Assagao House 2020
A Tropical House on a Richly Wooded Site in Goa
Once used as an orchard, the site was found as a wonderful stepped terrain – altered by years of human movement and occupation. The client – proprietor of an acclaimed design consultancy – wanted a small house that can be split into two units (ground and first floor) and could also work as a small single residence. By deciding to place the linear building sunk into the top platform, the house enhances the potential of the site and is enriched by nurturing the found-landscape of adult teak, mango and cashew trees – the un-altered vegetation of the site.
INFORMATION
Project Type: Residential
Client: Anjila Puri
Engineer: Rajesh Mahambarey, Goa
Civil Contractor: Michael Coutinho, Coutinho & Associates
Aluminium Contractor: Girish Sanvordekar, Alpha-Tech Glazing
Carpentry: Jitendra Sharma, Bharat Wood Craft Industries
Year of Initiation: 2018
Year of Completion: 2020
Location: Assagao, Goa
Design Team: Hrushita Davey, Aliptha Govindu, Nimish Salekar, Nirav Patel, Rhea Mahenderkar and Ruturaj Parikh
Site Area: 650 Sq M
Built-Up Area: 135 Sq M
Status: Complete
Images and Drawings: Studio Matter
Photography: Fabian Franco, Anjila Puri and Studio Matter
Simple materials and finishes, enables one to be close to the earth while living in the ground-floor unit. As a contrast, one is closer to the lush-green canopies of the trees while on the first-floor. An independent staircase enables the unit to operate as one or two independent studios. The ‘floating roof’ helps protect the house from the wrath of the south-west monsoon all the while enabling liberal access to breeze and light.