Biome Environmental Solutions

Hamsa’s House

Hamsa’s House
© Vivek Muthuramalingam

HAMSA'S HOUSE

Biome Environmental Solutions

ARCHITECTS
Biome Environmental Solutions

CONTRACTOR
Narayan M.C.

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Ravindranath B.V

PHOTOGRAPHS
Vivek Muthuramalingam

AREA
172.0 m²

YEAR
2010

LOCATION
Bengaluru, India

CATEGORY
Houses

Text description provided by architect.

A dense urban context, a small site of 140 square meters, and a brief requiring individual multipurpose studio spaces for a brother and sister required that the building be tall.

Hamsa’s House
© Vivek Muthuramalingam
Hamsa’s House
© Vivek Muthuramalingam

Since building with earth was the preferred choice of the client,the chosen method of construction was rammed earth in place of bricks which would have demanded space for making as well as storing the bricks.

The earth was sourced from another site where a large basement was excavated and wherein extra soil was available.

Hamsa’s House
© Vivek Muthuramalingam
Hamsa’s House
© Vivek Muthuramalingam

In aesthetic sense the rammed earth walls strike the eye at first and then the horizontal layers, shades and hue lend a repose.

The palette for this house is of the most basic materials used-- of exposed concrete, rammed earth, wood and glass.

Hamsa’s House
© Vivek Muthuramalingam
Hamsa’s House
© Vivek Muthuramalingam
Hamsa’s House
© Vivek Muthuramalingam

In terms of layout, the two are extremely identical studio units placed one above the other.

Each unit has a double height living space with a kitchenette and a powder room at that level. An L-shaped mezzanine space above has a sleeping space and a bathroom.

The house is really a box which includes the good views and discards the urban eye sores with strategic location of openings and mix match of frosted and clear glass.

Hamsa’s House
© Vivek Muthuramalingam
Hamsa’s House
© Vivek Muthuramalingam
Hamsa’s House
© Vivek Muthuramalingam

The double upper mezzanine is almost a revelation as one walks around the house. This home is different from the rest in the neighbourhood on the count of technique and material use, as well as it's scale.


Hamsa’s House
Floor Plan
Hamsa’s House
Floor Plan
Hamsa’s House
Floor Plan
Hamsa’s House
Floor Plan


Hamsa’s House
East Elevation
Hamsa’s House
West Elevation
Hamsa’s House
South Elevation
Hamsa’s House
North Elevation


Hamsa’s House
Section
Hamsa’s House
Section
Hamsa’s House
Section

Biome Environmental Solutions
T +91 80 41672790
Biome Environmental Solutions
No. 15, 1st floor, 1st Main, 1st Block, BEL Layout, Vidyaranyapura, Bangalore – 560 097, India