House Belaku: Modern Brick Architecture in Bangalore
Built on a compact urban plot, this home balances privacy with nature. We used brick screens and passive cooling to keep the space bright, breezy, and deeply connected to the outdoors.
This video montage showcases the "House Belaku," from its striking exterior facade with the brick screen to the light-filled, double-height interior spaces.
The double-height living space is the heart of the home, visually connecting the two floors. The curved balcony and glass-encased lift add a sculptural, modern element to the interior.
A custom mural adorns the staircase wall, turning a functional space into an artistic journey. The design depicts a serene mountain landscape, adding color and personality.
A page from a publication showing the interior spaces and floor plans of "House Belaku." The layout 전략적으로 places open volumes to draw in light from the north and east.
The play of light through the brick *jali* screen is a key feature of the design. The sunlight projects a moving pattern onto the wooden floor, making the space feel alive.
About this collection
Most people assume a tight urban plot means choosing between sunlight and privacy. In House Belaku, we used a custom brick jali screen as the solution. It filters light and allows cross-ventilation to keep the house cool, while completely blocking the view from the street. It is a simple, effective way to get that 'garden city' feel without compromising on personal space.
The core of this home is the 'Stack Effect,' a passive cooling technique that allows hot air to rise and escape through high windows while drawing in fresh, cooler air from the garden spaces. We prioritized this to reduce reliance on air conditioning, a necessity for sustainable living in Bangalore.
Layout and Philosophy
Following traditional Vaastu Shastra, we placed the Master Bedroom in the Southwest and the kitchen in the Southeast. The heart of the home, the Brahmasthan, is a double-height living and dining area. This creates a visual connection between floors and makes the house feel significantly larger than its footprint suggests.
Materiality and Craft
We focused on honesty in materials. The flooring is a mix of black leather-finish stone and yellow granite to reflect light, contrasting with the warmth of the brick.
- Brick Facade: The perforated screen is not just aesthetic; it acts as a thermal buffer and a rain screen.
- Woodwork: We used BWP plywood with premium teak veneer. No standard laminates were used in the interior.
- Lighting: By cutting wide openings on the North and East, we ensured the house remains bright throughout the day without harsh glare.
This project was a response to a specific constraint: a combined client requirement for a 2BHK tenant house and a private duplex. By creating a C-shaped envelope, we visually united the two residences while maintaining distinct boundaries. If you are struggling with a constrained plot, we can explore similar ways to bring light and nature into your floor plan.
Chandrakant S. Kanthigavi
I am Chandrakant. My team and I do not work with fixed templates or rigid plans. We design homes through conversation, sketching, and listening to how you actually live. If you want an architecture that respects your site's history and brings nature into your daily routine, I would love to hear your ideas.
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