Surface Design Awards – Complete

• EXTERIOR SURFACE OF THE YEAR - NEW
  This is a new category that recognises wall and surface design products including decorative, creative and inventive surfaces for the exterior of building including both commercial and residential properties.

A small, intimate weekend home situated near Ahmedabad that celebrates materiality and relationship between the manmade and the natural - reducing carbon footprints. We used earthy, local materials, shaped and worked by local hands, to build this modest retreat. The surroundings were left largely undisturbed while building this ecologically sensitive accommodation.
The ethos
The dwelling is a home to a couple who were desirous of a space that would reconcile privacy with transparency and possess a strong connection to the outside. The key to this project was to build the home around nature instead of weaving nature into the home.
There is consideration for the environment, as well as the consciousness that a weekend home should offer you an experience that is fundamentally different from a routine one.
Natural and raw materials were the primary medium through which this guiding principle was articulated. In addition to the organic envelope, the building features waterbodies and is surrounded by local species of insect repellent plants — thus developing its own micro ecosystem. The programme and planning were also driven by this objective for communing with nature. WE MINIMISED THE BUILT-FORM — which was designed as a shelter for essential activities, so that most of the day was spent outside.

The setting / green
The site is surrounded by large local mature trees that act as natural sun-breakers, shading all the pathways and the periphery of the home. These provide shelter and sustenance to a variety of birds and small fauna, encouraging biodiversity. We consciously stayed away from fragmenting the overall landscape with compound walls/boundaries and the home relies on the natural boundaries created by the vegetation for a notion of privacy.
The architectural formalization
The built-form is articulated as a modest single-storey H-shaped block that impinges upon the visual surroundings very gently. The plinth is raised by two feet to provide a small vantage point. The envelope uses locally sourced yellow stone for the foundation as well as the construction — thus its name, Rock House.
Aligned to the central philosophy of the project, the one-foot-thick stone walls retain the material’s original raw form both inside and outside and dispense with any sort of cosmetic layering. The floor-to-ceiling glazing strengthens the home’s connection with nature, making its play of seasons, light and shadows an intimate part of the internal experience. The living spaces are column-free to allow an unobstructed view of the surroundings. The stone and glass facade act as a bridge that links the home to the green landscaping.
The south-west orientation of the house, coupled with the shade provided by these trees, ensures that the outdoor areas are largely protected from the harsh summer sun.
“The trees are all native species,” says co-founder Snehal Suthar. “We studied the local area and selected the kind of trees that will attract biodiversity.” Indeed, the plot is thriving with birds, butterflies, rabbits, mongooses—and even turtles have come into the lily ponds at the entrance.
The internal programme
The programme tries to balance contrarian traits, with spaces for solitude and congregation, sound and silence. The layout comprises two staggered bays, connected by a small passage. Sequentially, one bay accommodates the entry, the washrooms and the master room; the other is an integrated living/dining/kitchenette volume. This orchestration allows the main spaces to remain open on at least two side, capitalising on the surroundings. The interstitial gaps between the two bays, and indeed, the rest of the plot, are landscaped and flanked by small waterbodies on both sides, that segue into green pockets of the patio and an open-air garden. One side, the living room flows into a patio cocooned by plants, featuring sit-outs. On the other side, it continues into a dining area and a pantry-like kitchen.
The aesthetic direction
The interiors reflect the owner’s affinity to nature and meticulous detail and simplicity. The strong interior spaces whose beauty lies beyond cosmetic overlays. These have been then fitted with simple, need-based furniture and décor tied together by earthy colours and organic materials such as reclaimed jute. All interior elements have been locally sourced and do not challenge the spaciousness or minimalism of the rooms in any way.

The house becomes a climate conscious and humane architecture, which is based on the existence and survival of human life on increasingly crowded and congested earth without abandoning the side of humanity, which becomes a big architecture agenda

completion date: 01/ 02/ 2021
TOTAL cost construction and interior is 50 lakhs / 60028.50 $ / 49353.03 £

The key here is the use of a single Sustainable material Yellow local stone. Biophilic Design uses these ideas as principles to create a human centric approach that when applied improves many of the spaces that we live and work in today, with numerous benefits to our health and well-being. The envelope uses locally sourced yellow stone for the foundation as well as the construction — thus its name, Rock House.
Ceiling: exposed concrete
THE MATERIAL USED IS DEVELOPED AS AN INTEGRAL PART AND NOT JUST APPLIED. THE STONES USED IN CONSTRUCTION PRESERVE THEIR NATURAL TEXTURE AND COLOR. Aligned to the central philosophy of the project, the one-foot-thick stone walls retain the material’s original raw form both inside and outside and dispense with any sort of cosmetic layering
The living room features a woollen rug from Bhadohi, renowned as India's 'Carpet City' in Uttar Pradesh. Locally sourced bamboo lamps. MS structural columns wrapped with locally woven rope, antique wooden columns from Mysore provide rustic charm. The sofa is crafted from reclaimed pine wood, and the center table, originally from Nagaland, serves as a paddy crop drying platform. The bed combines MS and reclaimed pine wood. The leather-finished kotah stone flooring is locally sourced, and native tree species were planted to promote biodiversity and support local flora and fauna. Natural and raw materials were the primary medium through which this guiding principle. The building features waterbodies and is surrounded by local species of insect repellent plants — thus developing its own micro ecosystem

