The rural weekend retreat of Ksaraah by Taliesyn Design and Architecture is a testament to its scenic setting, while serving as a collaborative space for the local community
Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, with the mighty Savandurga Hill—one of the largest monolith hills in Asia—framing its backdrop, Ksaraah is a weekend retreat in the rural outreaches of the lively metropolitan of Bengaluru in southern India. Nestled amidst lush coconut and areca tree plantations, it reimagines living in the embrace of nature and aims to foster a direct connection with the outdoors, sans boundaries, while sheltering its inhabitants—a creative professional and her family.
The primary design challenge was to create a built environment that would belong within its context—one that would blend, harmonise and inspire, rather than shock and dominate. The design intervention, therefore, ensures minimum deviation from the existing landscape, while providing a space with limitless opportunities for the users to thrive in. An interplay of volumes and voids, the two-storeyed primary residence is perched atop the site’s highest level, framing views of the farms that stretch to the horizon. Resting weightlessly on a set of two lofty, bevelled arches, it creates an expansive column and wall-free spans with deep overhangs. The ground floor hosts communal spaces such as the living, the dining, and a sit-out area that are seamlessly entwined with nature. The master bedroom and its ensuite bathing chamber, as well as a private study lounge occupy the first floor. On the first floor, arched elements punctuate the space and complement the stark linearity of the structure. Tall, louvered windows in oak wood traverse the floor’s perimeter, creating a permeable envelope that invites trees and plants indoors, while allowing the users to control ventilation and daylighting. The spatial arrangement is specifically directed to blend with the landscape, blurring the boundaries between the built and the unbuilt. A sleek, exterior staircase connects the two levels next to a pool—the epicentre of the residential quarters—with a backdrop marked by a feature stone wall. The wall creates a three-dimensional site partition and marks the transition between the private and public functions of the house, while unifying the visual narrative.
An Exercise in Placemaking
Beside catering to the requirements of its inhabitants, Ksaraah aims to address the needs of the local community as well. The design is focused on creating adaptable, multi-use, congregational spaces to bring people together and to foster activities and conversations. The idea to humanise, equalise and spiritualise holds strong here. At the heart of the site stands the 80-foot-long Pavilion, composed of rhythmic modules that are orderly and aesthetic. A dynamic progression of circular columns stipple its perimeter, referencing the surrounding plantations; it is designed to ‘disappear’ once the surrounding trees grow to their maximum heights. The Pavilion is a dynamic arena of sorts. Always bustling with energy, this recreational space can host an evening soiree, an artistic installation, a dance recital, or a musical rendezvous with equal flair. Open to all including the local villagers, the Pavilion has been used as a classroom by the local school during the pandemic and hosted a play as part of the annual village function jatre. The cellar of the residential quarters, which houses a studio for the inhabitants to profoundly delve into their creative processes, can also be used to engage with fellow artists on collaborative projects.
A Feast for the Senses
Ksaraah creates a sanctum of rejuvenation away from urban bustle. It is designed to continually transform, with nature as its protagonist. The play on the sensual and perceptual abilities of the inhabitants is heightened and ever changing as one traverses through the spaces. The effect of volume, light, shadow and textures in each space is designed to be specific to the function and time of day it is to be used. The same spaces seem very different when they are open or closed; when open, they feel like you are amidst the landscape and when closed, they offer a cosy, warm ambience. The louvers enveloping the first floor of the residential quarters look different with each passing hour, altering the spatial quality of the indoors according to the time of the day and the weather outside. The quality of light in the living spaces changes throughout the day; in the evening, the whole volume appears to almost float above the plantations. The sun traces visual poetry as it descends upon the Pavilion too, with its series of columns creating a rhythmic play of light and shadows. The spaces here act as a bare canvas for self-exploration and self-expression. Monochromatic concrete and cement finishes blend into the grey background on a dark, cloudy day. They are coupled with warm oak wood, which glistens in the sun and softens the architecture. Locally-sourced stones like Sadarahalli and Pink Magadi complete the textural leitmotifs of the residence. This spectrum of materials have been pieced together keeping in mind that they age gracefully and require minimal maintenance—so surfaces develop a timeless patina over time and merge with the landscape.
Being One with Nature
The design intervention was consciously limited in terms of changing the landscape or the natural occurrences within the site, so as to ensure that the processes of shrishti (creation), stithi (sustenance) and samhara (dissolution) continue without any interruption. Materials were chosen to last long. Stones were sourced locally from nearby quarries, while waste stones were recycled into furniture. In the interiors, the khadi bedding and toiletries are all natural. Soft furnishings, such as the kansa crockery, are a celebration of traditional Indian craftsmanship. Solar energy powers the entire building. To reduce the need for mechanical air conditioning, unwanted wall envelopes are negated and instead replaced with plants and trees. Breathing walls for the sheltered spaces reduce indoor temperatures by an index of 4 degrees, ensuring optimal, natural air circulation and natural lighting throughout the day. The pool, designed to catch the flow of the NE-SW breeze, also aids in evaporative cooling and creates a comfortable microclimate on the site. The cellar with its stone walls and the earth filling around it remains cool throughout the year. Without any filtered or added chemicals, the pool doubles up as a storage tank for the vegetation around. Waste water from the household is recycled and channelled towards farming activities, nurturing the plantations of chikoo, mango and banana trees on the site. Sculptural trees and flowering species are braided into the existing flora, densifying the greenery that will eventually thrive.
Factfile
Project: Ksaraah, Bengaluru Rural
Architects: Taliesyn Design and Architecture, Bengaluru
Typology: Retreat Residential (Weekend Home)
Principal architects: Shalini Chandrashekar and G.S.
Mahaboob Basha
Design team: Siri, Yatheesh Kune, Vishnu Naidu
Site area: 4 acres
Built-up area: 487 sq m
Year of completion: 2021