Splendour, minimalism and simplicity are the virtues of the L-House, just like any other project crafted by Dipen Gada.
The residence derives its name from the ‘L’ shaped layout of the plan. The simple straight lined structure renders it an exquisite ambience and not without efficient functionality.
Built across 4500 square feet the L-House radiates a contemporary design with a stark, bold exposed concrete wall forming the front facade.
A step inside the house and one is encompassed in a chic and uncluttered living area which offers a spell-binding view of the adjacent garden. The interiors appear refreshing and playful throughout the day as the moods of light vary with the movement of the sun.
“The clients, Anand and Prachi Shah, gave us a free hand to explore and create the perfect home for their cute little family,” explains Dipen. “However their only specification was the emphasis on using white for the interiors owing to their combined affinity towards that colour. The idea was to stick to the fundamental materials and colours giving the elements a chance to bring out their true essence by allowing their natural textures to take over,” he continues.
The ‘L’ shaped plan, the North-East garden of this abode remains accessible from all the spaces of the house. The presence of the continuous ‘jali’ fence along the ‘L’ creates the feeling of being close to nature. The main idea was to open up the house in the direction of the light, that being the North-East.
The ‘jali’ windows and spaciousness of the bedroom infuses ample air and light into the room, while the juxtaposition of the colours lends it a fresh appeal.
This not only produced a spacious appeal but also fills up the interiors with adequate light which penetrates all the spaces moderately.
Bare concrete walls and the white Greek Thassos marble flooring set the dominating theme in this house and form a perfect base for choosing different colours for different spaces; each bedroom has a unique theme in terms of colour preferences and functionality. The transition in the house leading through to the backyard is fluid and swift. The spaces are visually interconnected without compromising on the privacy.
The bare concrete wall is synchronised with the white of the walls, ceiling, flooring and furniture to conjure into a blend that reflects affluence wrapped in dignity. The smart inject of bright hues like pink, green and blue works like a pinch of pepper for the interior decor recipe. The house oozes simplicity and elegance. The staircase acts as a buffer to segregate the private and public zones.
The presence of the continuous ‘jali’ fence along the North-East garden creates the feeling of being close to nature.
Owing to the monochromatic fundamentals, the art work on display played a vital role. Putting forth his views, Dipen says, “We strongly believe that architecture and furniture form the body while art and furnishings represent the soul that infuses life into the body.”
Being an artist herself, several art works of Prachi Shah adorn her own abode. The other prominent names whose works have been displayed in the house are Vinod Shah, Nikhileshwar Barua and Kamal Rana.”
The L-House has been designed as per the norms of Vaastu Shashtra and green design planning owing to which it has achieved sufficiency in end-to-end light and ventilation. The allocation of bedrooms and public spaces are done keeping in mind the functionality as well as climatic considerations.
The accurately detailed openings in the South-West direction draw the breeze inwards. The meticulous planning ensures that fresh air circulates throughout the spaces before exiting from the North-East.
Addressing the issues of sustainability in his designs, Dipen elucidates, “Sustainability is very simply appropriate planning with the right placement. For instance, placing the garden in the North-East reduces the heat gain in the house. Having maximum openings in the South-West direction for ample wind ingress promises proper cross ventilation. The planning follows the scientific approach to achieve minimum usage of non-renewable energy.”
“All the materials used in the house,” informs Dipen “except for the flooring, are locally available thereby reducing the loss of transportation energies and expenses. We follow minimalism which cuts the cost and energy required for the maintenance of the house. A very important and often neglected aspect is the efficient use of available land. Following a simple geometry and planning allowed us to save a lot of space which left no scope for wastage.”
The precise selection of materials with accurate detailing is the most striking virtue of Dipen’s projects. Natural and basic materials primarily constituting bricks, concrete, wood and metal form the fundamental structure. In Dipen’s own words, “The serenity and sense of belonging that the L-House emphasises with its bare and basic materials and simplistic design is remarkable.”
Text By Kruti Choksi
Photographs Courtesy Dipen Gada and Associates
Contact
email: dipen317@gmail.com
