Beton brut, a brutalist house wrapped in a raw concrete envelope
tHE gRID Architects
House
/
Completed
"Beton Brut" is an exceptional standalone home. True to its name, the house showcases an exposed concrete structure brutalist style. The design inspiration for the concrete canopies came from the imagery of an Indian woman shielding herself from the sun using her pallu a traditional garment. The interior narrative harmoniously combines Indian elements like old carved panels, jharokha (balcony), and decorative vessels, seamlessly blending them with the architectural ambiance. Sun-protected southwest-facing home design to combat intense sunlight and heat. Spacious design fosters togetherness and celebrates individual personalities. The home also aimed to intertwine intangible experiences with tangible architectural forms, offering diverse encounters within its physical structure.
The architecture seamlessly integrates balconies and green pockets, connecting with the urban landscape. Deep overhangs ensure outdoor comfort in sunlight and heat. All living spaces have access to staggered terraces or gardens. The central volume, with a landscaped court and stairwell, features two skylights, plus a third in the living room. A linear slit-like opening illuminates the concrete's timber textures. The second skylight, a faceted structure with a cut-out, brings light to the stairwell and green court. Extensive glazed fenestration fosters a constant connection with nature. The design considers site, climate, and client. It is centrally located in the urban city, harmonizing with sunlight and greenery
The exposed RCC structure incorporates drought-friendly plants on southwest-facing terraces, promoting biodiversity. Strategically positioned trees protecting from the heat. Indoor plants maintain moisture levels. The design is a visual statement, embodying purity of form, establishing a meaningful relationship between the house, city, & nature. The honesty and purity of materials, allowing their inherent beauty to shine without cosmetic overlays. Grey concrete, the central material, takes center stage in both the architectural and interior narratives, featuring textured timber imprints from the casting process. Sandstone, Kota stone, sunlight, & teakwood furniture harmonize with the building material creating a perfect balance between simplicity and richness.
dezeen long list 2022
The architectural genesis was a quintessentially Indian image. Light played a pivotal role, considering the plot's southwest orientation. To optimize sunlight, a garden was placed on the west side. Finalizing the floor plan posed a challenge as the architectural envelope seemed disproportionate to the home's scale. To address this, the rectangular structure was sliced, staggered, and selectively "erased" to create a cantilevered canopy. The result was a visually lightweight and delicate design featuring deep overhangs, shielding fenestration from direct sunlight and walls from heat. This skewed composition gave rise to three tiers of cantilevers, providing sheltered terraces and pockets for greenery. Enclosed spaces now thrive amidst lush foliage. Committed to pure and honest materiality, Beton Brut embraced a brutalist aesthetic, showcasing bare concrete, geometric forms, a monochrome palette, and a monolithic presence. This fusion artfully combined a brutalist expression rooted in emotion with traditional Indian motifs. The interior spaces subtly incorporated Indian elements, enriching the design narrative. By blending the "brutal" aspects of social housing ideals with traditional Indian typologies, a unique form of neo-brutalism emerged. Beton Brut, meaning "raw concrete" in French, exudes strength and confidence while embodying a tender and emotive essence. It beautifully harmonizes the raw beauty of concrete with traditional Indian aesthetics.
A journey of brutalism in congruence with indianness. The idea was to design in such a way that concrete has an impact. Our home speaks volumes with its boldness and soulful tranquility. As an entrepreneur and poet, I yearned for a space that harmoniously blends functionality and creativity. My son, a passionate wildlife photographer, needed a space for inspiration. Beton Brut beautifully captures our unique journey—a testament to striking form and gentle spirit.
/23
An alluring image of an Indian woman protecting her face and head from the sun with the graceful folds of her sari pallu was the inspiration when it came to creating a home sheltered from harsh climatic elements
PHX India
With the decision of creating a pure structure that respected honesty of materiality, the architectural path was determined as a brutalist one, typified by bare concrete, geometric shapes, a monochrome palette and a monolithic appearance.
PHX India
Controlling southwest sunlight was a challenge. Natural light's power to promote positivity and wellness is unmatched. Drought-friendly trees were strategically placed to shield the house from southwesterly heat as they grow.
PHX India
A modest entrance, sheltered by a concrete canopy, features a three-meter-tall door with an outward scoop and embedded stone. Material selection prioritizes honesty and purity, allowing their inherent beauty to shine without cosmetic embellishments.
PHX India
The initial architectural envelope seemed bulky and disproportionate. To address this, we sliced and staggered the rectangular box, strategically erasing the bottom portion to derive the canopy. The concept was proofed by studying the sun's path.
