In Lebanese poet Kahlil Gibran’s lyrical compilation, The Prophet, one finds the key ingredients necessary to establish and maintain an idyllic life. Within its pages, in the chapter On Houses, Gibran pens down dictums that rhythmically define some of the visceral longings of the soul—which are often discredited via seemingly logical reasonings. The poet pronounces:

"Would the valleys were your streets, and the green paths your alleys, that you might seek one another through vineyards, and come with the fragrance of the earth in your garments.
But these things are not yet to be.
In their fear your forefathers gathered you too near together. And that fear shall endure a little longer. A little longer shall your city walls separate your hearths from your fields."

Against this reality, any architectural project, especially residential structures, conceived in the midst of unadulterated landscapes, not only stands out but also inspires the nascent and intrinsic desire to bridge the gap between the urbane and the environment. One such project that I recently came across is a private house designed and built by NS STUDIO Architecture & Design in Tvaladi, Georgia. The Tbilisi-based architecture studio, founded by Luka Chaganava and Nini Tchanturia, conceived the residential building as a single-family home in the village of Tvaladi in eastern Georgia.

Tvaladi is known for having served as the residence of the kings of Kartli during the mediaeval period. Today, it hosts a mediaeval church and a palace. A humbly sized village, it is populated by 500 residents who live in the midst of the wilderness and the hills. The private residence designed by NS STUDIO, too, stands on an undulating site that stretches unencumbered towards the hills. When asked about the ethos that guides the studio, the architects shared, “The ethos guiding work as an architect is multifaceted, reflecting a blend of artistic vision, technical expertise and a deep understanding of the social, cultural and environmental contexts in which architecture exists.” Elaborating upon the implementation of this approach in the private house in Tvaladi, they narrated, “The design of the house was harmonised with the contours of the land, ensuring a seamless integration with the natural terrain. Emphasis was placed on framing the majestic mountain views as the central focal point.”

Linearly shaped, the structure kinks in the middle. While one side of this kink accommodates private areas such as bedrooms, the other side hosts semi-public areas within the structure. The facades of these two spaces are designed in accordance with their usages, too. While the semi-public zone is enveloped in a glass facade that visually connects the inside to the outside, the more private zone is opaque, with skylights and clerestory windows illuminating the indoors. This melding of the stone facade (redolent of old structures) with the minimalist mien of the glass panels represents the synthesis of the old and the new.

The materials used to build the structure, stone, wood and metal, were finalised keeping in mind the internal and external aura that the architects intended for the house to exude. Additionally, they are finished in a manner such that the structure may age gracefully. “The materials and colour scheme we've selected are so closely tied to the essence of the location that they naturally envelope each room, leaving little need for additional adornment. With the interior already exuding a sense of completeness, only functional pieces are necessary to enhance its innate allure,” the architects share. Further expanding on the inspiration behind using stone, the architects share, “The architectural style characterised by the use of stone imbues the village with a distinctive visual identity. This served as one of our inspirations to employ the same material, albeit reimagined in contemporary forms and designs.”

Backtracking to Gibran’s soulful litany, let’s examine some ideas declaimed by him in the following verses:

"Build of your imaginings a bower in the wilderness ere you build a house within the city walls.
For even as you have home-comings in your twilight, so has the wanderer in you, the ever distant and alone.
Your house is your larger body.
It grows in the sun and sleeps in the stillness of the night; and it is not dreamless. Does not your house dream? and dreaming, leave the city for a grove or hill-top?"

Emulating some of these timeless conceptions, the client expressed his desire for a rural retreat in their project brief. The residential architecture of this house was to be conceived in a manner such that it could host the whole family in the midst of the verdant surroundings. Hence, the resulting residential design encompasses a master bedroom, four other bedrooms, a double heighted living room, dining space and kitchen, a transitory distribution hall, an extended entertainment area on the first floor and a swimming pool, cellar, open kitchen and garage on site.

The entertainment zone on the first floor, expanding on an area of 146 square metres, houses a billiard table for games and a comfortable lounge space converted into a home theatre for movie nights. The cellar, on the other hand, stands adjacent to the house on the site and houses a separate kitchen and a spacious living and dining space with a fireplace. Both within and without the walls of the house are expanses that leave ample room for all sorts of leisure activities, lounging and daydreaming.

“The primary objective (of the design) is to create a sense of freedom within the house, fostering a deep connection with the surrounding natural environment,” the studio shares. This connection with the outside was achieved via constant communication with the client and the several site visits conducted by the architects during different times, weather conditions and phases of the project. “By immersing ourselves in the environment firsthand, we gained valuable insights into its natural elements, such as how sunlight plays on the landscape or how the terrain changes with the seasons,” the Georgian architects share. Further, these visits also inspired the architects creatively to achieve the final design and look of the structure.

In terms of services, the house and site are sourced with water via the natural reservoirs and groundwater sources available for the entire village. Since the structure has ample fenestrations and large expanses, the residential interiors are well ventilated. The usage of natural materials, too, ensures a comfortable indoor temperature. Additionally, the house is equipped with air conditioning to counter particularly severe temperatures.

The expansiveness of the outdoors is also reflected within the house, paving the way for Gibran’s redolent and oft-quoted words—found On Marriage—to materially manifest:

"let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance
between you."

Although these words (and the verses that follow) were conceived as guidance for romantic companions, one can find the relevance of its messaging with respect to all interpersonal relationships. By extension, it adeptly defines the necessity for the inclusion of free and versatile spaces with undesignated roles, within and beyond households. The residence designed by NS STUDIO does both with their generous planning. Not only are the semi-private spaces within the residence double-heighted, expansive and visually connected with the outdoor landscape, but the private rooms, too, find themselves enjoying connectivity to both the shielded indoor corridors and the stretching semi-shaded verandahs with panoramic views to the hilly terrain.

Project Details

Name: Private House in Tvaladi
Location: Village Tvaladi, Georgia
Area: 700 square metres
Year of completion: 2023
Architect’s firm: NS STUDIO
Lead architects: Luka Chaganava, Nini Chanturia
Design team: Luka Chaganava, Nini Chanturia, Mariam Karchkhadze