This Elevated Weekend Retreat in Bamboo Encapsulates Kolkata’s Rural Charm
After decades of being tagged as ‘heritage’ and ‘nostalgic’, there is now a paradigm shift in Kolkata; in creating responsible architecture that responds to everchanging layers of socio-cultural, economic and environmental characteristics. The days of yore are still alive, yet now with a more modern spin! Pushing boundaries of thought and spatial construction is Abin Design Studio, which experiments with materials and technology with an aim to provide a ‘soul in the shell’. Nestled in the countryside of Kolkata, is a two-bedroom weekend home that merges with the earth and does not break away from it. Skillfully manifested under Abin Chaudhuri, founder of Abin Design Studio, this elevated retreat or ‘Macha House’ synchronises with the tranquil setting of the contextual rural farmlands; offering a place of respite from the rigours of city life.
Owing to the distance of the site, the accumulation of resources posed a primary challenge in the execution of the design. This, in turn, encouraged the employment of local labour, materials and craftsmanship. The 1,850-square feet house is built on MS structural framework and provides an oval floor plate to place all living functions. Raising the structure nine feet above the ground provided a functional as well as aesthetic purpose. The functional, being, the safeguarding of infrastructure in a flood-prone area with unwanted wildlife; while the aesthetic element is fulfilled by achieving uninterrupted views all around by rising above the canopy level of the surrounding plantation.
The metal elements are kept to a minimum and the design language is dominated by the delicate weave of locally available Muli bamboo, a material that is familiar to the inhabitants of the land. The cover of the structure is made of a traditional thatch roof that complements with the overall language of the retreat and blends harmoniously with the surrounding landscape. The design team has strategically planned the service cores in the centre of the layout while all the habitable quarters and terraces are placed along the periphery of the floor slab.
“This simplicity of the structure is accentuated by the boldness of the form and contemporary implementation of traditional materials. This architectural expression of form carries through to the interior detailing as well”, says Abin. The combination of traditional wooden furniture with wicker and modern glazed elements brings this holiday home together, bringing in a sense of the tropics. Soft furnishings and artwork create an interesting play of colour in the spaces. The composition of form, materials and treatment makes this an idyllic weekend getaway within its verdant locale.
The use of locally available materials creates a strong spatial quality that ties the traditions of the past with the norms of the present. The overall palette of the house is smooth with two distinct design thoughts – subtle yet suggestive. “We infill sustainability through a holistic approach of uniting architecture, interior, landscape, signage and product design. By calibrating basic elements of design like light, shadow and ventilation to poetically influence spaces and its users, we delivered design at a very fundamental level to produce a timeless yet cost-effective result. Most importantly, it is to be sensitive towards the materials used, energy efficient and most importantly, climate responsive”, concludes Abin. The ‘Macha House’ is an honest juxtaposition of art, architecture and the avant-garde.