Sustainability
1. We used earthy, local materials, shaped and worked by local hands, to build this modest, private retreat. All the materials are in their original finish without any cosmetic overlay.
2. Natural stone is an energy efficient and climate responsive material choice. The arrangement of the stone in the masonry walls reflected the volumetric aspects also in vernacular constructive techniques creating dialogues with the architecture and interior. Stone is natural and durable, emits no VOCs, requires almost no maintenance, and provides a connection to the earth and our history.
3. The retention of the trees on site and keeping in mind the southwest the layout was fixed. House was planned on the periphery of the southwest and the ¾ part of the plot was unbuilt was kept in the inner sanctum so that the shadow of the house would keep it cool. Thus, the client’s requirement fulfilled of wanting to use the outdoors more
4. The micro ecology of the waterbodies, natural local special of plants and koi fish build their own eco system.
5. Throughout the home, openable fully glazed windows usher in breeze warm sunlight and fresh air, adding to the human health.
6. The interior spaces (master suite and main living area) are flanked on all sides by green pockets alternately and are visually and physically linked to the central courtyard, which is larger than the built space, underscoring again the philosophy of being one with nature.
7. The living spaces are column-free to allow an unobstructed view of the surroundings.
8. The site is surrounded by large local mature trees that act as natural sun-breakers, shading all the pathways and the periphery of the home. These provide shelter and sustenance to a variety of birds and small fauna, encouraging biodiversity. We consciously stayed away from fragmenting the overall landscape with boundaries and the home relies on the natural boundaries created by the vegetation for a notion of privacy. Air-purifying plants improve CO2 levels in indoor spaces whilst adding natural beauty, restoring concentration levels and having a calming and peaceful effect.
9. The SOUTH-WEST orientation of the house, coupled with the shade provided by these trees, ensures that the outdoor areas are largely protected from the harsh summer sun.
“The trees are all native species,” “We studied the local area and selected the kind of trees that will attract biodiversity.” Indeed, the plot is thriving with birds, butterflies, rabbits, mongooses—and even turtles have come into the lily ponds at the entrance.
10. Natural sandstone is actually a very eco-friendly building material. No chemicals are used in the production or processing of sandstone, so it creates pretty much no chemical waste. All water used in producing the stone can be recycled and reused.
11. It has a relatively low carbon footprint as it uses a very small percentage of the energy needed to create man-made stone like concrete or brick.
12. Natural Finishes in a variety of textures the material’s innate environmentally friendly properties, add to these the timeless benefits of sandstone, including its durability, strength and slip resistance, as well as its continuing increase in value over time, sandstone proves itself as a versatile and useful stone.
13. As a building material, stone has many structural, design and environmental advantages over other building materials. It gives greater soundproofing qualities, offers fire protection both requirements under the Building Regulations and s resistant to water damage and offers increased energy efficiency through thermal mass. It has considerable strength and is very durable and has long life low maintenance costs. Stone for centuries has been pivotal to our heritage, society and sustainable communities.
14. A screen of stone columns was created between the living / dining wall and the main wall with a central courtyard embedded encompassing of local species of plants like green tea etc. which also act as insect repellent plants. Thus, casting shadows and yet creating a visual appeal. Controlled sunlight

1. Stone Construction Challenges: Constructing the house's foundation and walls using natural stone presented numerous challenges. The
considerable self-weight of the stones demanded meticulous attention during construction.
2. Size and Thickness Variations: Another complexity arose from the natural stones' variations in size and thickness, necessitating a systematic
approach to ensure uniformity in the walls.
3. Organic Design Aesthetic: The house's organic look came from the stone's integrity, enhancing strength and ensuring long-lasting property.
4. Sustainable Stone Choice: The use of indigenous natural stone aligned with sustainability goals, as it is a low-carbon building material compared
to other construction materials.
5. Carbon Impact Considerations: While carbon impacts were associated with stone processing and transportation, it's worth noting that quarrying
and processing sandstone and granite are relatively less energy-intensive than other materials.
6. Strategic Layout: The house's layout prioritized tree preservation and southwest orientation, with the southwest periphery placement leaving a
portion of the plot unbuilt in the inner sanctum allowed for the creation of cooling shadows.
7. Outdoor-Centric Living: This fulfilled the client's desire for an outdoor-centric living space.
8. Stone Column Screen: Strategically placed stone columns formed a screen between the living/dining and main walls, encircling a courtyard with
native plants for shade and insect control.
9. Controlled Sunlight: The courtyard and stone columns added visual appeal and controlled sunlight, contributing to the overall comfort of the l
living space.
10. Environmental Harmony: Despite obstacles, the project achieved uniform, well-crafted walls and foundations with minimal environmental impact,
harmonizing seamlessly with nature.

Designing with the strengths of stone and work within its limitations was the key factor. Stone is resistant to water, fire, wind, and other natural factors that typically affect a house. It does not mold, and it is not prone to termites or majority of pests that attack a structure. It aims to become a reference in responsible architecture, aware of the energy and environmental challenges we face. The house becomes climate conscious and humane architecture, which is based on the existence and survival of human life on increasingly crowded and congested earth without abandoning the side of humanity.