Pier House, Noida designed by Flyingseeds Design Studio.
Client Brief:
A Holiday home for family and friends, closely rooted to traditional Indian ethos and the vernacular feel, in a convivial environment with nature.
Minimalistic, humble and with basic functional amenities. Should be Temporary in nature.
Enough Fresh air, away from city/technology-dependent lifestyle. Low cost, durable and maintenance free.
Concept Note:
Pier house derives its name from the group of piers penetrating into the marshy pool. These piers are the foundation system adopted from the Japanese traditional post-stone foundation technique (Tsukaishi-kiso).
Since the existing site had no context to design around, we let the natural factors derive the core concept- optimized climate analysis, wind direction and river swelling during monsoons. We created an earth-berm at the southern side of the site and secured the structure while inducing a micro-climate in the interior areas.
The earth-berms are proposed to house geothermal, air-tunnels underneath.
Since the client is running a successful transport business, he was excited about the idea of creating these mounds in salvaged automobile tires, as fillers.
The Pavilions resting on piers are free-flowing spaces promoting natural ventilation and air circulation. These are positioned facing the direction that receives maximum breeze. Large openings on the sides allow cool currents to enter the home.
Large overhangs with big openings for cross ventilation, without exposing the interiors to heat, provide cutouts (skylights) atop the roof for hot air to escape, while filling the spaces with direct sunlight in winter, at the same time.
While selecting building materials that work well for hot Indian climates that inhibit heat transmission, we chose to explore ‘Mitti’ in its contemporary form. Rammed earth walls, possessing insulating properties, also resonated with the client brief. Bamboo (for roofing) also became a structurally resilient and eco-friendly alternative! In addition to locally sourced materials, the environmentally sensitive home includes rainwater harvesting and recycling systems, as well as passive air circulation
A well-sheltered bio-pool provides respite from the heat in the outdoor transmission area.
Design Process:
The entry to the home is through a semi-covered open foyer covered with glass and bamboo pergolas. The rammed earth wall acts as a transitional element providing the enclosure from the approach area and opening up toward the water pool.
The formal drawing room and the ancillary social areas like the gazebo and workspace/temple are placed independently, lifter on pier with open rock foundation.
Pivoted, tilt-able bamboo screens are used to offer protection from excessive heat or glare whenever required.
The roofing was the most integral and extensive part of the design, we wanted to replicate the vocabulary of Indian and Japanese traditional homes resulting in designing pitched roofs for all the units, designed as a frustum of rectangular profile.
The overhangs of the same secured the longevity of the walls. The entire roof skeleton is designed in bamboo, sourced from Northeast India and supported on a sturdy MS portal for each unit.
A central court, looking into the pool, serves as a family lounge and ensures that more internal spaces can benefit from its cooling effects.
The all-natural Bio-pool alongside contributes to a significant temperature drop. Water-loving plants aid in natural filtration and further cool down the air entering the home since they release moisture. This pool is lined with lime plaster and natural filtration (biofilters)- systems introduced so that it is safe for usage by both fish and humans. The pool is divided into two parts- the deeper end is the wading area.
The entire landscaping is proposed keeping in mind the principles of Permaculture. To transform approx. 1.5 acres of land in Noida, into an organic food forest for growing vegetables, crops, and fruits. In addition, the project will involve the strategic planting of various locally adapted fruit trees & native species, within different zones.
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Drawings and Diagrams
