OHT BOTTOM LVL

GR LVL +30'-11"
5'-4"

FF ROOF 2 LVL
GR LVL +25'-7"
3'-1"

FF ROOF 1 LVL
GR LVL +22'-6"
9'-1"

FIRST FLOOR LVL

GR LVL +13'-5"
11'-0"

UPPER GF LVL
GR LVL +2'-5"
2'-5"

GROUND LVL
LVL +0'-0"

RACHNA & JITENDRA RESIDENCE

WEST ELEVATION

BENGALURU, KARNATAKA

Plot Area: 10,398 sq ft

OHT BOTTOM LVL
GR LVL +30'-11"
5'-4"

Built Up Area: 8,100 sq ft

FF ROOF 2 LVL
GR LVL +25'-7"
3'-1"

FF ROOF 1 LVL

Project Timeline: 2014 – 2015

GR LVL +22'-6"
9'-1"

FIRST FLOOR LVL

Project Cost: INR 2,700 per sq ft
GR LVL +13'-5"
11'-0"

BIOME ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS, BENGALURU

UPPER GF LVL
GR LVL +2'-5"
2'-5"

GROUND LVL
LVL +0'-0"

Principal Architect: Chitra Vishwanath

SOUTH Project Team: Monalika, Martin, Avik, Divya, Vani, Sandeep, Ravi
ELEVATION

© Skyboard, 2018. No part of this eBook may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information
storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author.
1 5 10 20 F
1 | RACHNA & JITENDRA RESIDENCE > BIOME ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS

“We love forms of light” was an initial statement from the client.

The key element in photography is light. The house sited on

Bengaluru’s Sarjapur Road, belongs to the client who is a freelance

photographer and a corporate executive. The client’s love for

photography, makes it evident to make ‘light’ the key element of

the house. Expressing the ‘spirit of joy through light’ is what this

house is for the couple.

2 | RACHNA & JITENDRA RESIDENCE > BIOME ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS

Set in one of the posh gated communities of the city, the task was to achieve a
house complying with these future owners’ aspirations while remaining within
the architects’ team’s frugal and ecologically inclined values. A 10,398 sq ft of plot
area, the house is surrounded by the green landscape. The orientation of the plan
enables easy visual access to the landscape. The budding plants create future
image of the greens hiding the house amid its cluster. The garden separates itself
from the road, through the compound wall thereby allowing the house its privacy.
The greens are accentuated by simple and natural material palette. A complex
but necessary balance in an ever material demanding context and perennially
resource-stressed environment.
3 | RACHNA & JITENDRA RESIDENCE > BIOME ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS

Above: Drawing room on ground floor

The concept of courtyard house led to achieving the desired master plan with the
connectedness between indoor and outdoor spaces. The courtyards, skylights are
placed in the house to keep the feeling consistent with the exteriors. In addition,
by sequentially integrating the set-back spaces with the indoor via large openings
and boundary screens, several spaces could open within and expand beyond while
retaining and respecting the level of intimacy demanded. Layered to this setting
and to create further spatial character is the articulation of levels and heights with
respect to spaces usage. These overlays of movements aren’t simple nor minimal
in nature, but a consensus is on focus by the consistent reminders from the earthy
tones and textures of the material.
4 | RACHNA & JITENDRA RESIDENCE > BIOME ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS

Above: Family room facing verandah

The garden space has been design in a way to easily accessible from the internal
spaces. A wooden gazebo connects living and dining and becomes a place of informal
talks and relaxing space. The garden at the rear has its access from the family space.
A ramp ensures the elderly have full access from the house to the garden. Vista to an
entire edge of the house is given to the kitchen.
5 | RACHNA & JITENDRA RESIDENCE > BIOME ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS

