A retreat for a couple residing in Chennai, the home in Kotagiri has two bedrooms, attached bathrooms, and an open living, kitchen, and dining space. In use for two to four months a year, the home is a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city, drawing them closer to nature by growing their food, spotting birds, and gardening, and eventually turning the home into a permanent one, to work out of, spend time living slowly, and entertain close friends and family.
Located on a fairly wild acre of land tucked away on a hill-side, this home in Kotagiri has entered its penultimate stage of construction and with every successive site visit, we asked How does scale play a part here? a corridor too long? a window too big? a room too small maybe?
The site is a corner plot accessed at the south-west corner, with large boulders on the south-east edge, a row of eucalyptus trees to the east, and a steep descent into the valley towards north. A slow-burn appreciation of the context made us create a semi-open atmosphere in the house. A decision that can challenge the degree of privacy one is usually comfortable with. Attempting to break a preconceived notion of scale (when there is an opportunity to do so) challenged the architect and client leading to discovery.
