Asmalay House / Blurring Boundaries

Architects: Blurring Boundaries
Area: 2000 ft²
Year: 2023
Photographs: Inclined Studio
Manufacturers: GM, IIA CAD, Jaquar
Architects: Prashant Dupare, Shriya Parasrampuria
Junior Architect: Archiit Chatterjee
Structural Engineer: Himanshu Tulpule
Civil Contractor: Mahesh Patil
Ferrocement Contractor: Sunil Gade
Landscape Contractor: Kundesh Patil
Fabricator: Amit Thanekar
Electrical Contractor: Dinesh Lahangi
City: Alibag
Country: India

Asmalay House, designed by Blurring Boundaries in Alibag near Mumbai, is a biophilic home that seamlessly integrates architecture with nature. The design incorporates natural and recycled materials, traditional wisdom, and passive design strategies, emphasizing sustainability. Organic curves embrace the site’s mango trees, creating a harmonious spatial arrangement. Features include naturally illuminated, well-ventilated spaces, a north-facing Ferro cement roof, and brick-arched windows. The home blends interior and exterior environments, offering a vision of harmonious human habitation with nature.

Located in the coastal town of Alibag near Mumbai, ‘Asmalay’ is a biophilic home nestled among a lush tapestry of mango trees. The design embraces the harmonious interplay of architecture and nature, creating immersive experiences through a thoughtful fusion of form and function. Spatial arrangement, materials, lighting, and colors synergize to establish a sense of harmony. The residence integrates natural and recycled materials, traditional wisdom, and passive design methodologies, making it a celebration of sustainable living.

The design concept revolves around organic curves that gently encompass five mango trees on the site. The open floor plan and interconnected spaces provide versatility and adaptability, with each area seamlessly transitioning into the next along gracefully curved walls, creating a unified and continuous spatial ambiance. Upon entering, a curved brick jali sparks curiosity, leading to a captivating transition into multifunctional living and dining areas. The dining space flows effortlessly into an open kitchen, while the communal areas uphold an understated yet practical aesthetic. The upper floor, which contains private quarters, maintains a consistent and soothing textural palette that continues from the ground floor.

The dwelling features naturally illuminated and well-ventilated spaces, strategically aligned with the orientation and prevailing winds. The curvature of the openings aligns with both the orientation and the configuration of the existing trees. Brick-arched windows enhance daylight and air circulation, creating a comfortable internal microclimate that protects against rising summer temperatures.

The Ferro cement roof, oriented northward, is carefully designed to accommodate the existing trees, whose expansive canopy provides natural shading, eliminating the need for air conditioning. Earthy hues are achieved using materials like brick and stone, thoughtfully combined with unique spatial arrangements. The use of rat-trap brick bonds enhances material efficiency and contributes to the brick structure’s insulation. The expressive potential of brick is showcased through textured wall treatments, corbelling, and distinctive apertures, where light and texture work together to create a warm ambiance. A recycled glass bottle wall on the ground floor, adjacent to the staircase, introduces playful daylight, creating an interplay of light and shadow that enriches the earthy color palette. Complementing the structure, built-in ferrocement furniture exemplifies a harmonious blend of functionality and design. This ‘selective detailing’ approach creates a contrast with the blue-toned ceiling, generating both contrast and harmony.

The architectural composition blurs the boundary between interior and exterior, seamlessly connecting occupants with their natural surroundings. ‘Asmalay’ exemplifies conscientious sustainability, born from meticulous efforts to create an ecologically mindful home. This dwelling represents a forward-thinking vision of human habitation coexisting harmoniously with the environment, demonstrating how architectural ingenuity can create spaces that nurture both the human spirit and the planet.