PHX India
The result was a visually light structure with deep overhangs that protected fenestration from sunlight and walls from heat. Skewing created three cantilever layers, with terraces and pockets for plantation.
PHX India
Architectural articulation incorporates balconies and green pockets, seamlessly weaving greenery into the narrative. Deep overhangs protect balconies, ensuring comfortable outdoor enjoyment for occupants of this southwest-facing structure.
PHX India
Artifacts, furniture, and artworks throughout the home infuse personality and soften the ambiance. Reclaimed panels and brackets from traditional structures like haveli houses and mandapa pavilions add character to the spaces.
PHX India
Within the double-height living space, a wooden jharokha window, traditionally projecting from a building's exterior, is mounted on the wall. It offers a glimpse into the space from a first-floor bedroom, infusing ornamental beauty to the brutalist envelo
PHX India
This central volume is crowned by, not one skylight, but two. Seen here is a faceted structure with a cut-out that pours glare-free light into the stairwell and the green court below.
PHX India
Light as an empowerment of space, an animating force, as a medium of well-being. Light as a design tool. Exploration of these aspects created spaces that stood at the intersection of these ideas.
PHX India
A JOURNEY OF BRUTALISM IN CONGRUENCE WITH INDIANNESS. The idea was to design in such a way that CONCRETE has an impact.
PHX India
An Indian woman protecting her face and head from the sun with the graceful folds of her sari pallu became a compelling inspiration when it came to creating a home sheltered from harsh climatic elements.
tHE gRID Architects
The form possesses a softer side: that of contextuality and rootedness to the land and culture. Its narrative builds a relationship between the house and the city; man, and nature — which makes the Architecture more meaningful
tHE gRID Architects
the Plot facing Southwest – the living room semiprivate spaces moving onto more private bedroom, all connected to the garden and greens protected by the shadows created by the canopies.
tHE gRID Architects
the private spaces – bedrooms and multipurpose room adjoined by the terraces protected by the canopies and filled with greens. The central staircase with both skylights animating the area with sunlight.
tHE gRID Architects
The bedroom connected to pool & terrace- three skylights. 1 illuminates the central staircase, another flushing the staircase wall with sunlight, third creates creating wave patterns on the exposed concrete walls from the pool to the living room.
tHE gRID Architects
the shadow of the southwest canopy falling on the other side. Terraces at all levels connected to the garden. The two skylights above the staircase illuminating the central courtyard below.
tHE gRID Architects
the canopy protecting the terraces on all floors is visible. with terraces sheltering under the canopy and pockets, big and small, that could be used for plantation and private sit outs.
tHE gRID Architects
Two skylights enhance the space: a linear slit-like opening near the wall, illuminates the concrete's timber textures, creating striking visuals. The 2nd a faceted structure with a cut-out, fills the stairwell and green court below with gentle light.
tHE gRID Architects
We designed a layout that fostered family togetherness providing ample space for individual expression. The internal program included areas for gathering and moments of solitude, pairing enclosed volumes with open spaces to amplify a feeling of freedom
tHE gRID Architects
grey concrete, the singular and central material, stars both in the architectural and interior narratives. Both side canopies architecturally balancing each other to protect the home from the harsh sunlight and heat
tHE gRID Architects
These grey expanses are beautiful textured by timber imprints of the shuttering used to cast the slabs and walls
Ahmedabad
India
confidential
personal permanent residence
04/2022
1074 mq
Confidential
tHE gRID Architects
Snehal Suthar & Bhadri Suthar
Hariom
Setu structure, Ravi Engineering
local
PHX India
Curriculum
tHE gRID Architects views designing as more than just a profession, embracing inclusivity and collaboration. Their buildings prioritize the well-being of individuals on psychological, biological, and sociological levels, with biophilic design at the core. Practicing heartfulness, they infuse their designs with elevated consciousness. As visiting faculty at prestigious institutes like NID, NIFT, and architecture schools, they actively engage in global panel talks, juries, and presentations. Their work is featured in renowned platforms such as Archdaily, Plan Mag, Design Boom, Dezeen, Forbes, AD, and showcased in national/international publications. Recognized as HOT 100 architects of India, they have earned 50+ prestigious awards and have been featured thrice on BETTER INDIA for their green and sustainable initiatives, promoting accessible sustainability. Their vision embodies designing with inner consciousness and heartfelt thoughts, ensuring honest and meaningful designs for society
