extruded volumes form PIXEL HOUSE by the grid architects in india

the inspiration for this villa in ahmedabad, india, came from the most unexpected places – the pixel. designed by the grid architects, PIXEL HOUSE was built for an extended family spanning three generations. with three couples and two children, the scheme had to make room for both privacy and togetherness, resulting in a mixture of quiet spaces for solitude and shared areas that would allow congregations of different sizes.

all images © photographix india

as well as being inspired by the pixel, the house is also rooted in nature, as it intends to embrace the natural conditions and take advantage of views, orientation, and form. to create an understated presence and the appropriate levels of privacy and separation, the architecture was developed by the grid architects as a series of setbacks and stacked volumes to create a stepped form. besides creating small congregational areas, this staggering also gave the design team opportunities to expand the amount of garden space within the internal spaces.

the material application strategy respects this ‘geometricity’, with large areas of seemingly overlapping surfaces featuring natural stone, exposed concrete and paint, a palette which also helps in maintaining the thermal mass. the architectural form explores the idea of sheltered balconies, overhangs and spaces-under-spaces in a bid to allow each room to face the front garden, as a response to the region’s hot, dry climate. the result is a structure that is gently extroverted yet retains enough privacy.

the most emphatic manifestation of the pixel concept is seen at the main entrance, which features an exposed concrete canopy perforated with a series of square cut-outs in varying sizes. the large custom-made lamps that are suspended within this sheltering element echo this effect. the entire composition celebrates arrival, which is intensified by the wonderful play of light and shadow that is enacted through the day.

the internal spatial experience is centred around a feeling of connectedness — to the outside, and also within, through a seamless orchestration of volumes. stepping within, you first encounter a vestibule/lobby, a simple, graceful space that hints at the design narrative within. the visitor is then ‘released’ into the main volume, the highlight of which is the staircase block, lined with exposed brick and crowned by a skylight. the stepped form of the architectural envelope gets mirrored here in a miniature fashion, as a series of stepped planters that lend a sense of security to the railing-less staircase. the greenery makes the upward journey a pleasant one, as the overlapping plants invite you to touch them, creating a pleasurable sensation of walking in a garden.

as with the architecture, material expression in the interiors, too, is minimal and aligned to the natural direction: stone, wood, and exposed brick are teamed with simple lime-plaster. rendering a classic envelope that is then overlaid with contemporary groupings of furniture, art and accessories to create an environment geared for modern living.

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