JP House, Bengaluru, India

Built on a compact 180 sqmt site, the house is distributed on three levels and includes two interconnected apartments; living, working and studio spaces for the family of an illustrator on two levels, and the ground floor housing their elderly parents. The street facing front side of the house is sheathed by a light blue perforated screen. Incorporating a system of openable panels this screen allows the house to breathe and respond to the flows of nature, daylight and conditions outside.

 The daytime spaces, including a double height living area, are oriented towards the eastern street side of the site, filtered by the screen, while the night time spaces overlook a lush public garden on the west side.

The perforated metal façade is envisioned as a “filigree”; it incorporates simple but sophisticated detailing to retain the ‘lightness ‘of the element, while using readily available metal sections. The custom screen system was realised through a close collaboration with a fabricator, who has a passion for detail in metal working. An exercise in balancing performance with minimal, essential and rugged detailing, craft plays a role here as much as engineering.

The parameters that structure this project and site are common to most tight urban residences in cities like Bangalore. Concerns like security and privacy need consideration as much as light, ventilation and energy efficiency. We approached this brief with an intent to create a framework for enduring luxury in domestic space not defined by the cost of materials used but through natural light, quality of space and adaptability by the inhabitants.

Location: Bangalore, India
Design Team : Bhavana Kumar, Nicola La Noce, Nitya Kumar
Site Area: Variable
Client: Bangalore Literature Festival
Status: Built/ Dismantled
Year : 2014                                                       Photographs: Kumar La Noce