revisiting a project _ 01, house for the malhotra family

Circa 2001, this text is from the first design project in school. The task requests us to conceptualize an abode for a sitcom family the Malhotra’s or the Family no. 1. The set of characters were selected from a group of similar TV families aired at around the period of the studio. Text is a reproduction from earlier transcripts and mentioned as stages of instructed solution requirements.

First stage [preparing the brief] - The Malhotra family was made up of eight members — parents, four boys and two girls. According to the profession of the parents, education of the children, their likes and dislikes viable spaces had to be created to increase comfort level and reduce clashes among the members.

Second stage [conceptual development] - Going back into family history we studied factors that brought them together. The Malhotra family evolved form two different family units. One of the units was made up of a father, two sons and a daughter while the other had a mother two sons and a daughter. Chance brought them together at a dwelling. The beginning was tough with constant clashes between them. Luckily, time bonded the heads of the units. This brought back calm and in due course the two heads united. Spatial connectivity is thus introduced as a concept as a result of this notion. Revolving around this aspect space had to be developed which flowed or created connections with each other.

Third stage [site analysis] - Pros and cons of the site were studied and design developed so as to meet the necessary requirements. The site is situated next to the beach and its proximity from the main road is about 70 meters. During low tides the width of the beach is about 30-40 meters. Plot is elevated at 2.4 meters above the sea level. The elevation differences are connected with the help of a ramp next to the site. The ramp is 21 meters long and 5.7 meters wide. During a normal summer day the mornings are refreshing, noon torturing and the evenings cool. At times the pleasant climate is due to the gentle winds picks up and brings along with it sand particles and salt vapor. These in time degrade the structure if its not maintained.

Fourth stage [design development] - The orientation of the two square masses are skewed around by 10 degrees resulting in leaving three meters along the boundaries. On the ground floor, the main entrance was placed on the left. The space at the entrance reduced and the remaining adequately put to use. Family and the dining rooms were combined into one large space resulting in the simultaneous use of both the spaces when either one of the two was used. The kitchen area was increased. The secondary volume now settles at the rear of the structure. Stairway to the first floor was placed next to it. Because of its particular placement the space below the stairs was put to use. The facade in front of the natural seating was opened up so as to experience the sea view. On the first floor the left side was converted to a garden. The children’s bedrooms was clubbed together and remaining space on the floor was converted into a recreational space for the kids.

Ground Floor Plan #

South & East Elevations #

Form of this content development structure, becomes to a certain extent principles via which the act of building is discussed [at-least in this case]. Instruction limits its preview to processing a group of guidelines which channelizes into a conceptual model to be processed with elements that make up definable architecture.