Shaili Banker Architects Uses RCC and Glass To Create Jagged Facade of This Home in Ahmadabad | Gujarat

Located in the quiet and compact urban neighbourhood in the city of Ahmedabad, this five bedrooms home designed by Shaili Banker Architects features a unique jagged facade, reflecting the skewed planes of reinforced cement concrete and glass. The distinct exterior of the house not only makes it stand out within its traditional neighbourhood but also offers maximum privacy, adequate natural lighting and ventilation to the inhabitants. However, it was not a cakewalk for the design team to realize such a house. Architect Shaili Banker has shared with SURFACES REPORTER (SR) how much time and effort went into designing such a stunning abode. Have a look:

Also Read: The Aventador Office by 23DC Architects Features An Edgy Facade Imitating the Ever-Changing Stock Market | Hoshiarpur, Punjab 

How The Architects Realized the Unique Brief

With neighboring houses located very close, the clients main concern was privacy. However the outside had to be brought in too. This became the main challenge, to accommodate the extensive requirement of five bedrooms, but also to provide the house with maximum possible privacy while also permitting natural light and ventilation. 

To achieve this unique brief, skewed planes of reinforced cement concrete and glass were employed to envelop the building. One is opaque while the other is transparent. Hence each of these external surfaces was strategically such that the opaque provided privacy while the transparent led to permit natural light and ventilation.

The monolithic property of reinforced cement concrete was exploited to suspend skewed planes at angles. Slits of glass were created in between these skewed planes of RCC such that the interior had natural light throughout the day. 

How The Structure is Designed

Several cardboard models were made to understand these surfaces and how their location and orientation will permit natural light throughout the day. Folds and half cuts of the cardboard became the exposed reinforced concrete surfaces, whereas the gap and punctures in between were where the glass was placed for allowing natural light inside.

Moreover, the summers being extremely hot, the location of the glass in the exterior was key to providing openable windows for cross ventilation.

Additionally, the sun path was studied to understand the light penetrating inside the house during the day. This sun path determined where the exposed reinforced concrete surface was to be placed so that selective light would enter the house

Moreover reinforced cement concrete planes comprising the exterior of the house were kept exposed so that it doesn’t intrude on the monotonous urban fabric. The façade was thus designed to not be intrusive to its surroundings but at the same time provide extreme privacy and avoid interaction.                                                             

Also Read: This Sustainable House in Vietnam Breathes Through 8 Revolving Wooden Doors on Its Facade | H House | AD9 architects

Contrasting Interiors

The interior however has a very colorful palette creating a contrast to the grey exterior. These colors come to life slowly as the sunlight penetrates and fills up each of these spaces.

First is the living room and the foyer that lights up with sunshine due to the tall double-height glass windows. While around noon the waterfall and the patio outside the dining are flooded with light such that, the dining room gets lit indirectly just in time for lunch.

The waterfall outside the dining provides a soothing view of water cascading down in the brightly lit noon light.

With a total of five bedrooms, three of them have a street view. Since the house has sunlight pouring in throughout the day, its interior surfaces rendered with extensive use of color come to life and create a vibrant atmosphere. A small covered terrace on the second floor allows small private social gatherings away from the street level. 

Project Details 

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