Anything that is innovative tends to capture the eye. While the differential aesthetics proves to be arresting, what invariably stands apart is the simplicity in representation as well as the address of a function or a problem. This innovative yet simplicity in design becomes more captivating when the tools and materials used prove to be equally down to earth and sustainable.
Offering such fascinating design features was Architect Rajesh S. of Technoarchitecture, in his scintillating presentation at an event held by the Institute of Indian Interior Designers, Bangalore Regional Chapter.
Winner of many awards including being a nominee for the Aga Khan Award for Architects in 2010, Rajesh presented some of his projects where his innovative designs transformed spaces into energetic domains that were spectacular in creativity and ideology.
His transformation of a 100-year-old cow shed and household staff quarters into a spiritual library is a classic example. Situated in the backyard of the house, Rajesh decided to retain most of the walls while keeping in mind vaastu elements during the renovation. Minimal steel and cement was used with mud plaster opted for walls and red oxide used for flooring.
A pragmatic solution was sought while designing the library and this manifested as a double height space for yoga and meditation, a charming segment for dining, a water body amidst to lend charm, packaging wood covering the tube lights to give a diffused feel, railway sleepers used for structural grid, with the thatched roof supported by scaffolding poles and finished with bamboo mats underneath.
A tarpaulin sheet was laid over the thatched roof to make it weather proof.
Barks to benchesWhile the staircase was equally practical, made from stone and recycled wood, coconut tree barks were converted into benches to complement the mud plastered walls. His office, also part of this 100-year-old structure, saw similar transformation.
Faced with the need for a larger space but with no scope for extension, Rajesh decided to bring in the setbacks by creating a cantilevered balcony made of steel and glass.
“The area has plenty of palm trees and bamboo and this was infused into the interiors both visually as well as in the structure”, says Rajesh. Thus, staggered steel rods that appeared more like bamboo poles formed the walls of this cantilevered space, visually bringing in the bamboo and palm trees through the glass enclosure. The reflection of the trees on the glass further added to this visual presence. While wood planks formed the flooring in this section, rest of the spaces opted for mud plaster and red oxide flooring to retain the ancient ambience.
If transforming a century-old structure into a modern space was a challenge, bringing in three bedrooms, an office space as well as a swimming pool into a residence housed in a narrow 24x27 ft. area can be a lot more.
No constraintBut Rajesh successfully met this challenge and brought in all these by handling the design craftily, introducing double height spaces in the living area, creating visual connectivity within the interiors and ensuring the spaces were not cramped. He opted majorly for steel to reduce wall thickness.
Internal walls were made of wood and staircases were of the floating variety sans railings to lend expanse of space.
Faced with budget constraint, yet come up with a stunning décor in a restaurant, Rajesh was equally ready for the challenge. He accomplished it by using MDF, creating a stunning pattern in the ceiling akin to fish scales, concealed lights within throwing a fantastic diffused light into the space, with rest of the furnishings equally deftly handled using recycled wood.
