Neem-Aangan

New Delhi, India

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Neem-Aangan

New Delhi, India

Firm

Design Bureau

Type

Residential › Private House

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2017

SIZE

5000 sqft - 10,000 sqft

BUDGET

Undisclosed

It is often said a house is a microcosm of the city. The megalopolis of Delhi is facing various environmental stresses due to density and constantly faces the development vs. Ecology debate. The present day city still manages to hold the distinction of a large green cover and a commendable variety of birds species.

This client came to us with the brief of a simple single family ‘green’ residence on a plot with three existing old trees. The polygonal plot was a peri-urban site in Southern Delhi had one giant Neem (Indian Lilac) Tree & Two Pilkhan (White Fig) trees. These species of trees are native to the sub continent and hold a high spiritual and ecological relevance. The clients had a deep rooted childhood connection with trees.

Delhi climatically has composite climate with harsh summers and a short intense winter. We used a simple yet effective architectural solution for this by giving both a North summer Courtyard and a South winter Courtyard. The north being suitable for the long summers and the south for the short winters. The two story U shaped arrangement of the house was nestled around the North Court with the formal areas in one arm, the family spaces in the center and private bedrooms in the other arm. The house was designed to be open up to either or both courtyards. The east and west facades had staggered entrances with the driveway in the west and a landscaped lawn for the family on the east. To optimize the envelope and design a computational solar, day-lighting, natural ventilation & renewable energy analysis was done. Deep recessed openings in the South facade ensured that only the warmer lower winter sun could enter the house. The western facade had a buffer space with the bathrooms & walk in wardrobes from the western sun. AAC blocks were used to increase wall insulation, public areas, kitchen & two bedrooms were centrally air cooled. The roof was insulated using a 1’ Koba terracing & a vegetable garden. All stones for the flooring were local Indian varieties such as Kotah, Jaisalmer, Indian white and Khareda. Ornament in the flooring was introduced through reinterpreting traditional polygonal modules (barfi) in the skirting, treads and patios. Through consistent yet appropriate connection to the outdoors and heights of 12’ and 11’ the house was kept, airy, voluminous and luxurious. Gravel & charcoal bed filtered grey-water & rainwater was stored for landscaping.

The clients lovingly christened the house NeemAangan – A Patio for the Neem tree. The existing trees have now grown taller than the house itself in the ‘grand’ courtyard and the house has started attracting about 10-14 species of birds.

As the world struggles with the behemoth of Climate Change can a new kind of inclusivity be introduced in architecture which subtly hints at other species as well. What if local ecology was preserved even in Urban areas and used as an aesthetic strategy and maybe even created for newer builds through planting ecologically relevant species?