The past couple of years in India have witnessed a surge in the retention of traditional practices and a growing support for and trust in homegrown innovations and initiatives. Whether this can be attributed to a rise in nationalist politics in the country or the collective nostalgia for a seemingly simpler and more rooted lifestyle, is a matter of slight contention. The consequence of this trend, however, manifests across sectors—from branding new products and curating novel culinary and cultural experiences to product design, interior design and furniture design. Sometimes literal or aesthetic-based and at other times abstract or process-based, references to cultural traditions and practices enhance the USP of a design and help sustain the culture and heritage of disparate regions within the country.

Within the domain of architecture, cultural and vernacular inspirations often culminate in designs that are sustainable, regenerative and evocative of times when unhindered access to the natural environment was routinely plausible. Akin to various contemporary residences coming up—at the brink of urban and rural terrains—in India, SITH Villa, a residential building designed by Aagaram Architects melds traditional and novel aesthetics, features and processes. The result is a serene and innovative residential design, rooted in traditional processes and sustainability and appended by modern integrations.

SITH Villa, an exemplification of modern Indian architecture, lies on a linear site, along the Chennai-Bengaluru national highway near Vellore, Tamil Nadu and in the midst of expansive agricultural landscapes. Designed for a family of four, the private residence, with a built-up area of nearly 280 square metres, houses ample space for free movement within both its semi-private and private zones.

While the linear shape of the site posed challenges for the Indian architects initially, this cause for consternation was turned into an opportunity by orienting spaces such that every portion of the house is either visually or physically connected to the outside. Further, the architects punctured the linear mass at intervals, to retain a relationship with the proximal landscape while also optimising the airflow within the residence. Access to the outdoors from almost all points within the residence enhances the living experience of its occupants.

The transitional zones—often semi-shaded—pose as ideal nooks for lounging, quiet reading and social gatherings. These spots within the residence receive diffused natural light and cool breezes passing through brick jaali walls. Just like the age-old courtyards that succeed in simultaneously granting privacy and openness, these punctures within SITH Villa offer space for solitude without explicitly disconnecting from nature. On account of the punctured spaces within SITH Villa, traversing through its length makes for a dynamic experience. One is consecutively greeted by open and enclosed spaces while moving from one end of the house to the other. Large windows within the residence ensure ample inflow of natural light, keeping the indoors vibrant and reducing reliance on artificial lighting.

Despite the openness of the plan, different functions within the residence are contained within finite pockets. The living area is fronted by two small courtyards, offsetting this semi-public zone from the more private areas within the residence. The utility room, kitchen and dining room, are successively placed for convenience. The dining room also additionally opens towards the jaali brick wall, interrupted only by a staircase leading to the upper floor. The most private zones within the residence, namely, the three bedrooms, enjoy additional privacy from the rest of the areas, albeit not without measured connections to the outside. While one of the bedrooms lies at the farther end of the residence on the ground floor, the other two are placed on the first floor. All three bedrooms house dressing rooms and toilets and direct connections to plants and the outdoor landscape.

Beyond the spatial configuration of SITH Villa, the architects have ensured thermal optimisation of the residence with the usage of rammed earth walls. This consequently allows for a comfortable indoor temperature and reduced reliance on artificial heating or cooling. The employment of Laurie Baker’s rat trap brick bond in some of the walls further enhances indoor thermal comfort while also reducing brick usage, making the construction process resource and cost-efficient. Further, the usage of locally sourced recycled steel for the staircase also emphasises Aagaram Architects’ commitment to promoting circular economies. This inclination to use locally sourced, natural and sustainable materials helps create an earthy palette within the residence.

Some other features within SITH Villa that allude to vernacular architecture include the usage of Mangalore tiles for the living room and ground-floor bedroom floors as well as oxide finishes and leather-finished Kota stone for other flooring areas. These finishes are both aesthetically pleasing and conducive to Vellore’s warm climate.

The Mexican dome in the rear bedroom on the ground floor and the Rohtak domes on the first-floor bedrooms help eliminate the need for concrete and shuttering. These aesthetic features also exemplify innovations undertaken in brick within regions that experience comparable climates. Against the brick and rammed earth construction of SITH Villa, these architectural and structural features fit in inordinately well.

SITH Villa is an understated building that exemplifies the usage of locally sourced materials and traditional and innovative processes to shape a lively contemporary residence not bereft of modern amenities.

Project Details

Name: SITH Villa
Location: Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
Typology: Residential
Architect: Aagaram Architects
Lead Architect: Michael Barnala
Design Team: Premkumar M, Iyappan, MuthuSurya
Gross Built Area: 2994 sq ft
Year of Completion: 2022