1. Jan-Feb 2011

INTERIOR
Details and details
The identities of the spaces are made
transparent to idealize them to their
particular usage, yet separation to their
architectural demonstration has been
wisely planned. As one steps on the
telia finished lobby, to the left is a well
furnished room furnished with custommade
furniture. This living room, with three
walls having textured paint, the fourth
wall is finished with rough textured tiles.
The ceiling has horizontal rafters running
longitudinally through the room, like the
support members that gives impressions
of traditional Nepali homes. The furniture
and furnishings fill up the empty spaces
between the traditional and contemporary
entities. The architect has been precise on
detailing, avoiding any kind of constraint
in identity, which otherwise would
deteriorate the intangible value. To the
right of the lobby is a slightly elevated
waiting space that is visually connected to
the living as well as the dining area at the
first landing level.
The building design in chore of
complimenting the land profile has been
planned in a split level. The first landing,
at 4’-8” is the dining area, the dry kitchen
and the wet kitchen (the detached wet
kitchen is connected to the dry one and is
also approachable from the outer lawn).
The traditionally set eating area between
the dining and the kitchen is as justified
as the contemporary dining hall with
furniture appearing as wooden planks, and
a chandelier elevated parallel to the table.
The dining is merged with the ambience of
a garden to the east, - a multi-functional
space that can also host as an eat-out
area.
The staircase, guided by a wall with niches,
is an interesting alter to the intimidating
structural slabs and acts as transition
between the split areas, as well as
recesses to plan for. As the foot-lit timber
finished stairway leads to the first floor
level at 9’4”, at the second landing, beyond
the partition wall with niches, it opens out
to a family room. This intermittent landing
lobby space, acts as transition space as
well as a barrier, in between the semiprivate
ground floor to the private upper
floors. From this space, the visibility to the
master bedroom and the upper gym area
is enhanced with a chandelier hung in the
open well staircase.
The guest washroom at the
ground floor in a polygonal
shape compliments the
planned spaces.
This three storey building envelope has
pergolas, recesses and projections, with
the play of mass and void and the detailing
in and out.
www.spacesnepal.com 66
January-February 2011