Puran Kumar

A sense of harmony exists between the structure and the natural surrounds of this house - an organic minimalism that defines the architecture.

The Mango House is the physical manifestation of a quest to connect with the natural environment. The essence of design here is simplicity in thought and expression through the form, material and decor of the structure. The organic nature of the construction successfully connects the outside with the inside and thus manages to convey a very earthy feel through its free-flowing plan. The house is a blend of various elements & building materials that are ‘azonic’, lending simplicity to the design.

Since the plot was dominated by mango trees, the house clearly gets its definition from them to ensure that the basic value of adopting green culture was exercised. Creating volume was another important aspect of the structure and with the sloping roof one gets about 35 feet at the highest point. This is most emphatic at the suspended staircase as it sweeps up to the upper floor. Being organic and rustic was the main focus which is reflected in the architecture and the material palette. The suspended steel staircase is the raison d’etre of the house as its majestic presence dominates the interiors. The aim was to be able to see across and be connected with the outside from any point in the house along both, the north-south and the east-west axes. There was a need to get a balance between the open and covered spaces and one finds a creative blend of different elements that are sustainable present very simply in the design. 

The structure manages to become a part of the surrounding, blending with the landscape to capture the spirit of the environment and make the space very inviting. This gets reflected in the expression of spaces of the house, almost as an extension of the design values of the architect.

The Mango House is the physical manifestation of a quest to connect with the natural environment. The house is a reflection of an architect’s creative sensibilities. The essence being simplicity in thought and expression through the form, material and décor of the structure.

The unspoken, yet obvious, brief was to stay true to the basic values of being organic in texture and adopting green culture into the design.

 “Form follows Function”
The site is dominated by mango trees and thus the house gets its definition from them. The function being the conservation of these 100-odd year old inhabitants. The form of the structure was governed by their location on the North, South and East sides of the house. Their presence on the plot warranted the design approach to be responsive in context with the surrounding.

The entrance on all four sides along both the north–south & east-west axes leads to an uninterrupted view of the verdant landscape. There were some certainties that were a given – entrance porch to the north as there was space for a driveway and kitchen on the east to catch the early morning sun.

The restrictions imposed by the narrow plot on the construction site entailed the house to be taken to the second level. The location of the mango trees on the plot demanded the layout plan to accommodate the roots of the trees during the excavation phase. Certain areas viz. Kitchen block & the pool had to be relocated in order to achieve this.

There was a need for balance between the open and covered spaces. The form reflects an azonic flow of spaces across both levels without losing its proportion in design. The suspended steel staircase is the raison d’etre of the house as its majestic presence dominates the interiors. A skylight here and another over the dining area underscore the
feeling of vastness.