NATURAL ACRES

  Architect Hiren Patel integrates natural elements with his architectural interventions at Varj Gardens, a private weekend retreat on the outskirts of Ahmedadab.

WHEN VISITORS GAPE IN ENVY at this structure and its lush surroundings, architect Hiren Patel smiles. His mind no doubt rewinding to the first time he and the team form faith Interior Design cell, trudged through a 145-acre piece of land, with little scenic beauty and even less vegetation, but enormous potential. “The plot is situated in Bopal on the outskirts of Ahmedadab, and nobody had touched it for years, as it was a flat land without much flora and fauna. But these facts did not stop the prompters form investing in the property. They wanted us to desing the plot as a retreat township for about 450 individual homes, “explains Patel.

The brief come with a twist: a country cottage with the comforts of a city bungalow. Patel decided to go the Laurie Baker way – to create a captivating fusion of nature and home. “Baker’s creations show great respect for nature… They are peaceful co-existence of nature, man and the structure,” says Patel “I decided on modernism but in a vocabulary that world be substantially richer,” The them turned to Baker for another construction ethic- the building would complement the landscape rather then impose on it. This automatically negated the use of shapes for the sake of fashion or trend. At times, the shape evolved out of the land and at times out of the structure.

Needless to say, the list of building material was a carefully selected one: exposed bricks, slate, kota, Dangadra and concrete. The colours - shades of brown and off-with –would blend with the topography. The gazebo and the open sit-out-the tow outdoor space that are connected to the house –use black flat cudappah pillars clad in kota and wooden rafter to stay true to the main structure. Japanese landscaping – the highlight of Vraj Gardens – transformed what would otherwise have been a dull patch of earth into a treat for the eye and spirit. The house soon had views of graphically arranged boulders, white pebbles lining the pavements and walkways, manicured lawns and neatly tended plants, shrubs and trees, form all angles.

To understand the different functional areas and the interior design, let’s take a leisurely walk through this abode owned by a Bangalore-based software engineer, one of the first occupants of Vraj Gardens. Incidentally, this house also serves as a model for prospective buyers and visitors. “ Though we are designing customized house for most people ,the basic language is the same ,” says the architect. “For this house, we got a free hand. The only demand was to incorporate a jhoola in the house as it is becoming a rarity these days.”

We enter a double – height lobby, where a cut – mirror graphic mural crafted by artist Sushanto Das calls for attention. You will find Sushanto’s work strewn all around the house in the form of paintings on walls, cupboards and even on furniture. Nearby is the pooja area, a serene and non – intrusive space. Here, the sun god blesses the worshipper though the skylight. In fact, natural light is a strong feature of this house… most rooms welcome the rays of the sun with open arms. From the lobby, the house gets divided into tow parts. The first is the front garden and the gazebo. The second section, comprising the informal living-dining space and one bedroom, can be accessed through a sunlit passage. The non –cluttered formal living space features sink-in Bali – style sofas, custom-designed furnishings and a vibrant painting of the greens by Sushanto – the only dash of colour in this off- white room. The gazebo’s proximity to the formal living allows it to be used as an extended ‘socializing’ area, leaving the rest of the house undisturbed.

The pergola – shaded gazebo has formal seating in the form of a low Italian marble-topped center table. Chiks shade it form the ferocity of the mid-day sun. In keeping with the Japanese garden theme, a water – body is placed to the gazebo, The open sit-out, which is a little away from the gazebo, has a raised platform made from cuddapah and casual seating in the from of cane chairs. The passage that connects the formal areas to the private quarters has a glass wall and a skylight, so that people can enjoy the greens and the sunlight even while strolling through the house. This space also exudes an art gallery – look owing to the modern artwork displayed at places. A picture window, monochromatic drapes, low informal seating , laminate flooring and a custom – designed jhoola characterize the informal seating space. Tow narrow niches are used to display accessories on a mosaic shelf. The dining area next to this space is visually connected to the landscape, with just a sliding glass door separating the tow.

The dining space has a contemporary edge. Brushed steel and a PU- coated wooden top make up the dining table, while the chairs are upholstered in brown leather. The kitchen, set close to the dining space, is down up in brushed steel and white laminate. The bedroom which is attached to this space is much talked about for its open – to - the – landscape bathroom.

Rough concrete lines the stairwell that leads to the informal lounge and the tow bedroom on the first floor. The entire first level boasts warm timber flooring. Besides this, gold leaf motifs on walls, cabinets and cupboards and a bench covered by patterns reminiscent of Pop culture, speak of Sushanto,s creativity. The furniture bears the stamp of Bali, with low beds and sleek lines for cabinets and other smaller pieces of seating. The lounge has large throw cushions for informal seating. Louvered windows help control sunlight and also afford a view of the lush landscape. Beaded curtains, a textured yellow ceiling artwork from the Ahmedebad – based lifestyle store Vanilla, are the other desigen highlights here.

The house is a composition of interesting forms, exciting functional spaces and innovative use of indigenous materials. The architects have explored alternative definitions of space and lifestyle that embody contemporary values within an urban setting. The simplistic interiors with their toned – down colour scheme, minimalist displays and large spatial dimensions, enhance the architecture of the house and its landscape. Driving home the fact that simplicity has its own inherent beauty.

While the major patch in the center is kept open as a desert garden. Further across the dining verandah is a kidney shape swimming pool for chilling out.

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