JOIN USWith a need to reduce carbon footprints, some homeowners are rising to the challenge. Sudha Jain visits one such modern, yet sustainable home.
After living in a spacious garden house in South Korea for a few years, the techie couple Austin and Rashmi Lobo were sure, that once they returned to India. it would be an open, airy house for them. Their home in Lakedew Residency, Sarjapura Road, Bangalore is everything they had dreamt of – eco-friendly, spacious, with patches of garden and a profusion of light.
“We wanted to design and build the house ourselves – a space that was natural yet modern but what happened was incidental. We were introduced to our architect, Chitra Vishwanath, whose forte is building eco-friendly homes and we instantly knew she had the answers to our dream house,” said Austin. It took the trio 4-5 months to finalize the design as they were taking no chances for any oversight later on.
Their eco-friendly home needed specialised labourers. The bricks for the house were made on the site. They are not the usual burnt bricks, but have been sun dried which makes them porous and cool.
The foundation or base soil used in the construction of bricks was scientifically designed by IISC. It is made using a mixture of quarry dust, cement and red soil. When you spot the house from a distance, these sun- burnt orange bricks have made a place for themselves amidst the other concrete villas.
What strikes you as you enter, is they have kept to their vision without deviating or compromising. Their home is earthy, green and modern yet very appealing and cosy.
Instead of a pipe, the rain water from their terrace is collected in a visually exciting rain chain which adds to the aesthetics, taking cue from water’s capillary action. Two small patches of green welcome you, a wire mesh enveloped in creepers works as a boundary between their house and the neighbour’s. Instead of a bare concrete wall, the creepers serve as a fence as well as bring more greenery to the home.
Ideal flooring
The flooring is done with natural kadappa stone; ideal for exterior flooring because of its ability to last long and withstand extreme pressure. The door at the entrance of the house is simple and solid procured from a Hassan forest auction and opens to a welcoming home done up in browns and brick orange.
The skylight with camouflaged lighting is to the left and brings in the daylight just as you enter. The roofs in the living and dining rooms are arch panel roofs. Such roofs are 30 per cent more economical when compared to conventional RCC structures. The stone walls, arch panel roofs and natural flooring lend a distinct character to their home.
Hourdi blocks, known for their resistance to fire, extreme weather conditions and ageing as well as their wonderful sound and thermal insulation ability, have been used in kitchen, rooms and rest of the house. The use of clay and stones makes the house cool unlike RCC homes. The terracotta tiles used in the rooms are economical and environment friendly.
“The effect is almost magical. The terracotta flooring keeps our rooms warm in winters and cool in summers. The clever use of skylights and French windows brings in the daylight making the fans, electric lights and heaters almost redundant,” said Rashmi.
Plenty of light
Facing the dining is a small courtyard which provides plenty of illumination – ideal for homes where one wants to incorporate green as well as have natural lights flowing. The kitchen, which opens to a small vegetable garden, is modern yet without the modular furniture which is all the rage now.
The architect made sure that they had all the benefits of a modular kitchen though. The big cupboards with different sized shelves to cater to varied kitchen knick-knacks are easy to use and durable. The basement next to the kitchen is not a dark place but a well lit open space where their children play and have plenty of room to themselves.
There’s a cosy corner adjacent to the staircase made from waste pieces of wood. The wall beside the staircase has a beautiful niche which houses souvenirs from Korea, books and family photos. On the first floor, the staircase landing opens out to a study and two bedrooms.
The space between the bedrooms is very cleverly used to make a library which opens out to another garden. The rooms are minimal yet the textured natural brick clad walls give it unique character. There is absolutely no need to paint the walls in most parts of the house.
The Lobos also have a studio attached to their villa just outside the main gate. It has a separate entrance working on different levels. The staircase in the kitchen and dining leads to a cosy bedroom with attached toilet. It is smallish but by far the most welcoming and warm part of the house.
Eco-friendly homes not only reduce carbon footprints but also bring down maintenance and utility bills. These homes are not only environment friendly but also cost effective. They are not expensive to build or design. Their house has a delicate blend of aesthetics, functionality and energy efficiency. It’s constructed with a smart design and requires minimal maintenance.
A house proud Austin Lobo says, “Our’s is an ever evolving design, warm and very environment friendly.”