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Muthamizhan Residence
Muthamizhan Residence
Chennai, India
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Other Projects by Murali Architects
Muthamizhan Residence
Chennai, India
Firm
Type
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2017
SIZE
1000 sqft - 3000 sqft
BUDGET
Undisclosed
The Muthamizhan Residence presents a refined interpretation of contemporary Indian domestic architecture, synthesizing the client’s lifestyle with site-specific climate and context. Set within a suburban urban plot in Chennai, the design challenges conventional residential form by embracing a layered spatial sequence — exterior thresholds, semi-private courts, interior living zones, and roof gardens. Through this orchestrated progression, Murali Architects create both openness and privacy, crafting a home that is simultaneously inward-looking yet visually connected to its surroundings. The architectural intent reflects Murali Architects’ philosophy of uniting people through space, balancing human comfort, aesthetics, and contextual sensitivity.
Planning
The spatial planning of the residence follows a clear hierarchy of public, semi-private, and private domains. The façade articulates a carefully composed frontage of layered volumes and materials, with the entry rising under a projecting canopy that leads into a landscaped garden court. This transitional space buffers the home from the street, creating both privacy and an informal gathering area. Internally, the plan is organized around two vertical axes: one connecting the ground-floor living and dining areas to the upper-floor bedrooms through a sculptural stair, and the other linking vertical gardens and terrace spaces. This organization not only maintains functional clarity but also allows natural light and ventilation to flow seamlessly throughout the house.
Design Strategies
The design employs a variety of passive and aesthetic strategies to respond to Chennai’s tropical climate. Generous overhangs protect interior spaces from harsh sunlight, while large glazed openings and perforated screens allow controlled daylight to penetrate deep into the home. Ventilation courts and planted terraces help break down the building’s mass, inviting greenery into the living environment and creating micro-climates that naturally cool the interiors. The material palette — warm timber, clean white render, and textured masonry — balances modern minimalism with regional character, creating a tactile and visually rich experience.
The façade itself acts as a climatic and social filter, layering built and open forms to mediate between private interiors and the external environment. This approach results in a breathable building envelope that encourages natural airflow while maintaining privacy.
Visual Connectivity
A defining aspect of the residence is its strong sense of spatial and visual connectivity. Double-height volumes, mezzanine transitions, and open terraces create a vertical rhythm that links spaces across floors while maintaining distinct functional boundaries. The interplay between light, shadow, and material texture enhances the visual depth of each space, ensuring that no area feels isolated.
These crafted transitions allow the family to maintain a sense of togetherness across different levels — reinforcing Murali Architects’ ethos of designing homes that promote social interaction. Every vantage point within the residence offers framed views of greenery, open courts, or adjoining living zones, strengthening the bond between interior and exterior.
The Muthamizhan Residence stands as a quietly bold example of how suburban Indian homes can transcend the typical “box-house” typology. It communicates the client’s aspirations for a comfortable, elegant domestic environment while responding intelligently to site and climate. The architecture strikes a fine balance between openness and intimacy, modern aesthetics and contextual rootedness — embodying Murali Architects’ continual pursuit of innovation grounded in human experience.
Planning
The spatial planning of the residence follows a clear hierarchy of public, semi-private, and private domains. The façade articulates a carefully composed frontage of layered volumes and materials, with the entry rising under a projecting canopy that leads into a landscaped garden court. This transitional space buffers the home from the street, creating both privacy and an informal gathering area. Internally, the plan is organized around two vertical axes: one connecting the ground-floor living and dining areas to the upper-floor bedrooms through a sculptural stair, and the other linking vertical gardens and terrace spaces. This organization not only maintains functional clarity but also allows natural light and ventilation to flow seamlessly throughout the house.
Design Strategies
The design employs a variety of passive and aesthetic strategies to respond to Chennai’s tropical climate. Generous overhangs protect interior spaces from harsh sunlight, while large glazed openings and perforated screens allow controlled daylight to penetrate deep into the home. Ventilation courts and planted terraces help break down the building’s mass, inviting greenery into the living environment and creating micro-climates that naturally cool the interiors. The material palette — warm timber, clean white render, and textured masonry — balances modern minimalism with regional character, creating a tactile and visually rich experience.
The façade itself acts as a climatic and social filter, layering built and open forms to mediate between private interiors and the external environment. This approach results in a breathable building envelope that encourages natural airflow while maintaining privacy.
Visual Connectivity
A defining aspect of the residence is its strong sense of spatial and visual connectivity. Double-height volumes, mezzanine transitions, and open terraces create a vertical rhythm that links spaces across floors while maintaining distinct functional boundaries. The interplay between light, shadow, and material texture enhances the visual depth of each space, ensuring that no area feels isolated.
These crafted transitions allow the family to maintain a sense of togetherness across different levels — reinforcing Murali Architects’ ethos of designing homes that promote social interaction. Every vantage point within the residence offers framed views of greenery, open courts, or adjoining living zones, strengthening the bond between interior and exterior.
The Muthamizhan Residence stands as a quietly bold example of how suburban Indian homes can transcend the typical “box-house” typology. It communicates the client’s aspirations for a comfortable, elegant domestic environment while responding intelligently to site and climate. The architecture strikes a fine balance between openness and intimacy, modern aesthetics and contextual rootedness — embodying Murali Architects’ continual pursuit of innovation grounded in human experience.
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