True to its name Retreat Home by Neogenesis+Studi0261 is a get-away house to escape the frenzied hustle bustle of the city life.
A holiday home to a diamond merchant in Surat, this elemental yet contemporary house has been designed to embrace extended families making room for warm interactions as it seamlessly connects the indoor with the outdoor.
The idea was to envisage a space where rustic extravagance entwines with comfort, where every detail is meticulously crafted to create lasting memories.
In its first appearance, the abode reveals itself as a two-tiered linearly designed structure partly camouflaged in the greens. The house sits there with a picturesque pitched roof, overlooking an abundance of greens waiting to express its narrative.
The entry is through a linear passage opening up into a large foyer that further opens to the view of the courtyard.
The house uses rubble masonry of Rajula stone for elevation on the ground floor to create a visually stronger base. Its earthy tones and textures contribute to a sense of connection to the nature while adding a sensory dimension to the architecture.
The first floor majorly accommodates bedrooms and informal areas, all dedicated to family’s personal space. The elevation, here, embraces exposed brickwork for all outward walls giving it depth and character. The cavity walls make room for the deep-seated windows working as a seamless shading device. In between the two floors, lies a band of exposed concrete adding a layer of visual interest influencing the perceived scale. The steel framing for roof with Mangalore tiles above completes the composition. The underside of the roof has been cladded with plywood panels to provide warmth to the interiors and contrast with pale lime-plastered walls in the interiors. Flooring is decked with kota stone laid in diverse patterns in different areas to simulate a definition of the space. The living area has a terrazzo pattern made out of kota stone strips such that it forms its own carpet like look. The interiors have a muted palette of teak and white oak wood, lime plastered walls, kota flooring with a hint of brass, all creating a cohesive ether.
Large airy rooms with minimal furniture gives the residents the poetic liberty of having a humble rustic simplicity without compromising on modern comforts.
Each threshold has been very meticulously designed, making it agreeably enjoyable in any weather. Wooden finished trellis on the otta at the living room and the sports room cut the south-west sun while witnessing a varying sociography throughout the day with a quintessential Indian swing taking the centre stage.
The landscape has been consciously designed with species viz. gulmohar, neem, banyan, coconut tree, tabebuia rosea, all that connect to the tropical context profoundly echoing with our roots. The open area is further peppered with red agra stone pathways, irregularly cut and strewn over the grass.
The overall design and the material palette have a timeless eminence that can withstand changing architectural trends, often improving in appearance over time as it ages gracefully and gains character.
Team:
Architects: NEOGENESIS+STUDI0261
Design and Execution Team: Heta Patel, Prachi Jariwala, Nilufer Contractor, Dhruvi Bhatt,
Project Architects: Ar. Chinmay Laiwala , Ar. Jigar Asarawala, Ar. Tarika Asarawala
Text Credits: Nilufer Contractor
Site Engineer: Er. Ronak Khambhadiya
Structural engineer: Er. Jalil Sheikh
Electrical Engineer: Jayesh Bhai Patel, Ajju Bhai & Jitu Bhai
Contractor: Riva Contructions & Consultancy
Photographer: Ishita Sitwala / The Fishy Project
Materials Used:
HVAC Consultant: Cooline Agency PVT. LTD- Daikin
Window Vendor: Facaade- Mr. Pawan Iyenger
Furniture Agency: Carpenter Arjun Bhai
Flooring Agency: Harshad Bhai
Neocement Flooring Agency: Colortek
Stone Vendor: Platina Stone
Tiles Vendor: Stone world
Exposed Brick Agency: Mukund Bhai
Fabricator: Vasudev Engineering and Pramod Bhai
Color and Texture Agency: Vinod Yadav
Lighting Design: Custom designed by Neogenesis+Studi0261
Lights Vendor: Global Light
Soft Furnishings: Isral Bhai
Mangalore Roof Tile Vendor: Surface Element
Landscape Design: Neogenesis+Studi0261
Landscape contractor: Tulsi garden consultant- Yogesh Avaiya
Ready Furniture: Dtale Modern, Higold Mumbai and Saga Lifestyle, Tectona Grandis
Tile: Marfil and Nexion
Exposed Brick: Jai Jalaram Brick works(JJB)
Color: Dulux India, Ica pidilite and MRF
Ready Lights: Hyback, Artlight, Shobhan the light studio, Ikea
Soft Furnishings: Curtains- Rowan Decor
Bedding- Ikea
Bathroom fittings and sanitary-ware: Grohe and Kohler
Fan: Fanzart and Havells
Glass: Vardhaman glass
Mangalore Roof Tile Vendor: KEBE Manufactures Marseille ideal roof tiles
Planters: Source design, Higold Mumbai, Tulsi garden consultant- Yogesh Avaiya
