Blue Bird

A homely suburban dwelling at Nigdi, Pune; the Blue Bird symbolizes through its form, an azure avian perched peacefully on a hillock in the green environs of a sanctuary; ready to take flight, yet still rooted to the soil.

Approached by a modest sliding gate, the residence is fenced by an exposed brick compound wall, its square openings connecting the site with its surroundings. The massing of the building has been planned along an imposed grid of parallel planes oriented North-South on the ground floor, and from the East to West on the first floor; the criss cross beams supported by concealed columns. The ground floor, comprising the semi-private areas of living, family, dining room and kitchen; is rendered in exposed brick with long span arches punctuating the parallel walls. The entrance to the main lobby is through a series of such arched openings that define pathways, sit outs and utility areas, while further connecting the interior spaces with the private garden.

A double height living room flows into the dining area, delicately demarcated by a metal staircase, further opening out into the private backyard through the verandah. A circular cutout with cylindrical glass tubes castsdynamic light-shadow outlines on the walls of the living area. All the rooms on the ground floor have been furnished in red, yellow, blue and green, adding splashes of colour to the earthy tones of the exposed brickwork.

The parallel walls on the first floor extend into vertical fins along the large windows to the East and West, protecting and shading the private spaces like the bedroom, study, lobby and meditation room. Smaller openings along the north and south provide connection with the outside, as linear skylights at terrace level illuminate the rooms on this first floor. The walls on the first floor are finished in royal blue, complementing the raw brick finish below; while seemingly connecting the upper floor with the sky.
An overhead water tank, enclosed by grey angular walls, forming a rising ‘V’ shape; resembles the wings of a bird preparing for flight. Symbolic and unique, the water tank acts as an elevational feature, complementing the dynamic form of the building below.
The bedrooms are provided with gently sloping roofs while the meditation room has a pyramidal roof profile; both complete with photovoltaic panels for green energy. Bathrooms are visually linked with their respective bedrooms through clear glass partitions, their skylights, naturally illuminating the free-flowing private space.
The Blue Bird encompasses the literal manifestation of the principles of organic architecture, its earthy material palette and perforated built mass promoting the subtle fusion of interior and exterior space. The Landscaping features like the lawn, water body, benches, pathways and planters too, reflect the natural material tones, acting as an extension of the interior spaces. The subtle blend of Architectural and interior elements with the landscape ensures harmony between the inhabitant and his natural environment, promoting the formation of a spiritual bond between man and nature.