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Architecture

2024

Birds fly and make homes in lands far away. Vedanthangal is a chosen land for migratory birds. The untouched vegetation and aquatic plants maintain the bird sanctuary in Vedanthangal as one of the country’s oldest protected regions. The client’s story is that of a man caged in the walls of a city. Setting him free in this chosen land was their role as architects.

A home in a vulnerable ecosystem had to be a breathing edifice, born of the earth, slowly ebbing into the soil. A living home for living beings. With reference to the indigenous construction practices of mud architecture and courtyard houses, their design approach was grounded in history and equally modern for the city dwellers to adapt. The shell had to allow the gaze to penetrate the surfaces, bear witness of age and history on its skin and withhold the openness of the client in its layout.

Vedanthangal,Tamil Nadu,India

Architects	:	Vy Architecture Studio
Area	:	1500 sq. ft.
Year	:	2024
Website	:	https://www.instagram.com/vy_architecture_studio/?hl=en

Courtyard of Vaazh by Vy Architecture Studio

Amid acluster of family-owned houses, the north-facing rectangular site belongs to a borderless neighbourhood with the only true boundary being the thinnai—a raised, covered veranda intrinsic to Tamil households. This space, where the family chit-chats with neighbours and feed dogs, serves as the heart of belonging.

The plan is zoned into three. The communal spaces- thinnai, living room and courtyard, and the more private kitchen and bedrooms are linearly arranged such that every space is visually connected.

Living room of Vaazh by Vy Architecture Studio

View from living room of Vaazh by Vy Architecture Studio

At the core of the house is a courtyard. A wall curves through the volume of the courtyard and shelters the west from harsh sun. On the east, the curve extends to the roof, forming an open space to bask in the morning sun. The perforations in the curve let the sun cast patterns on the earth-like oxide floor and shower rain into the courtyard. The river rocks in the courtyard are mnemonic objects, reminiscent of the river flowing nearby. The curve, more than a sculptural element, is a play wall to climb up to the roof and lie back, watching clouds drift by.

Living and Dining of Vaazh by Vy Architecture Studio

Dining of Vaazh by Vy Architecture Studio

Kitchen of Vaazh by Vy Architecture Studio

View from kitchen of Vaazh by Vy Architecture Studio

Bedroom of Vaazh by Vy Architecture Studio

The curve connects the ground and the roof, creating a three-dimensional recreational area. The courtyard invites not just the family, but also birds, insects, dogs, and cats, turning the home into a sanctuary for all. Here, the home celebrates the climate’s veracities—bare feet on cool, damp soil, raindrops from the open roof, stargazing at a clear blue sky—breathing life into the narrative.