Owl House
Nestled between the Aravalli hills of Jaipur, stands a simple house that blends in with
the surrounding landscape. Amongst the tall trees one can see fragments of an earthy
pastel structure quietly staring back at you. The clients weekend home has been
designed keeping in mind its context and climatic conditions. North - south orientation
has been kept for all major openings with slit windows opening in the east and west
directions. The layout of the house works on a simple grid with the front and rear
elevation being symmetrical. The flat façade is broken by veranda niches on the front
and rear with Dholpur Stone box windows cutting through the east and west walls. The
key hole opening of the main entrance is symbolic of the vernacular haveli entrance
design. We enter into a foyer which overlooks a small courtyard with the view of the
forest. The Living and dining space is situated towards the front of the house and the
Main bedrooms towards the rear. Each space opens up onto the outside keeping the
landscape connected with the interiors of the home. Exposed concrete takes over the
interior ceilings with polished Kota stone flooring. All the materials used in the project
have been sourced locally from a 20km radius keeping the house true to its natural
surroundings. The terrace of the house has a small pergola feature made out bamboo
for one to enjoy the surrounding views of the hills and forest.
The elevation of the house has been divided into 3 parts – the heavy base which sits
above the plinth, an offsetted parapet wall that breaks the vertical massing and a
floating pergola which accents the house. Rough plastering wraps around the base
with a beige pink hue complementing the Dholpur stone box windows. A lighter paint
of the same hue has been used on the parapet with smooth plastering. These small
details bring out the simplistic nature of the owl house.
the surrounding landscape. Amongst the tall trees one can see fragments of an earthy
pastel structure quietly staring back at you. The clients weekend home has been
designed keeping in mind its context and climatic conditions. North - south orientation
has been kept for all major openings with slit windows opening in the east and west
directions. The layout of the house works on a simple grid with the front and rear
elevation being symmetrical. The flat façade is broken by veranda niches on the front
and rear with Dholpur Stone box windows cutting through the east and west walls. The
key hole opening of the main entrance is symbolic of the vernacular haveli entrance
design. We enter into a foyer which overlooks a small courtyard with the view of the
forest. The Living and dining space is situated towards the front of the house and the
Main bedrooms towards the rear. Each space opens up onto the outside keeping the
landscape connected with the interiors of the home. Exposed concrete takes over the
interior ceilings with polished Kota stone flooring. All the materials used in the project
have been sourced locally from a 20km radius keeping the house true to its natural
surroundings. The terrace of the house has a small pergola feature made out bamboo
for one to enjoy the surrounding views of the hills and forest.
The elevation of the house has been divided into 3 parts – the heavy base which sits
above the plinth, an offsetted parapet wall that breaks the vertical massing and a
floating pergola which accents the house. Rough plastering wraps around the base
with a beige pink hue complementing the Dholpur stone box windows. A lighter paint
of the same hue has been used on the parapet with smooth plastering. These small
details bring out the simplistic nature of the owl house.
