Charged Voids’ latest residential venture is a home-cum-office choreographed around a courtyard

Located in Sector-40, Chandigarh, Residence 1510 combines the home and work life of its owners. Though the residence occupies a plot across a busy road from a school, the house is designed to be a zen-like oasis amid urban babel.

The residence accommodates a four-generation family and the clients’ radiology centre, housed on the ground floor. The main design challenge for this project was to amalgamate the diverse requirements with the standard elements of a home without affecting the functionality of either zone. To accomplish this, the house is designed around a courtyard, which acts as a buffer between the home's public and private zones. It also connects the upper and lower floors visually but not acoustically, achieving the desired amount of privacy.

The unique front facade breaks rank with its neighbouring houses, with brise soleil lending it a distinctive character while breaking the west sun. They also incorporate adjustable louvres, with seating space behind them on the upper floor, making it an ideal spot for cosying up with a book or relaxing in the shade, depending on the season or the time of day.

Passive design measures are employed to reduce interior temperatures and maintain an optimum level of indirect sunlight. These measures are contributed to by the courtyard, deep verandahs, appropriate building orientation, and multiple terrace gardens. The material palette is limited to Sivakasi chiffon granite stone and white painted surfaces. This subtle palette adds to the home's overall zen-like, experiential character.