BREAKING THE GLASS CEILING
Can a home be just a plinth with a roof with no civil walls? We take you inside one such amazing space by _Opolis Architects.
This home is aptly called the Roof House. As the name suggests the hero of this space is the roof. Located in Khandala, Maharashtra the 10,000 sq ft plot receives a lot of rainfall. “The house uses the roof not only as a rain protection element but also as a space making element where the roof itself becomes the vertical space making element,” says architect Sonal Sancheti of _Opolis Architects, adding, “Past experiences of building in this region led us to create roof surfaces to take the onslaught of the monsoon from the south west direction. A concrete portal—low and cantilevered, free from the ground breaks this roof to create openings that include the main entrance and the connection to kitchen exterior space.” The use of levels further creates privacy and lets the roof itself enclose space. “The house is essentially a plinth with a roof, with no walls towards the eaves ends of the roof and only precast 50 mm Aerocon panels or fenestration in the gable direction of the house,” she
adds. Another interesting aspect of the roof is that the water from the roof is channeled in a RCC gutter which becomes an exciting element in the monsoon season.
As for the rest of the space, an open living room enclosed partially by black agricultural mesh and rolldown bamboo screens gives an ideal semi-open space to the house. A plunge pool attached to this verandah adds to its usability and informal character. “The parking and service areas are tucked at the lower and ground level and become part of the heavy plinth on which sits a lightweight steel structure,” says architect Rahul Gore. The staff accommodation forms a retaining wall along the compound and enables the creation of the main green space for the living room of the house.
“A mezzanine space is accommodated within the high roof volume to give additional play space to the children and overlooks the children room on one side and the kitchen and dining spaces on the other,” he says. A multiuse family room has vertically pivoted shutters that enclose or open up the space. “This family room opens out onto a terrace that overlooks the entrance forecourt and connects to the green landscape,” says Sancheti.
The rooms have intentionally been kept small but have high volumes making creative spaces flooded with daylight. “The rooms and master bathroom make use of exterior courtyards to create privacy,” says Gore.
Clearly for this home, breaking the rules has worked well.