Above: Kitchen and dining with family room in the background

The desire for materialisation of raw textures like mud bricks, rammed earth, wire-
cut bricks, stone walls, concrete and light forms in subtle harmonisations to shape
the spaces. The white-washed thin bricks merging with leather stone, the stone
pillars sympathising with the undulating slate floor, the internal organic landscape
mirrored with the raw concrete, the exposed RCC stairs flooded with the roof skylight,
are few of the multiple articulations and combination aiming at characterising the
initial aspiration while hoping to retain rooted in balance and senses. A further
reminder is the coconut tree, which has a nearly ubiquitous visual access and from
which several of the existential elements have emerged.
6 | RACHNA & JITENDRA RESIDENCE > BIOME ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS

Above: Access to basement

7 | RACHNA & JITENDRA RESIDENCE > BIOME ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS

Above: Basement Studio

The basement consists of the studio space and staff accommodation. A walk through
the garden leads to a staircase landing in the basement. Strategically placed at the
basement, the studio space allows for a focused and undisturbed environment. These
basement spaces are equally opportunistic in their connectedness to the garden by
the presence of a basement lawn. The underground set-back enhanced several fold
the quality of the work studio with indirect light reflected from the stone wall and
greenery. It’s a corner site and the high ceiling living room adorning it with garden
inside and outside makes for an impressive but controlled grandeur.
8 | RACHNA & JITENDRA RESIDENCE > BIOME ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS

Above: Guest Bedroom

The entire building, stepping back and rising slowly in profile from the entry to the
rear side makes it a human experience for users and passers-by. This is how the
dynamic relationship of this built space with its surroundings brings in love with a
joyful experience in a tentatively modest expression amidst the less frugal context.
9 | RACHNA & JITENDRA RESIDENCE > BIOME ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS

Above: Master Bedroom

Left: Master Bathroom

 10 | RACHNA & JITENDRA RESIDENCE > BIOME ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS

C C

B B

Recharge Well
Helper's Bedroom
Toilet 8'-6" X 7'-3"
UP

Store
UP
5'-9" X 7'-3"
Helper's Bedroom
8'-6" X 7'-3"
Studio Kitchen
15'-5" X 21'-0" 13'-0" X 19'-9"
Verandah

A Helper's Bedroom A
8'-6" X 7'-3"
Toilet

UP

BASEMENT FLOOR PLAN

D

1 5 10 20 FT
 11 | RACHNA & JITENDRA RESIDENCE > BIOME ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS

UP

Toilet
Toilet

Sitting
12'-0" X 14'-0"
Father's Bedroom
14'-0" X 18'-0" Guest Bedroom
UP 14'-0" X 14'-0"

UP

C C
Entrance Lobby
8'-6" X 15'-9"
Verandah

B Courtyard Verandah Courtyard B

22'-3" X 20'-9" 29'-6" X 20'-9"

Puja
5'-6" X 6'-9"
UP Family Room Pond
17'-9" X 25'-6" 9'-6" X 9'-0"
Courtyard
12'-6" X 9'-0"

Utility
6'-0" X 8'-3"
Verandah
Drawing Room
20'-0" X 19'-0"
Kitchen
13'-0" X 19'-9"
Maid's Kitchen Dining Room
7'-6" X 13'-3" 20'-0" X 13'-0"
Store
5'-9" X 7'-3"

Toilet
A A

UP

DN

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

D

1 5 10 20 FT
 12 | RACHNA & JITENDRA RESIDENCE > BIOME ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS

Family Room
Toilet 14'-0" X 14'-0"
Landscaped Terrace

DN

Dresser
10'-0" X 8'-6"

C C
Balcony

B B
Master Bedroom
17'-0" X 29'-9"

Dresser
10'-0" X 8'-6"
Landscaped Terrace

Toilet

A A

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

D

1 5 10 20 FT
 13 | RACHNA & JITENDRA RESIDENCE > BIOME ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS

OHT BOTTOM LVL

GR LVL +30'-11"
5'-4"

FF ROOF 2 LVL
GR LVL +25'-7"
3'-1"

FF ROOF 1 LVL
GR LVL +22'-6"
9'-1"

