale gatherings and meetings occurring in the village. The objective behind constructing this structure was to eliminate the old workshop and flour mill, replacing them with a contemporary  facility catering to the needs of children and the local community.

Design Process: 

1. Commencing the construction, a courtyard was constructed  at the heart of the site for social gatherings and meetings, with surrounding areas planned for various activities to enhance livability for both people and children.

2. To counter the intense sunlight from the south, a substantial 6-meter wall was erected along the courtyard's southern perimeter.

3. Subsequent revisions saw the continuation of the expansive wall around all three sides, now punctured to allow softer lighting.

4. In response to the structure's growing rigidity and its constraint on movement, the courtyard was expanded and programs were developed around it. The wall was then opened in line with the design concept, and exploration of the intersections formed by the walls ensued.

Process Drawings 

Process Models: 

Plan 

Sections 

Model