The Sun Worshipper

May 29, 2015June 3, 2015

The Skewed House created by Lijo.Reny.architects at Palakkad district in Kerala is an ode to the sun god. Here, space and light form the basic elements which are articulated in a highly sculptural manner, enclosing volumes which are dynamic and transcendental.

- Lijo Jos and Reny Lijo 01 copy — Architects Reny Lijo and Lijo Jos

Architecture, at its very best, celebrates life. It is a measure of joy in living, brought out through spaces which are evocative and never static… constantly reflecting the inherent flux in nature. It is often a quest for simplicity and serendipity, qualities which are rare to articulate, qualities which then are overlooked for brash, loud interpretations and complexities. The Skewed House by Lijo.Reny.architects headed by the talented duo Lijo Jos and Reny Lijo is a true reflection of the power of architecture to create spaces which transcends mundane notions and trivialities to elevate and celebrate the sense of being.

01 - Exterior Day c01 copy — The Skewed House evolved from the tight residential skewed plot it is set in. The unusual form of the house is dictated primarily by its internal volumes. The architects also took inspiration from the low lying Western Ghats of the town it is located in… Palakkad. Together, the abstraction of the mountains and the skewed nature of the plot, helped in deriving a vocabulary which was unapologetically contemporary in essence — and one which reflected the owners aspirations and attitude.

A skewed plot, set in a tight residential fabric in Palakkad in Kerala (which is known for its blistering dry heat all year round and the powerful winds blowing across the opening in the western ghats), was the physical context which had to be addressed. The spatial manifestation of this evolved as a volumetric composition of spaces set against the alluring backdrop of the distant mountain range. This abstraction of the mountains when combined with the skewed nature of the plot, helped in deriving a vocabulary which was unapologetically contemporary in essence, yet, one which respected the immediate context and also one which was a reflection of the attitudes of the busy doctor couple and their two kids for whom the house was designed.

07 - Formal Living c02 copy — In the living room, clean-lined sofas (with a pop of yellow on one) and chairs and the custom-designed Corian coffee table with stainless steel inserts, along with the yellow rug contrasts beautifully with the greenery outside.

Strong lines and forms are juxtaposed on a visual plane, which perceptually evolves as one moves forward. The approach is carefully orchestrated — the angular forms are very subtle at a distance, merging into the residential fabric of the by-lane almost un-perceptibly. These gradually rise up and reveal themselves as one move further towards the house, where, at a particular point the three-dimensional abstractions of volumes are revealed perfectly against the mountainous backdrop. Scale then comes into play, there is a perceived sense of monumentality which is resolved into a more intimate scale by the careful juxtaposition of elements — it is at once monumental and
yet, welcoming.

15 - Family Living i03 copy — The staircase and the upper bridge connecting the other two bays are oriented on the opposite side, towards the external car porch, creating a buffer on the external side. The double heighted informal living space forms the heart of the composition and extends out onto a stimulating open to sky court.

The entry sequence is informal, leading one past a small court with a frangipani, to a simple glass door enclosed foyer, which has a very open feel. The formal living area is deliberately set off towards the outer periphery of the plot as a semi-public zone. An angular open to the sky court is defined by the external boundary wall, which opens up and brings in natural light and greenery to the pristine white formal living space. This space has a split level ceiling with a large opening to the east, which is carefully screened with a custom designed aluminium screen that lets in the beautiful morning light. The furniture is minimal and contemporary (— clean-lined with white upholstery) and a custom designed coffee table in white Corian with stainless steel inserts contrasting beautifully with the greenery of the open-to-sky court.

13 - Pooja a03 copy — The pooja room is set next to a buffer space which affords views of the soothing greens.

The spaces of the house are juxtaposed as three principal bays which are layered with open spaces in between to address the microclimatic considerations, creating volumes which are bathed in natural light and ventilation. These bays are organized around an open-to-sky central court, which ensures a constant movement of air through the spaces all year round. The private zones of the house are a sequence of dynamic spatial compositions which open out onto variously scaled internal courtyards.

19 - Cental Court d03 copy — A view of the central courtyard where interesting sciagraphies are witnessed through the day. Light as an element is orchestrated in a highly restrained manner in this minimalist abode.

The dining space to which one enters from the foyer defines the entry to the private zones of the house. The space is simple, with one side defined by a very large window which has an interesting built-in window seat — a comfortably proportioned platform looking out onto the dense greenery outside. The space is made interesting by the split level ceiling with a large opening to the west, which is carefully screened with custom designed aluminium screens to catch the play of the evening sunlight and the soft breeze. This northern bay houses the foyer, the formal living area, the dining spaces, powder room, kitchen and related functional spaces like the store and work area.

