MENTION LIVING - INDIVIDUAL
House 55 Coonoor , India
by Ahaladini Sridharan Architects
House 55 rests lightly on top of a hill overlooking expansive views of a valley , formerly part of a tea plantation when this site was converted into a residence one of the key design decisions was to preserve the natural slope of the land . The home is conceived of as transparent floating volumes suspended on slender columns , to have minimum impact on the ground and maximize views to its surroundings . Traditional buildings in the area are generally wrapped with verandahs that are encased in glass to shield from the elements and function as sun rooms . This residence reconceives that idea , and adapts it to its linear steep setting , in the form of three interconnected glass volumes that cascade down following the contours of the site . Entry is at the highest point leading onto a parking deck , from here you step down through the landscape to reach each subsequent block . The First Block functions as primary residence , containing all major functions - living , dining and master bedroom , the Second Block contains the guest rooms , and the Third Block serves as the entertainment areawith TV lounge and deck .
The composite construction of steel beams and concrete slabs allows for a slender combined thickness of 300mm , matching the width of the columns . This structure frames 6x6 metres grids that can be easily adapted based on programme , two cubes come together to form larger spaces such as the living areas , with single cubes forming the bedrooms . Each block is enveloped by glass , the TOPAZE system was employed to provide a framework that was slender enough to be unobtrusive but substantial enough to frame the views .
What emerges is three houses within one , which can either be opened up and expanded when necessary , to host multiple people , or condensed into a compact home for just the principle occupants , saving on energy and maintenance . In this retreat from city life , walls hug the ground , columns merge into tree trunks and glowing boxes nestle into the surrounding vegetation to create an environment that becomes a permanent interweaving of man and nature .
52