SUMMER HOUSE
(VIPUL RAJA'S
HOUSE)

Location- Ahmedabad

Built-1993

Area- 7425 sq .m.


      The Summer house is built on the western outskirts of Ahmedabad, the western city of India. The present trend in this city is to build a house in a farm land, developing the outskirts of the city in a totally different way. As a result of this trend all around the city these kind of houses have come up, making the surrounding more green, free from pollution and traffic hazards. Among the elite class of the city this concept of owning a farm house or weekend house is becoming popular as it adds to their prestige in the society and it halps in getting relief from the urban tensions.

       The land for this house was procured by the client, with the intension of living there permanently. The plot had a flat terrain and had no trees in the site. The total plot area is 7425 sq.m. The design of this house was concieved as a summer house, since the climate of Ahmedabad in summer is extremely hot. Open space becomes the vital issue of the design in such climate. Terraces, pavilions and gardens becomes the integral part the house, to give a pleasant and livable environment during day and night. Series of spaces in the entrance area and external spaces, in front of the living room gives heirarchy of spaces. The house is located almost in the centre to get a grand ceremonial drive way before reaching to the enterance pavilion. Living spaces are located on the south and western side to get maximum south west wind. Deep verandahs and less openings on the south and west helps in controlling the harsh Sun. The series of low height wall around the house helps in reducing the scale. Pavilions are used to achieve the monumentality of the house, since the concept of a summer house is inspired by the old summer palaces of india.

       Inside the monumental envelope, the spaces become very humane. The interior spaces are conventionally designed to the needs. The ground floor contains living spaces and two bed rooms and a home theatre. Living room opens in to a verandah and then to an open terrace and subsequently to a garden in the west. The dining space also opens out in the east providing cross ventilation in the living space. The stair is placed centrally together with skylight of the puja room, thus giving a sculptural and dramatic values and at the same time seperates the living, dining and vestibule. Bedrooms are connected to thier individual pavilions to enjoy evenings and nights. The guest bedroom is located on the first floor with another bedroom to give privacy to the guest. Stone aggregates of green and gray colours are used as external finish to merge with the landscape. Internal white colour finish together with few intermediate bright coloured walls to highlight certain elements like staircase, sky light cylinder of puja room etc,.

     The play of light and shadow inside the house, pavilions, courtyards, open terraces and gardens on all the four sides gives the sence of serenity and quiteness which makes the house the most liveable.