Residential

Civic

Landscape

Commercial

Design Competitions

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Suburban Home

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Private Apartment

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"शान्त" (Shant), meaning "calm," was the client's primary request for a family home designed in accordance with the ancient practices of Vastu Shastra in the heart of Birgunj city, a modern industrial/business hub in the Terai region of Nepal. The location faces south, with the main entrance on the southeast and the building designed on the east side. The principles of Vastu Shastra have been considered in the planning of various spaces and their flow.
Primary circulation and central spaces are planned around a courtyard to allow for natural light and ventilation in Birgunj's hot climatic zone. The living room has a continuity of nature from the exterior landscape as the courtyard extends to an outdoor dense garden on the northern patch of land. The ground level is planned to provide natural daylight interior from the skylight while having sufficient cross-ventilation from the northern side through corridors and the central courtyard towards the dining space to the south and circulating to upper levels as well. The upper levels are connected to the courtyard for a sense of openness and connectivity. Upon entering, one experiences the grandeur and clarity of the central courtyard, which has an extended clear height around which an open plan of living, kitchen, and dining spaces is comfortably planned, embracing the connection inside while also extending to the garden on all sides. Circulation from the central space around the courtyard leads to the upper spaces where there is a more private family room for private gatherings. The room overlooks the central courtyard as well as the lawn to the east side. This split level allows for a higher floor-to-ceiling height of central space. The kitchen is planned to the southeast while a secondary kitchen is to the southwest, connected by a common family dining room opening to the central court and southern garden. The sleeping quarters for guests/grandparents are pushed towards the southwest for privacy. A puja room is located next to the living room towards the east side. The bedrooms on the upper level are planned to have their own bathroom and closet space along with a balcony. The laundry and fitness room are located on the top floor. The south-facing bedroom is designed with a latticed brick wall pattern, commonly known as Jali, as well as a cavity wall for insulation. Louvered openings bring in the play of light inside while screening harsh sunlight during the daytime. There is a small outdoor pavilion/hall to the northeast closer to the entrance for office purposes and gathering events. The property has controlled access for pedestrians, vehicles, and service purposes as well at the entrance.
The interplay of linear volumes made of brick, plaster, and textured concrete, along with green planters that provide a natural contrast to the facade, adds warmth to the built volumes, which is a unique yet familiar architectural style of the area. The family had envisioned the project to be more than just a well-crafted built structure; they wanted it to become a home, and the interplay of these elements evokes a sense of belonging. The brick Jali patterns create a perforated volume that breaks into the solid mass, and natural light and shadow have been well-considered to provide a variety of experiences inside. A mandala pattern is embedded on the walls of the entrance, and all these small details contribute to a sense of belonging and ultimately create a space that feels like home.

Interplay of Volumes

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An urban retreat, Nagarkot is a popular destination near Kathmandu where people go to escape the summer heat and enjoy the freshness of the hills. It carries a rich traditional architectural heritage and features a diverse agricultural landscape. In 2019, Gaatha got an opportunity to create a twin residential farmhouse in this picturesque location. The design is Gaatha&rsquo;s take on contemporary architecture on a hilly landscape in Nepal.&nbsp;
The project sits on terrain facing mountains and hills to the north, capturing the view of Kathmandu valley in the distance, and also has a community temple to the immediate west side. Having a good knowledge of the site and its surroundings, the main idea behind the design was to create a place that exudes serenity while also being a part of a traditional neighborhood. Nagarkot has numerous settlements scattered throughout the hills that have a common characteristic of open frontward spaces in a typical traditional house. Therefore, the design of the farmhouse was planned to have a similar character of flow and connection of open spaces and built mass put together, despite being in a gated-secure environment and being private property. The farmhouse is tucked into the hilly landscape and incorporates a split volume in the structure that follows the stepped terrain of the land. The volume is designed with maximum glazing and light materials to bring clarity and lightness to the structure, so the mass would sit coherently with the sloping landscape. A central lawn with a stepped garden accompanies the twin farmhouse. The split volume is designed so that the living room extends outwardly to a veranda while the internal space has a central water courtyard that connects the open-plan kitchen and dining area. A central staircase acts as a backdrop circulation of the central court leading to the upper level, which has two bedrooms with private balcony space. Both houses have a backyard that provides a safer place in terms of wind and openness for family gatherings and private events. The backyard connects to the rooftop, where the landscape can be enjoyed in full grandeur.
The interior design, done in collaboration with an external team of interior designers named Coconut Groove Interiors headed by Ms. Maple, has a warm finish throughout, with naturally lit spaces all around. The central skylight drops all the way to the lower water court, bringing nature into the volume and giving a sense of free-flowing internal space expanding towards the external surrounding. All the rooms and circulation spaces frame the distant landscape and immediate gardens, offering a variety of experiences within the house.

Intersection

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Neutral Nest

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Located in the posh residential neighborhood of Baluwatar in Kathmandu, the concept for redesigning the interior for residential purposes was to incorporate a Neo-classical sense into a contemporary design style. The client's possession of a collection of Neo-classical furnishings evoked the concept that the design incorporates in the central living room, creating an interior living space that blends elements from the past and present.
The central hallway connects the main entrance to the common living space and leads into the dining area. A centrally located linear staircase connects the penthouse's living space with the central living room while providing ample natural daylight coming from the penthouse. The apartment consists of three bedrooms, all luxuriously fitted with private attached sanitary rooms. The penthouse has open and semi-open terrace arrangements with a private living room and a kitchenette. The bedroom on the top floor penthouse comes with an extended closet room with lavish sanitary finishing and a gym with supporting amenities of sanitary facilities, all arranged on the top floor penthouse. The penthouse also has private access along with a connection to the apartment below.

Neo classical

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Residence Extension