SKYWARD RESIDENCE

The client desired a house that was simple and spacious—one that was sober on the outside but “feels like a bungalow inside.” The subtle context and the client’s aspirations were strong influences that drove the design approach: minimal, yet magnificent.

The elevation was conceived to mirror the calm neighbourhood—a simple stack of rectilinear volumes with a recessed first floor to accommodate an entrance balcony. Fenestration was designed to pop against the building’s clean canvas—centrally pivoted metal shutters on the second-floor terrace lend ambiguity to the space, blurring the lines between interior and exterior. At the same time, they add a distinctive physical character to the house—one by which it would be remembered.

The sparsely developed surroundings revealed the ample sunlight the area receives. Light has the quality of amplifying everything it touches. Keeping in mind the client’s desire for expanse and a finite budget, light was used as a design element to shape the interior experience. This was achieved by introducing two courtyards topped with skylights—one above the living room and the other above the staircase core.

The aim was to create a home that transcends its physical boundaries and exists beyond just site and structure—in people’s memories. Material ornamentation was minimized, and natural elements were employed to adorn the spaces. It all culminated in a home that lives beyond its tangibility—a home that is larger than life.