ARCHITECTURAL FOCUS
ZEN SPACES
SANJAY PURI ARCHITECTS
Sanjay Puri Architects presents Zen Spaces , a 4-level , 27,000 sqft home located in Jaipur , Rajasthan , India . Blurring the lines between the inside and the outside , Zen Spaces integrates with the existing landscape , screening and allowing filtered light in different ways within each space , infusing volumes with light and shadows to transform differently at different times .
Situated on a relatively large plot , with an existing house on the southern side , the clients wanted a new house since the family had grown larger . Keeping most of the existing garden as a common space for both houses , the new home is built on the extreme northern end , with roads on 3 sides . All existing trees on the site were retained , with the new house ensconced in the clear space between them .
The house is a composition of cuboid volumes punctuated with an open courtyard , built on 4 levels to accommodate three generations living together .
A subterranean level , lit naturally by a sunken courtyard , houses a large lounge , a gym , and service areas . The ground floor and the first floor have living and dining spaces , with three bedrooms and a small lounge located on each level . The second floor features a multipurpose room that opens onto a large north facing terrace .
The circulation spine within the house skirts the courtyard , allowing a visual connection to the landscaped spaces while moving within the house .
Each part of the house is naturally lit , with diffused indirect sunlight permeating the inner volumes . Jaipur city has 8 months of summer with temperatures in excess of 35 ° C , and 4 months of winter with temperatures averaging between 12-21 ° C .
The house is punctuated with a winter deck on the southern side facing the large garden , and a linear summer deck fronting the main living and dining spaces on the northern end . The two decks provide sheltered outdoor seating , usable throughout the year for family gatherings .
In addition , each room opens into its own private outdoor deck , balcony , or terrace , providing individual open spaces for everyone in the house . These outdoor decks act as a shelter from the excessive heat of the summer months , while keeping the inner spaces cooler . The summer decks look out towards the large
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