It is the omnipresent connect whatever be the interior space addressed, to the vibrant lush green outdoors and prevailing water bodies, the visual link so seamless as to evoke a sense of actually residing amidst the greens. It is the shaping of the spaces, the interiors evincing a strong play of art and crafts, the traditional flavour interpreted deftly to fuse into the contemporary setting while complementing the green visual treat. It is a master play of design, each segment shaped to bring in nature, in the most natural way.
For Ahmedabad-based Architect Hiren Patel of Hiren Patel Architects, landscape is part of architecture and not distinct from it. This belief was so strong as to prompt him to learn the nuances of landscape design. “The landscape foray came about when I realised the language of the spaces are best articulated when the same person addressed all three together”, he says. His interiors reflect a fine sense of detailing and strong sensitivity in their manner of design.
Does that mean all his designs necessarily offer this signature style ubiquitous connect of interiors with the outdoors? “I do not believe in signature styles as every project is distinctive, with its own demands. The right design involves balancing creativity with what is possible and required. What is important is sensitivity and timelessness in design where the space will still be appreciated and functional in the years to come.”
Model villa
Patel’s shift in design style came about after he designed a model villa for a real estate project. “The model villa incorporated a courtyard with connectivity to the garden. This opened up designs for private residences where such courtyards and seamless connect to the garden spaces could be brought in.”
In his project ‘Axis House’, Patel blends seamlessly the double-height-volume central space with its exposed concrete walls to the massive landscape.
The large windows have been turned into live picture frames where they capture the landscape in the interiors, serving as a live wall décor feature. “The residence is incidentally in the midst of a busy city space yet gives the feel of a resort”, smiles Patel.
Two segments
His project ‘Frill House’ displays a dissection of the residence into two segments where one serves for the summer and the other for the winter. The winter segment incorporates a larger courtyard as compared to the summer segment which is narrower with a smaller opening on top and a wider base, permitting light to penetrate, yet have shadows to be cast. The garden too is segmented into two, the vegetation planted in a ‘z’ formation where the north-western side houses the summer garden bringing in the cool evening shadows while the south-eastern side is designed to address the winter. His ‘’Village House’ project forms an expansive farm house based on a village setting. Patel has brought in elements of the South Indian temple structure featuring, beside a river bed, a roof structure and an expansive flower bed.
A large cantilevered roof structure at the entrance porch emulates the large overhangs of village houses while an inward tilted roof creates a central courtyard.
The residence further incorporates multiple individual structures, symbolic of cluster roofing in villages. Needless to state, connect of the interiors with the outdoors is present and all pervading.
Love for heritage
If a seamless connect is an integral part of Patel’s designs, so is his love for heritage and art, amply borne out in his restaurant project ‘650’. The ruins of our old temples serve as the inspiration for design here, with a grand temple door and stone pillars serving as the entrance.
Step wells, floral stone fountains, arches mark the path leading to the restaurant, the interiors of which is equally stunning in the stone detailing and grandeur, the antique carved wooden doors and pillars, the exquisite wooden ceiling taking one back to another era.
Yet, the spaces are intelligently managed to blend in the comfortable contemporary flavour to cater to the functional needs and current lifestyle expectations.
Similar blending of heritage with a contemporary setting is evident in his project ‘Frangipani’. Traditional metal grain jars, stone sculptures, and attractive stone wood seating nooks prevail amidst the expansive garden, inviting the resident to relax and soak in the greenery.
