Architects around the world are coming up with new concepts while designing houses for their clients. With people looking to get out of city limits and buy bigger homes in the suburbs after the pandemic, the Japanese concept of shibosa – meant to evoke an appreciation of life – is starting to trend.
Veeram Shah | Photo credit: Special Arrangements
When a client approached Veeram Shah, an Ahmedabad-based architect and interior designer, to design a house in Baner, on the outskirts of Pune, the client asked for a practical use of 2,000 sq.ft. available space.
Given his client’s needs, Shah was confident that the Shibosa concept would make it possible. Shibosa refers to simple, subtle, and unobtrusive beauty in relation to Japanese aesthetics and ideal human behavior. Even as the architect focused on the use of natural materials such as wood, other simple materials and textures were used to complement the family’s efficient and active lifestyle. “Since the concept came to a designer like me, we went ahead with it,” says Shah.
Veeram Shah project in Pune. | Photo credit: Special Arrangements
The designer sought to reinvent how old materials are perceived in the market for a modern Indian home with an abundance of new ones. Wood, brass, cane, lime plaster, concrete, stone and fluted glass were used for this project based on their earthy and imperfectly perfect qualities. The project started in 2019 and completed in 2021.
Small is doable.
Shah says the same can be replicated in smaller spaces. “Most definitely, yes. The beauty of Shibosa, and the concept of this project as a whole, does not lie in the concept of large square footage. In fact, the concept is to allow users to interact with the environment based on their needs. “Depends on incentives and not on the specific use of the room,” he says.
“In this home, we’ve allowed the kitchen to be a cooking and dining space, while the dining room has multiple functions as a dining and working space. The lounge isn’t just limited to the living room. But also for a more relaxing time in the bedroom,” says Shah.
Sustainability is very important to building a Shibosa home, as responsible sourcing is an integral part of our design process. “All the wood used in our projects is reclaimed,” says Shah. “Our general tendency is to use materials that are locally sourced and are close to their natural state. Conscious As such, we stay away from merely visually appealing/’artificial’ spaces. Instead, our focus is on creating spaces that are ‘timeless’, that evolve with the user and social context.
Architects generally learn from each other and adapt to people’s changing needs. With the end of COVID-19 and the availability of work-from-home options, homebuyers outside the city limits are looking to refine their choices.
Silence and simplicity
Architects have a project called Estate Palavo in Wayanad, Kerala. “Estate Palavo is the perfect example of how a villa embodies beauty, elegance, timelessness, and the simplicity of a place with nature,” says George E. Ramapuram, principal and director of Earth Tactics. As Shibosa’s concept focuses on simplicity and silence, Earth Tactics aims to create structures that are in harmony with the environment, and promote a healthy and sustainable way of life.
Estate Palau in Wayanad. | Photo credit: Special Arrangements
Nestled in the wilderness of Wayanad, Estate Palavo is inspired by the architecture of hill bungalows crafted entirely from natural materials. “Estate Plavo uses wood floors, random rubble walls, cobblestone paths, and log rafters, which show the pleasing interplay of stone and wood. Flooring, joinery, switchboards, skirting, and furniture ‘Live Edge’ is handcrafted from teak wood that lends warmth and grain to spaces. The wood used to craft the space portrays its authenticity, with ‘live edges’ Accentuate the natural character. Rough, chipped and unpolished stones make up the thick irregular rubble walls of the lodges. Other natural materials featured in the architects’ stone lodges include clay roof tiles, eucalyptus roof poles. , there is custom-made granite for the counters and stone deck flooring.
George E. Ramapuram | Photo credit: Special Arrangements
It focused on delivering content locally. “Sustainability and innovation should be at the heart of any residential project. For example, the raw materials used in State Palau were sourced either from the site or locally around Wayanad. Some of the stones was cut to create random rubble walls, while the remaining teak wood was used to make fixtures and fittings. The greenery and local materials used on the forest site maintained an internal temperature of 16°C-26°C. maintains between , which is a stark contrast to the main town of Wayanad. We have used a bird-friendly landscape here, resulting in 80 species of birds finding a home within our property,” ‘ says Ramapuram.
Shalini Chandrashekhar Photo credit: Special Arrangements
‘Introduction to Internal Complements’
A project not far from the center of Bengaluru is Kasara, built by Taliesin. “Kusara is a weekend retreat that reimagines living in the lap of nature, while sheltering its occupants – a creative professional and his family,” says Shalini Chandrasekhar, principal and director of the company. Shalini Chandrasekhar, principal and director of the company, says:
For Chandrasekhar, empty spaces serve as a bare canvas for self-exploration and self-expression. Talking about the materials used for the project, she says, “Monochrome concrete and cement finishes blend into the gray background. They are paired with warm oak wood, which shimmers in the sun.” and softens the architecture. Locally sourced stones such as Sudrahali and Pink Magadi complete the structural leitmotif of the residence. This spectrum of materials is brought together considering that the beauty are aged and require minimal maintenance, so the surfaces develop a timeless patina over time and blend into the landscape.”
She adds, “Sustainability takes place during the building process and after the building is constructed. We recycled materials and used many interior finishes to reduce our carbon footprint. The new pieces Much of the furniture and accessories have been passed down from generation to generation to remove the need to buy. Materials have been chosen to last. Stones have been sourced locally from nearby quarries. Recycled in. Khadi bedding and toiletries are all natural. Soft furnishings celebrate traditional Indian craftsmanship, such as Kansa crockery. Solar energy powers the entire building. To reduce the need for mechanical air conditioning, Unwanted wall envelopes are negated and replaced with plants and trees. Optimal, natural air circulation and daylight throughout the day. Pool, which captures NE-SW wind flow. designed for, also helps evaporative cooling and creates a comfortable microclimate on site.The stone walls of the cellar and its The surrounding ground is cool throughout the year. The pool, with no filtered or added chemicals, doubles as a storage tank for the surrounding vegetation. Household wastewater is recycled and diverted to farming activities, nurturing the on-site mango, banana and banana trees. Sculptural trees and flower species are integrated into the existing vegetation, giving density to the greenery that will eventually flourish.”
