The Brief: 

The Clients came to us with their 40 year old dilapidated bungalow looking to renovate the property and to generate rental income for their family. Our objective was to reuse the bungalow such that we address the following problems:

• The Severe Structural Damages to the front half of the structure (Corroded Steel Reinforcements in the Roof slabs, Water leaks through Floor and Roof Slabs among other issues)
• Improve Natural Light and Ventilation throughout the project
• Provide a new function to the Bungalow to generate viable income for the clients 
• Use/Re-Use Material resources throughout the project to minimise wastage while also sticking to our limited budget

With our objectives set we followed a simple and straightforward path for the design. We wanted the facade to be striking, timeless and one that aged well over time compared to the pared down interiors which was minimal and clean so as to facilitate the Function. The process of re-using existing materials and a minimal look enabled us to complete the entire process under 55 Lakhs. 

The Description:

Brick is one of the most popular and important building materials in architectural history and brickwork was predominantly used in domestic and industrial architecture. While many of these buildings are still operating today, it comes as no surprise that refurbishment and reuse are highly recommended techniques in the present day. The challenge lies in reusing these buildings and recycling the materials available, with the primary goal being to retain as much of the original structure. 

House of 2 Palms was a 40 year old dilapidated brick bungalow that was repurposed into a classic and minimalist residential complex. The project serves to be an example of minimising the construction wastage and reducing the carbon emissions through effective reuse of existing building materials. The interiors are predominantly in muted tones, the facade of the structure has a 30’ foot long perforated Brick wall that wraps up the main staircase and the veranda’s of both the units. The Brick Jalli is oriented in such a way to drive in the predominant winds from NE and SE directions throughout the year. Furthermore, the brick screen along with the one foot thick walls help regulate the inner temperature, thus aiding in reduced electricity consumption. 

The result is a timeless structure that wears the heart of construction on its sleeve - which is and always will be the brick!

The Brick Jalli Facade:

Inspired by the weaving patterns found in the Indian handicrafts and textile system, the brick jalli is made using 2 layers. The first is a solid layer of bricks laid in a horizontal pattern without any perforations. The second layer is made using a combination of solid and voids volumes with layering. The perforations are planned in such a way that the wind flow is directed into the common area of the built structure and this is done by placing the bricks in 30 and 60 degree angles at fixed intervals. Apart from the perforations the monotonous brick screen is broken up by rectangular openings of varying sizes to bring in additional light and ventilation into the veranda. The cast in place concrete openings also help frame the views from the building. 

House of 2 Palms exudes the south Indian simplicity commonly found in old Madras!