modo designs' curvilinear verandah house fuses with the surrounding indian wilderness

modo designs’ ‘verandah house’ is set on a 4-acre land, located on the outskirts of ahmedabad in western india, having dense flora, a lily pond and an existing vernacular outhouse. the new house has been planned to be a permanent residence away from the city and in midst of the surrounding wilderness. the owner’s initial brief included an aspiration of a house that avoided a rigid box formation, a mention of an outdoors lifestyle, and a dwelling that would be a container for collections of artifacts, paintings, persian rugs, books and ancestral furniture. the proposed design weaves and integrates the aforementioned concerns.

lower verandah comprises the outside dining and living area

indian based firm modo designs presents a fluid curvilinear formation, reinterpreting the imagery of an old ancestral colonial house and also, to reiterate the existing natural formation of the site. the verandah house curves to allow views of the lily pond and simultaneously, generates an element of surprise in the experience of interior space. the entry verandah, lower and upper verandah that comprises a major part of the house are oriented towards the main garden and lily pond. these balconies are 15-feet-cantilevered and hovering spaces that fuse with the surrounding landscape.

the entry verandah, lower and upper verandah are oriented towards the main garden and lily pond

the interior space lavishly opens into these semi open verandah spaces. modo designs’ verandah house is a ground floor structure, comprising the master bedroom and daughter’s room on a higher level. the central spine segregates the living, dining, library and master bedroom on the side that has the main garden and lily pond. the rear bay houses the kitchen, mother’s room and daughter’s room. this area is interspersed with a landscaped entry court and central court that relieves this bay and allows natural light within the house. the central spine is also illuminated by sky lights, creating a contrast with the dark kotah floor.

the house curves to allow views of the lily pond and generates a surprising experience of the interior space

the verandah house is a fusion of raw character of outdoor spaces and the finesse of the interiors. the exterior material palette includes natural jute panels on the curving beam face, valsadi wood paneling and doors, concrete ceilings, terracotta colored rough surface and rough kotah stone flooring. this is further complemented with old renovated wood and cane furniture in the verandah spaces. the interior space in contrast has white walls and polished kotah stone, fusing old and customized new furniture along with lots of artifacts, paintings and persian rugs.

the interior space lavishly opens into these semi open verandah spaces

the interior space in contrast has white walls and polished kotah stone, fusing old and customized new furniture

view of the living room looking towards the library cabinet

looking through the provoking library area

passage towards the upper level bedrooms

the central court relieves the house and allows natural light within

master bedroom is found on the upper verandah 

view from the upper verandah looking towards the lower verandah

living and dining areas seen from the lower verandah

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edited by: apostolos costarangos | designboom