The Retreat Igenamiterere ry'Imbere y'Amazu by Keta Shah and Varun Shah

The Retreat Igenamiterere ry'Imbere y'Amazu by Keta Shah and Varun Shah is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze in Igishushanyo cy'Imbere y'Inyubako Competition Category.

BuronzeImbere y'Inyubako· 2020

The Retreat Igenamiterere ry'Imbere y'Amazu

by Keta Shah and Varun Shah

Client: Workshop Inc

Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze Winner in Imbere y'Inyubako Category

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About The Retreat Igenamiterere ry'Imbere y'Amazu

The Retreat ni inzu yo kuruhukiraho mu mpera z'icyumweru, iherereye hanze y'umujyi wa Vadodara, mu Buhinde. Igenamiterere ry'imbere rikesha ubwubatsi bw'inzu gakondo z'Ubuhinde zifite imiterere y'ibisenge bimwe bikomeye, bikoreshwa mu buryo bugezweho. Inkuta zikomeye zifasha gushyigikira inyubako zabajwe kugira ngo zigire ibyobo, zigahindurwa ibitanda, ameza, n'ahabikwa ibintu, hanyuma zikabambikwa ibara ry'urukuta rwa cement ry'umukara-kimuragwe kugira ngo habeho ubuso buhuriweho. Amabara meza y'ubururu n'icyatsi, hamwe n'ibikoresho by'ibiti n'ibyuma, bishimangira ubwiza bw'ahantu. Amadirishya yihariye ahujwe n'agatuza kamwe atuma umuyaga winjira ukagenda neza, akongera akerekana imirima iri hanze. Ahantu hatuje hashyigikira imibereho yoroshye kandi ituje.

The Recognition

About the Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze

The Retreat Igenamiterere ry'Imbere y'Amazu ni uwegukanye Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze, ishimwe ry'agaciro gakomeye ritangwa ku bishushanyo by'indashyikirwa birangwa no guhanga, ubwenge n'ubushishozi. Abegukanye Buronze ni ibihangano bifite ubuhanga bwinshi kandi bihanga cyane, bishimangira uburambe, ubwenge n'ubushobozi bw'ababihanze. The Retreat Igenamiterere ry'Imbere y'Amazu biteganyijwe ko izaba ikintu cyubahwa, gishimwa kandi gikundwa, gifite ubunyamwuga n'udushya. Iki gishushanyo cyegukanye Buronze gikoresha uburyo bwiza mu buhanzi, ubumenyi, ubushushanyo n'ikoranabuhanga kandi kirarenze mu gutaha ku tuntu duto. The Retreat Igenamiterere ry'Imbere y'Amazu ishimisha ibyo dukeneye, ikora ku byifuzo byacu, itwara amarangamutima yacu kandi ikurura amatsiko yacu.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The Retreat is a weekend home that takes cues from the monolithic spatiality of vernacular Indian houses, in a contemporary context. The monolithic shell creates surfaces to sit, sleep and incorporate other functions. The material palette plays with textures and soft colours to enliven a stark space, which focuses only on the essentials. It offers a homogenous space and a clutter-free environment that focuses on a simple, relaxed lifestyle and mental wellbeing.
Dimensions & Packaging: Built up Area: 205 sq mt.
Tags: residence interiors, indian interiors, indian residence, weekend home, home, house interior, farmhouse
Production Technology: The interiors are designed within an existing single-storied, load bearing structure with 18" thick walls. To create a homogenous environment, walls were carved in to create niches, and modulate the surfaces as beds, tables or storage, and enveloped with a cement texture. Repurposing an outdoor planter into the circular centre table and old brass glasses into light fixtures, the design delves into the uniquely Indian characteristic of "Jugaad" - non-conventional and frugal innovations that come about due to restrictions of cost and the availability of materials.
Design Challenge: Most of the furniture is custom-made or built at site to blend with the surfaces. The challenge was also to develop a simple system for the fenestration that allows for maximum openings at a minimum budget. The design of a series of window panes connected by a single lever that also functions as the handle, was an exercise in simple mechanics. This system is used throughout the house and allows for cross ventilation to keep the house cool in its hot and dry weather.
Research: Field Research
Objectives: To study the vernacular houses of the region to design a space that is rooted in the context
Methodology & Tools: Photographic and illustrative documentation during field visit. Analysis post visit.
Insights: Situated in a rural India, the mud houses respond to the hot & dry climatic conditions of the region. A single material, mud plaster, envelopes the floor and the walls to make the space cool, sustainable, and hygienic. Owing to economic limitations, furniture is bare minimum, and storage and ledges are created within the walls for various functions.
Inspiration: Located outside the city of Vadodara, The Retreat is envisioned as an escape from the chaos, noise and the fast-paced life of the city. Inspired from the vernacular mud houses found in the surrounding vicinity, a subdued natural material palette is used to create a cocoon to recharge yourself from the daily grind. The premise was to use local knowledge and create a liveable space using that keeps you grounded and as close to nature as possible.
Project Duration: The project is Located in Vadodara, India. The project duration was 10 months and was completed in March 2019.
Operation Flow: The weekend home consists of two bedrooms and a fluid living space that incorporates the living areas, dining, kitchen, bar and lots of free space to lounge. Custom designed fenestrations allow for maximum openings, and frame the greens outside. The vaulted ceiling defines the central bay of the house and visually leads to the outdoor space that overlooks the fields beyond.
A grey cement texture envelopes the entire space to create a homogenous environment, accented by soft blue and green tones, wood and metal elements.
Team Members: Architect: Keta Shah
Interior Designer: Varun Shah
Image Credits: Tejas Shah