The buffer space between the northern and central bays of the house is a layer of landscaping which continues out onto the central open to sky court. Here, offset from the connecting passage is a monolithic block of granite, which marks the pooja space. A simple Ganesha idol sits atop this monolithic pedestal. The black granite of the pedestal is continued on the floor, as an extension, out onto the open court in front. The monolithic block of granite is in fact an intelligently designed storage space in plywood, which is then clad with granite, for keeping materials like matchboxes, oil, etc — little gestures, which elevate the functionality of the space.

09 - Dining a01 copy — The dining space is simple and is set next to a very large window with a built-in window seat.

The central bay contains the dynamic family living space which opens out onto the vibrant open-to-sky court. The staircase and the upper bridge connecting the other two bays are oriented on the opposite side, towards the external car porch, creating a buffer on the external side. The double heighted informal living space forms the heart of the composition and extends out onto a stimulating open courtyard. This space is deliberately set off from the entry bay to increase privacy. White Barcelona chairs are contrasted with a vibrant yellow coffee table finished in Corian and a custom designed TV console, adding a touch of delicate sophistication.

10 - Kitchen a03 copy — The kitchen and work area is also privy to the outdoor greens and follows the contemporary feel of the house through its materials and modular furniture.

One of the main elements of the house is the interestingly detailed out staircase, an interplay between the solidity and permanence of the Kota stone finished lower portion of the stair and the ethereal lightness of the suspended stainless steel upper flight of stairs. The 3 mm thick stainless steel plates fold around minimalistically to create a delicately precise flight, which when combined with the ceiling suspended glass railings, create an illusion of floating in space. Sound further adds another tactile dimension to the space through variations created by changes in the material — the lightness of the footfall on steel contrasted with the solidity of stone treads.

10 - Kitchen e05 copy — The kitchen uses white quartz for the counter top and dado. The cabinets sports lacquered shutters with laminated plywood internals.

The southern bay houses the bedrooms and the toilets on both the floors and is buffered from the central zone by a layer of covered open space. The masterbed on the ground floor features a set of sliding doors which define the transparent front plane which further opens out onto the central court through an intimate private patio. This covered patio serves as the spill-out space for the bedroom and also houses a small workout area, one which is set amidst the clean open greenery for a rejuvenating experience. The southern side of the master bedroom is defined by layers of narrow horizontal slit windows which run through the entire length of the wall. These linear fenestrations keep out the harsh southern sun while allowing plenty of natural ventilation inside the bedroom and further ensure privacy from the dense residential fabric on the southern side. All the bedrooms feature built-in cots finished in white Corian with neat SS trims, creating floating platforms.

21 - Master Bedroom b04 copy — The master bedroom is placed on the ground floor and features a set of sliding doors which leads you onto the central court through an intimate covered private patio.

The house is deliberately introverted, as a response to the need for privacy in a dense neighborhood fabric, and also as a climatic gesture to provide refuge from the high temperatures prevalent throughout the year. The spaces unabashedly opens out onto internal courtyards which become the loci of the composition, creating a sense of continuity from the inside to the outside. These open volumes are integral to the conception of this house and form the ever present backdrop to all the spaces, with the landscaping adding vibrancy and life to the ambience and also aiding in the microclimatic control of the space, resulting in a beautifully ventilated space, which is much cooler than the
outside temperatures.

21 - Master Bedroom f03 copy — A spill-out space in the master bedroom also houses a small workout area — set amidst the clean open greenery for a rejuvenating experience.

Volumes are manipulated and spaces sculpted to modulate the spatial experience in each area. Thus there are careful variations in heights and volumes, creating subtle transitions from a low height intimate passage which opens out onto double height volumes, amplifying the psychological impression that this sequencing generates. This, combined with the careful placement of windows on the double height, allowing beautiful natural light to filter in to the spaces, creates a very uplifting spatiality which keeps varying with the different moods of the day.

22 - Master Bedroom Toilet a04 copy — A green patch finds its way inside the master bathroom too.

Light as an element is orchestrated in a highly restrained manner, creating spaces where sometimes the light filters in indirectly along a double height wall, while sometimes; there is an explosion of natural light which is focused directly onto a wall which forms a screen for the magnificent choreography of emotions to play out. The fourth element of time is manifested in the changing moods of the day which are projected onto the various walls through carefully orchestrated openings. Patterns add another dimension to this manipulation of light. Patterns from the overhead grills are in a perpetual state of fluidity, adding a dash of dynamism to the pristine spaces. It is almost as if the planes of the house form a backdrop for the beauty of nature, in its inherent variations, be amplified onto. The stainless steel grill on top of the open courtyard has been detailed out to catch the strong sun, projecting beautiful abstract patterns onto the wall planes. The dynamism is brought in by the constant variations created by the varying sun paths.

