The Brick-Concrete Exteriors and Vaastu-Compliant Interiors Accentuate This Simple Contemporary House in Pune | Alok Kothari Architects

This beautiful 3,600 square-feet-home called ‘The Brick Abode’ is located in the serene Bibvewadi area of Pune, Maharashtra. The client desired a modest house that also makes a statement and comply with Vastu shastra (traditional Hindu science of architecture). The 25-year-old single storey house of the client was in a dilapidated state, and its interiors were gloomy. Alok Kothari Architects decided to bring down the old structure, redesign an aesthetically pleasing and modern house, and explore different ways of architectural expression. The architects shared with SURFACES REPORTER (SR) all the essential features of this family home of five. Take a look:

Also Read: K N Associates Designed A Magnificent Concrete and Brick House in Vadodara

East side view

The house features earthy aestheticians and encompasses four bedrooms and one multipurpose room. 

Multi-purpose room

Brick and Concrete in the Exteriors

To construct a house that is both simple and elegant, the firm did thorough research. Their research took them to the traditional residential typology of Pune – the ‘Wada’ – which was always as simple & elegant and was mostly constructed in exposed brick or basalt stone or both. 

Porch and Entrance Lobby

The firm decided to use brick as it is a reasonable material from the environment as well as a cost perspective. Moreover, the warmth & the aesthetics provided by brick as a material is unmatched. 

Water Spout

The massing of the structure has been kept very subtle & focus has been put on highlighting the materiality of brick. To complement the red colour of the bricks, exposed concrete box windows & weather shades have been introduced. 

Also, the square grid of rough cement finish plaster on the compound wall accentuates bricks. To break the monotony of the brick façade & also to provide privacy, ‘jaali’ (perforated wall in brick) work has been used.

 Brick Perforated Wall

While the material palette (brick & concrete) for the exteriors of the building is carefully chosen to give it a simple, natural & playful look, the interiors also follow a similar approach. The material palette comprising teakwood finish & light colours helps provide a neat, clean & spacious ambience.

Also Read: Iday Design Adds Unrefined Brick Walls, Grey Concrete and Wood to Kai House in Vietnam

Use of Patterns in the Interiors

The main USP of the interior design is the use of ‘patterns’ in defining different spaces. The seed of this once again lies in our study of traditional Indian architecture, where such patterns are evident in floorings, wall carvings, ceilings, etc. 

According to ‘vaastushastra’, such shapes & patterns boosts the energy flow & generates positive vibrations. These positive vibrations are what transform a house into ‘a home’ – an abode. And thus, the house is called ‘The Brick Abode.’        

A Brahmasthan

Study of the site surroundings & the existing structure showed that the main reasons for the existing house being dull & dark were the parking+3 storey bungalow on the east side of the site that was cutting off the morning sun & small opening sizes which didn’t allow enough light to penetrate the house. 

To cater to this issue, the firm decided to anchor all the spaces in the new design to a central ‘sky light’ which would not only draw in light during the entire day but also act as a ‘brahmasthan’ (an important aspect related to ‘vaastushastra’) of the house. Also, having large windows to all the rooms was the logical way forward.  

Also Read: Casa Santina by Argentina-Based Estudio Opaca Is An Open And Bright Brick Home

The Skylight

Two Functional Zones

Along with the norms of ‘vaastushastra’, the larger planning principle used was to divide the house into 2 functional zones – one for the private spaces & the other for the public spaces – along the north-south axis.

The client’s demand of having all the daily necessities in spaces – living, dining, kitchen, pooja room, 2 bedrooms & toilets - on the ground floor was also catered to.

Entrance Lobby and Pooja Room

The living & the kitchen were placed on either side of the central ‘sky light’, below which the magnet of the entire house was placed – the dining area. 

Living and Dining Area

Ferrocrete Staircase

The positioning of an L-type, folded plate, ferrocrete staircase around the dining added a play to this central core.

Dining Area

The living extends onto the outdoor seating area, which hosts a traditional Indian swing that the client had bought from Rajasthan. 

Swing and feature wall

The Kitchen

The kitchen is connected to the utility space at the house's rear side (south side). Continuing the same grid, the first floor is composed of 2 bedrooms, toilets & a multipurpose room.

Parent's Bedroom

Carving out a block from the ground floor grid, provision was made for two car parks next to the entry porch.

Entry Porch

Project Details

Living Room

Brick perforated wall

Low level Seating

Daughter's Bedroom Room

Son's Bedroom

The Living Deck

Terrace - Play of light and shadow

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