‘Box in a Box’ house, Rajkot

The house is situated in the dense fabric of the city of Rajkot in India. It has semi-arid climate. The main concern while designing the house was to design keeping in mind the ease of user, its aesthetic value, as well as building in such a way that it responds to the varying climatic conditions throughout the year and at the same time having ample light inside without heating up the house throughout the day.

The house shares a common wall with the neighbouring house on the south, protecting it from the harsh south light during summers. It opens up to the common open space of the community on the north side, giving a good view of the age old trees in the open space acting as a relief in the dense built fabric of the city. Openings on the east are provided to get in maximum morning sun and on the west smaller openings are provided with sufficient weather protection so as to cut the glaring afternoon sun. Free plan on the ground floor allows breeze to flow through the house.

All spaces on the ground floor are interconnected with a central courtyard flushing the entire ground floor with ambient light. Ground floor acts as the public area of the residence. While all the sleeping spaces and Home-theatre are on the upper floors separating the public and private areas of the house. The vertical circulation in the house happens through the courtyard. Hence one moves through the courtyard as one goes on the upper levels of the house.

A home is a symbol of ones’ aspirations in life and reflects the personality of the dweller. Keeping these ideas in mind, each of the spaces have been designed understanding everyday life of the client and his family to elevate their lives.