Aamra Residence: Contextual Farmhouse Design in Karnataka
Aamra is a study in slow living, an L-shaped residence designed to blur the boundary between a mango orchard and the home. We created this space around the traditional Jagli katte to prioritize semi-open living, using raw materials like earth and concrete to keep it deeply connected to its surroundings.
The design of Aamra began with the existing mango trees, which we carefully built around. The house sits gently in the landscape, with a circular plinth honoring the central tree, making nature the true protagonist of the space.
The deep verandah, or 'Jagli', that wraps around the house. This transitional space, with its polished stone floor and angled yellow shutters, provides a sheltered connection to the garden, embodying our philosophy of indoor-outdoor living.
The long, covered walkway of the Aamra residence, flanked by compressed stabilized earth block (CSEB) pillars. The design provides shelter from the elements while maintaining a constant visual and physical connection to the lush landscape.
A view from the verandah, where life unfolds in harmony with nature. The traditional swing, supported by a classic wooden pillar, offers a place for quiet reflection, overlooking the mango grove.
A detail of the 'Jagli' where the floor plane extends to form an integrated seat. This element, framed by earthy CSEB pillars, is a modern interpretation of a traditional 'katte', designed for informal seating and conversation.
The angled yellow louvered doors add a pop of color while providing privacy and ventilation. This view from the verandah shows the layers of the design, from the smooth grey floor to the textured earth block pillars and the greenery beyond.
The exterior facade of the Aamra residence, showing the interplay of raw concrete, earth blocks, and the surrounding greenery. The design was intended to be simple, maintenance-friendly, and nestled within the existing landscape.
The east-facing service facade features a unique composition of materials. A staircase with a perforated brick wall sits next to a tall volume clad in yellow louvers, which cleverly conceals a water tank and utility duct.
An interior view of the living space, defined by an inclined wall and a mix of natural materials. The half-height wall is finished in yellow oxide, contrasting with the exposed brick and creating a warm, inviting entryway.
A built-in daybed in the main living area, designed for lounging and reading. The space is illuminated by a clerestory window, and the large sliding glass door opens directly onto the garden, erasing the boundary between inside and out.
About Residential Spaces: The Aamra Residence
The defining choice at Aamra was the spine wall's 12-degree tilt. By angling the wall and roof slab toward the North, we capture consistent daylight while optimizing the roof's pitch for solar energy generation. This geometry is not merely aesthetic; it transforms the structure into a passive climate control system, illuminating the interior naturally while effectively mitigating heat gain throughout the day.
Our design process for Aamra began with the landscape. The project was conceived around the idea of the Jagli katte, a traditional semi-open veranda common in rural vernacular architecture. By running this transitional space along the perimeter of the L-shaped footprint, we successfully created as many semi-open areas as indoor rooms. This forces the home to breathe and keeps the inhabitants constantly aware of the surrounding mango orchard.
Material honesty remains a core tenet of our practice. We utilized a palette of raw, unplastered finishes including cast-in-situ oxide flooring, Kota stone, and compressed stabilized earth blocks (CSEB). The absence of synthetic finishes highlights the structural integrity of the home. Inside, we applied the concept of 'service vs served' spaces to the kitchen, making it the heart of the home. The central table acts as a pivot, separating the functional pantry and storage areas from the social cooking counter, which frames a direct view of the orchard outside.
The service facade, facing East, serves a different purpose, utilizing perforated brick and louvers to conceal utility ducts and water tanks, ensuring the functional requirements of the home do not compromise its visual simplicity. Aamra stands as an example of our commitment to regionalism, where the design responds to the local climate, the specific site conditions, and the client's desire for a quiet, low-maintenance lifestyle.
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