The Framed House In Bangalore Is A Sophisticated Ode To Bauhaus Architecture
Inside of a gated community in Bangalore sits a gray and white house designed by Crest Architects. A clever combination of functionality and modern aesthetics, the ‘Framed House’ heroes three simple materials: wood, stone, and glass. “Being the first house to be constructed in the gated community, the client wanted the house to represent a model villa,” Vikas MV, co-founder of Crest Architects, tells Design Pataki. The abstract shapes and geometric designs are reminiscent of the Bauhaus movement in Germany. The visual appeal of the house is holistic and uses natural light beautifully.
Given the location, the square-shaped plot of land experienced harsh sunlight in the southwestern orientation. To offset this effect, the duo at Crest doubled the ceiling height for the living and dining area. They also used a glazed skylight to filter the light and illuminate the clutter-free and minimalist interior space. To keep the expansive feel of the home, they also built a deck that brings in additional light. The deck offers them a view of the enclosed garden area designed to give the home privacy and a green cover. Given the open floor plan, this view can also be experienced from the dining and living area, so rainy days won’t stop the family from enjoying the views this home has to offer.
The kitchen, puja, living area, and dining room are on the ground floor. Beside the living room on the ground floor, there is a narrow hallway designed to serve as a puja room. Instead of being an enclosed private space, this puja room has been left open for natural light and visitors. The glass sourced from Saint Gobain has been used generously around the house- from the large windows to the railing on the first floor. The double ceiling means that a mini balcony exists within the house, which lets one look down to the living room space from upstairs.
Throughout the house, wood is used to accentuate the geometric shapes and create visual harmony. Simple materials like concrete and white plaster walls work as a clean canvas to highlight the green landscaping outside the house. The windows on the south-western facade –the one receiving a lot of light– have been accentuated using Sadahalli stone walls that double as a boundary enclosing the house while also complimenting the exterior visual design.
Connecting the two floors is a solid wooden railing wrapped around the central staircase. Designed as cascading squares that flow into the stairs, the shapes are part of the Bauhaus language of the home. On the first floor, there is a second shared living room with two bedrooms. The interiors are minimalist but in bright primary colors like blue, green, and red which pop against the white walls. All of the furniture in this home is sourced from Urban Ladder and LivSpace. Enclosed by a green cover, the Framed House is an oasis of natural light. Using simple visual strategies like exposed concrete, framing white walls with wood and glass, and foregrounding geometric shapes, the house is an exemplary instance of elevated functional design.
