Bali House by Meeta Jain Architects

Out of the 5 friends, 3 decided to go ahead with building and concurred on having a common typology. It was decided to keep all houses East facing, as compact as possible in footprint, allowing spaces to be organized vertically, to experience the shifting perspective vision this dynamic site had to offer. The lower plane achieved by virtue of land topography works as semi-public in nature across 3 houses and works well to interact with the community, keeping the private spaces at higher levels undisturbed.

We chose to call this house a peace sanctuary because of its most immersive location within the site. This home away from home, also slightly differs from the other two, in being more open and complex. It reads as a staggering assemblage of 3 pavilion boxes. The form gesture employed here is one that of the “cantilever” and a’ heightened contrast’ of cuboidal forms to the surrounding sculptural landscape of rocks and hills. A mere 1500 sqft area of the house is split across 3 floors that offer a unique use and experience at each level. The spaces of the house are really conceived to express ‘an inner relaxation’ and to allow multiple ways to gather with family and friends away from the stresses of urban living.

The main living plane raised from the ground, is virtually a flowing space open in 3 directions, East, West, and North. Here A central finely crafted staircase bisects the living/ sitting areas from dining/cooking and ascends upwards in a way, that it seems to float in the middle of this plane. This stairway is the main animator of the space that both anchors it and makes it comes alive. A counter below that can be used from both sides enhances its “furniture like a presence”. It leads to the sleeping loft above which offers a unique merged experience of resting and oneness with the landscape. From here one leads to the terrace and eventually to a higher terrace that can be used as an astronomy
decks.

The construction system is a simple RCC post and beam with block masonry infills. For foundation anchoring to the existing rock bed was done. To facilitate the clear volume effect, where the glass meets the ceiling, a concealed and upturned beam system has been adopted. Form finished RCC ceiling forms the dominant expression. The material palette is deliberately kept a little rustic and unfinished, mixing strategically with fine and crafted elements of upholstery. The walls and floor planes use cement oxide and black slate to build a rugged envelope along with recycled pine woodwork well to resonate with the mood of the place. Spaces are kept clutter-free by built-in furniture as much as possible, where seating is taken care of by long-running ledges.

The magical effect of this unique location, along with the architecture that has responded with both simplicity and boldness, draws users extensively to the beauty of this place, the manner of occupation of this site allows a mingling of various social groups and communities (including helper community and village folk) in a way that has made a vibrant social ecology possible. Besides relaxation and personal entertainment, this place has seen varied activities from musical evenings, to art workshops, to film screenings to ongoing natural farming, extended design studios, culinary labs etc. where each of the five members is able to bring their unique gifts to fore, to share.

In the background a remarkable experience of “shifting perspective “and a “sense of repose” is dominant. This has been greatly echoed by the sloping land and the multileveled spaces that are somewhat open-ended and undefined in nature. Here architecture reflects an attitude to building sensitively in a landscape and also becomes a potential vehicle to create a new community culture in the hinterland.