The grandparents house

The clients brief asked for child friendly house though the permanent residents of the house were an elderly couple and their college-going son. The frequent visits of the married daughters and their young kids weighed in determining the design brief and thus influenced all aspects of design. The first and foremost of which was to accommodate all living spaces on the ground floor and the grandparents sought to be connected with the kids and have an easy access around the house at all times.

The need for privacy of the client is also reflected in the design. The house is arranged around two outdoor spaces with varying degrees of privacy. The front garden with its fully-grown lignum and terminalia trees is used more for family/social gathering as it is exposed to the car park and gate. During a suitable time usually evenings the kids run around there or take a swing. keeping in mind the privacy factor the entrance to the house is also tucked behind a mass so it is not visible from the gate

The other outdoor space, the centrally located swimming pool and deck is introverted and private enough to be used any day at any time. It becomes the hub of activities especially during summer, when the kids take a dip in the pool and the family sits around. Most of the living spaces in the house look into this area

The staircase leads to the first floor, with open terraces and an evening room connected by a feature bridge overlooking the poolside. The bridge connects the front and the backside of the house, promoting visual transparency and connectivity. The gesture of the sleek vertical elements, allows the user to glance in to the double height dining Hall on one side and the pool on the other. Additionally the bridge shades the poolside and the deck area on the ground floor sanctioning an invitation during the daytime

Reflecting the client’s personality the house is formed simply by well-placed volumes and understated textures of washed terrazzo and grey cement plaster. The neutral material palette enhances the richness of teak wood used all over the house. In the interiors, the surfaces will mostly kept smooth and rounded bearing in mind a kid’s vulnerability. Karachi- known for its hot summer and mild winter, being on the Arabian Sea coast is blessed by the sea breeze, which moderates the city’s weather. On a west facing plot the U-shaped quad arrangement of the house captures the pleasant prevailing South-west breeze whereas, two bedrooms facing the North East have a provision of a wind catcher for their ventilation

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