A lush green countryside invariably attracts settlement, the serene surroundings beckoning, the perpetual tryst with nature calming the nerves, making the residence a rejuvenating experience. It is customary to find people moving to such green suburbs, away from the hustle and bustle of the central business districts, ensuring the retirement at the end of a hard working day is peaceful and energising. While such environs may be green, how can the structure of a residence be tuned to invite this greenery seamlessly within? Inviting it in a manner where the greenery not only seeps in visually but pervades the senses so strongly by being physically present in strategic spots?
Glass walls
The most natural and easy way to let greenery seep in is to opt for expansive glass walls that overlook the green spaces and picturesque water bodies. While this is a common approach to bring in the visual connect, especially in living areas, glass being a substance that can create heat ingress, the orientation of the glass wall as well as the context where it is used needs active address.
While an entire expanse of glass wall may prove to be a wrong choice especially in a warm place, picture windows placed in vantage points of a living or dining room can open the interiors effortlessly to the green exteriors without causing too much heat ingress. The picture frame glass openings also serve as live paintings, precluding the need for artefacts and paintings to decorate the interiors.
Ideal setting
Erstwhile residences customarily had sky-lit courtyards that brought in the feel of outdoors effortlessly into the interiors. Placing an expansive courtyard with plenty of greenery and charming waterbodies to complement it would be an ideal setting to infuse greenery into the interiors. The courtyard could be part of the dining area, where it offers an open dining feel amidst greenery.
A similar setting could also be incorporated into the living area where one segment of the room could have an expansive sky-lit space filled with plants. The seating could be placed to overlook this greenery teamed with water features. A courtyard can also feature in the kitchen where the covered cooking section is built around this space. If the courtyard is large enough, a mid-sized tree too could be accommodated into this. This would not only lend novelty to the cooking area but also make cooking a pleasurable experience, the greenery proving to be energising.
Ushering in the green into bath areas has become quite common, with showers actually placed in a small sky-lit courtyard.
If this courtyard fuses in trees too, it would lend the feeling of bathing amidst wilderness. If the structure does not permit the presence of an expansive courtyard, a glass enclosure housing greens and opening into the bath area could be equally effective in lending that outdoor feel.
Bedrooms have the issue of privacy and hence cannot have large expanse of glass or open walls. Infusing greenery into the sleeping section will then have to be handled deftly, in the same way as done in a shower area.
Sky-lit zone
Here, a sizeable sky-lit zone could be opted which could in turn be filled with attractive potted plants. The covered sky-lit space could be designed as part of the bedroom.
If the interiors are overlooking a large woody patch, a glass wall overlooking this green space could be the answer to connect the sleeping area to the green woods.
Good idea
Yet here, to afford privacy as well as prevent heat ingress, a large awning emerging from the glass wall and tapering down aesthetically without hindering the view would be a good idea. This awning could serve as a roof for an open patio that leads from the glass wall and French windows. The patio could also be greened to accentuate the green feel within the sleeping area.
