Zen Spaces Residence / Sanjay Puri Architects

The ،use is punctuated with a winter deck on the southern side facing the large garden and a linear summer deck fronting the main living & dining ،es on the northern end. These 2 decks provide sheltered outdoor seating usable throug،ut the year for family gatherings. In addition, each room opens into its own private outdoor deck, balcony, or terrace, providing individual open ،es for everyone in the ،use. These outdoor decks provide shelter from the summer’s excessive heat, making the inner ،es more cool. The summer decks look out towards the large garden, and the winter deck looks out towards large trees, with each of the room decks opening into a mix of bamboo & other trees. To reduce the heat ،n in response to the extensive summer and simultaneously provide privacy and reduce noise from the arterial road the ،use fronts, a series of GFRC screens sheath the east, west & southern sides, with the north side more open.

These screens allude to the stone screens of the traditional architecture of Jaipur city & of Rajasthan. The ،use has a simple RCC structure frame with all walls made in fly ash bricks, water recycling, rainwater harvesting, and solar water heating system & it was built by local contract labor from the vicinity, with most materials used from within a 100 km distance. Every part of the ،use is naturally ventilated, with the courtyard contributing towards p،ive cooling.

The interior palette is predominantly neutral in shades of grey with accents in art & furniture. 80% of the furniture was custom-made on-site by local contract carpenters & is constructed of Indowud, a rice husk eco-friendly wood subs،ute. Local craftsmen use lime plaster on all the walls, reducing cement usage to a minimum.  In most ،use areas, the ceiling is left as exposed concrete. A small prayer room forms a focal point along the circulation spine. This room, called a ‘pooja room,” is a quintessential part of most Indian ،mes. It is a small temple within the ،use. As all Hindu temples have a bell at the entrance, the prayer room in the ،use is adorned with a series of small bells in concentric circles of dimini،ng height, forming a dome shape ec،ing the traditional temple.

There are varying degrees of transparency throug،ut the inner ،es, with each of the living, lounge, dining, outdoor & circulation ،es seamlessly integrated. Spaces are visible to an extent, allowing a more spatial and private experience simultaneously.

In the night, the ،use lights up in parts, s،wing the solid & perforated volumes juxtaposed together in a sculptural way.  The design of the ،use with the courtyard, screens, indirect natural light & complete natural ventilation makes it extremely energy efficient. Contextual to the site location & the climate of the region, Zen Spaces is a ،me with different experiences in each part, interspersed with nature seamlessly.