Small House, Noida

One would generally define a project like this as another row house on a small plot in a suburb. But for us, it was an opportunity to question the whole idea of prevalent ‘builder-ism’ which instead of increased FAR norms has scarred our urban fabric with bulky and overpowering masses of built entities. Within, the same framework of FAR requirements, the attempt was to break the volume of the front facade of the house and to bring it down to human scale based on the concepts of proportions and scale. Planting was incorporated in the elevation as an important element with built-in planters, a pergola for creepers to climb on, the use of rain chains as water channels, etc which further helped in softening the otherwise solid block of the building. A simple solution, like doubling up the toilet ventilation shaft as a light well adjoining the dining room instead of enclosing it in solid walls, as it is generally done, made a huge difference to the indoor natural light quality of the house as well.