23 - Kids Bedroom e03 copy — A Zen-like garden with black pebbles and bamboo plants is placed next to the well-lit and ventilated children’s room.

The spaces are well detailed out with careful consideration paid to the minutest element. The understanding that even subtle variations can have a huge impact on the spatial and tactile quality has influenced the design process to address each and every aspect of the space. The relatively minimalistic colour schemes and design sensibilities are made interesting through small gestures — the interestingly designed light fixtures, concealed linear LED strips inserted into the walls, continuing from the walls to the ceilings, dashes of yellow as an accent colour which contrasts beautifully with the white, all adding additional layers to the spatial ambience.

The functional and conceptual clarity of the design, articulated through a well-defined aesthetic sensibility creates spaces which are dynamic and beautiful; one which is never static but is evolving constantly. Simple clean lines, volumetric variations, beautifully refined colour schemes, attention to detail and the close integration of interiors and exteriors, all combine to create a highly refined and lovely space, one which is a joy to live in.

CONCEPT
To design a house for a very busy doctor couple and their two kids. They wanted a form that was not familiar in Kerala… one that reflects their adventurous and bold attitude to try something radically new. Necessarily, a place they can unwind after a hectic day at work.

MATERIALS
Structure Load-bearing brick masonry and reinforced concrete in plastered and painted finish Landscaping External landscape is minimal with turfed surface and basic planting and the internal courtyards are treated in tropical minimalism Interior walls Plastered brick masonry, emulsion paint Interior floors Polished kota and black lapato-finished granite Doors Flush doors in a combination of automotive paint and laminate Windows Aluminium sliding and casement systems Furniture Center table (white Corian on plywood structure and SS flats), dining table (SS box sections and glass), cot (white Corian on plywood with a MS frame and SS flats for trim), study tables, counters, cabinets (white Corian on plywood structure with lacquered glass shutters and laminated plywood internals) Bathrooms A combination of leather finished kota, white quartz and mirror Kitchen White quartz for the counter and dado, lacquered shutters and laminated plywood internals Passageways Black lapato-finished granite

FACT FILE
Project The Skewed House Location Palakkad, Kerala Clients Dr Praveen and Dr Sona Total area 540.66 sq mtrs Built up area 4,568 sq ft Principal architects Reny Lijo and Lijo Jos

Some more images…

This family living space is deliberately placed away from the entry bay to maintain privacy.

The mood of the house is set right at the outset… a ribbed no-nonsense gate greets you at the entrance.

The stainless steel grill on top of the open courtyard catches the strong sun and projects beautiful abstract patterns onto the walls.

The floating staircase is created by 3 mm thick stainless steel plates and ceiling suspended glass railings.

The dining table with a series of skewed legs in stainless steel, delicately balances a glass top.

Concealed linear LED strips inserted into the walls continue from the walls to the ceilings adding a dash of yellow to the contrasting white of the walls.

The outside world plays peek-a-boo with the house through strategically positioned cut-outs in the shell of the house.

Light play: A fiery sun leaves interesting patterns on the floor of the entrance gate.

At night, a subtle lazer-cut nameplate with LED inserts announces the residents of the house.

The architects heightened the spatial experience of the house intelligently. Note the careful variations in heights and volumes, creating subtle transitions from a low height intimate passage which opens out onto double height volumes.

An arresting feature is set next to the informal living area — a suspended stainless steel staircase.

The dining space is simple and is set next to a very large window with a built-in window seat.

This space is deliberately placed away from the entry bay to maintain privacy.

The family living space which opens out onto the vibrant open to sky court is accommodated in the central bay.

A monolithic block of granite defines the sacred space with a single Ganesha idol set on a pedestal. The black granite of the pedestal is continued on the floor, as an extension, out onto the open court in front.

The minimally-designed work area next to the kitchen.

The pristine white formal living area is designed as a semi-public zone. The angular open to the sky court placed next to this space brings in natural light and greenery. The split level ceiling with a large opening to the east is clearly visible here. The openings are screened with a custom designed aluminium screens.

Note the cut-outs on the facade walls which allow the residents an easy connect with the outdoors.

The entrance is consciously designed as an informal space — a small court with a frangipani leads one to a simple glass door enclosed foyer, which has a very open feel.

The angular forms of the architecture are very subtle at a distance but blends beautifully into the residential fabric of the by-lane.

A beautiful night shot of The Skewed House.

In the children’s room white Corian built-in cots with well-detailed stainless steel trims create a floating platform look. The study table also has a straight-lined disposition.

Architect Lijo Jos, Architect Reny Lijo, Contemporary, Kerala, Lijo.Reny.architects, minimalist, Palakkad, The Skewed House, Trishur