FIRST FLOOR LVL

GR LVL +13'-5" Master Bedroom
11'-0"

UPPER GF LVL
GR LVL +2'-5" Family Room Verandah Entrance Lobby
2'-5"

GROUND LVL
LVL +0'-0"

SECTION BB

OHT BOTTOM LVL

GR LVL +30'-11"
5'-4"

FF ROOF 2 LVL
GR LVL +25'-7"
3'-1"

FF ROOF 1 LVL
GR LVL +22'-6"
9'-1"

Landscaped Garden

FIRST FLOOR LVL

GR LVL +13'-5" Toilet
11'-0"

UPPER GF LVL
GR LVL +2'-5" Maid's Kitchen Toilet Drawing Room
2'-5"

GROUND LVL
LVL +0'-0"

Helper's
Bedroom Toilet

Studio Verandah

SECTION AA

1 5 10 20 FT
 14 | RACHNA & JITENDRA RESIDENCE > BIOME ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS

OHT BOTTOM LVL

GR LVL +30'-11"
5'-4"

FF ROOF 2 LVL
GR LVL +25'-7"
3'-1"

FF ROOF 1 LVL
GR LVL +22'-6"
9'-1"

FIRST FLOOR LVL Landscaped Garden

GR LVL +13'-5" Master Bedroom
11'-0"

UPPER GF LVL
GR LVL +2'-5" Kitchen Family Room Toilet
2'-5"

GROUND LVL
LVL +0'-0"

Studio

SECTION DD

OHT BOTTOM LVL

GR LVL +30'-11"
5'-4"

FF ROOF 2 LVL
GR LVL +25'-7"
3'-1"

FF ROOF 1 LVL
GR LVL +22'-6"
9'-1"

FIRST FLOOR LVL

GR LVL +13'-5" Master Bedroom
11'-0"

UPPER GF LVL
GR LVL +2'-5" Verandah Family Room Verandah Entrance Lobby
2'-5"

GROUND LVL
LVL +0'-0"

SECTION CC

1 5 10 20 FT
 15 | RACHNA & JITENDRA RESIDENCE > BIOME ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS

OHT BOTTOM LVL

GR LVL +30'-11"
5'-4"

FF ROOF 2 LVL
GR LVL +25'-7"
3'-1"

FF ROOF 1 LVL
GR LVL +22'-6"
9'-1"

FIRST FLOOR LVL

GR LVL +13'-5"
11'-0"

UPPER GF LVL
GR LVL +2'-5"
2'-5"

GROUND LVL
LVL +0'-0"

WEST ELEVATION

OHT BOTTOM LVL

GR LVL +30'-11"
5'-4"

FF ROOF 2 LVL
GR LVL +25'-7"
3'-1"

FF ROOF 1 LVL
GR LVL +22'-6"
9'-1"

FIRST FLOOR LVL

GR LVL +13'-5"
11'-0"

UPPER GF LVL
GR LVL +2'-5"
2'-5"

GROUND LVL
LVL +0'-0"

SOUTH ELEVATION

1 5 10 20 FT
16 | RACHNA & JITENDRA RESIDENCE > BIOME ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS

PRODUCT & MATERIAL APPLICATIONS KEY CONTRIBUTORS

Sliding Doors: Ebco Structural: Mesha Consultants
Tiles: Nitco Civil: Ranganath L
Lighting: Havells Electrical: FCML Distributors
Colour: Asian Paints
Sanitaryware: Jaquar / Grohe / Roca from PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS
Srinath Sanitary Wares Vivek Muthuramalingam
Bath Tiles: Kajaria
Stone: Kota / Jaisalmer Stone
Waterproofing: Fosroc
Switches: Anchor
Wiring: Finolex
Hardware: Kohler / Jaquar / Roca / Grohe
Kitchen Fixtures: Grohe / Jaquar

© Skyboard, 2018. No part of this eBook may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information
storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author.