India-based architecture practice BandukSmith Studio has designed ‘Shoonya’, a house for a young family in Gujarat, India. Perched on the boundaries between the town and ample farmlands, the result sees a brick-clad structure made to resist the extreme weather conditions found at the site.

Despite the robustness of its envelope, the interior spaces are not compromised on transparency and brightness. Instead, a series of perforations and various scales of cutouts pierce the façades providing the house with certain openness.all images by Vinay Panjwani

In addition to bringing natural lighting into the space, the openings form semi-outdoor spaces to maximally preserve the green charm of the site all the while protecting its inhabitants from the harsh elements. For the construction, the architecture studio sought to add elements of local tradition that come into play, making the project more intimate and authentic. Thus, the structure balances experimental design methods with neighborhood practices and locally available building skills, materials, and knowledge.

In practice, the protective house employs thick walls, insulated slab strategies, and smartly controlled openings to shield its inhabitants from the hot summer sun. The plan is based on solar design strategies, following a south orientation. Hence, the closed mass is set on the south and open terraces on the northern side. Meanwhile, the house is powered through solar panels installed on the terrace. Construction-wise, ‘Shoonya’ follows a combined building system, with load-bearing external walls and an internal frame structure.

For ‘Shoonya’, the design team utilized various materials and positioned the cutouts strategically to create an interplay between solid and gap, light and shadow. By doing so, the sun casts a dimmed light through the perforations enlivening the interior surfaces. Its exterior adopts a color palette of earthy tones: materials like exposed brick jaali (screen) façades, steel frame fenestrations, and terrazzo flooring are paired with plastered walls in salmon hue.

As for the interior, the architects modeled the spaces in lime plastered walls to generate a breezy yet intimate space, while furniture and fabricated staircase bring in some splashes of liveliness and eccentricity. Overall, the project exudes an inviting atmosphere, where the family members can interact, unwind and enjoy the view.

exposed brick jaali (screen) façade cast natural light inside

semi-outdoor terraces create cozy spaces with a sense of coolness

a combination of earthy tones

steel frame fenestrations in salmon shade

lead architects: Sachin Bandukwala, Melissa Smith

team: Nabajyoti Dutta Choudhury, Hiral Kandoi, Mudit Tikmani

structural consultant: StrucArt Design Consultants

gross built up area: 340 sqm

flooring: KG tiles glass: Sanjari glass enterprise aluminium window sections: Torfenster wall finish: ziky plaster – lakhan rathod light fixtures: Philips wood: Teak, Indian rosewood photography: Vinay Panjwani

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