The Retreat 住宅室内设计 by Keta Shah and Varun Shah

The Retreat 住宅室内设计 by Keta Shah and Varun Shah is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 A' Design Award 铜奖 in 室内空间与展览设计 Competition Category.

铜室内· 2020

The Retreat 住宅室内设计

by Keta Shah and Varun Shah

Client: Workshop Inc

A' Design Award 铜奖 Winner in 室内 Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #97841

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About The Retreat 住宅室内设计

「隐居之所」是一座位于印度巴罗达市郊的周末度假住宅。其室内设计以当代语汇诠释印度传统民居那种浑然一体的空间特质。厚实的承重墙被雕凿出壁龛,并塑形为床榻、桌台与储物空间,再以灰色水泥质感饰面覆盖,形成整体连贯的界面。柔和的蓝绿色调以及木材与金属元素为空间点缀提亮。定制窗扇通过单一拉杆联动开启,既实现了穿堂通风,又将窗外田野framed为画。宁静的环境氛围支撑起一种简单而放松的生活方式。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 铜奖

The Retreat 住宅室内设计是 A' Design Award 铜奖得主，这是授予以创造力、独创性和敏锐见长的杰出设计的极具声望的认可。铜奖得主是技艺娴熟、创意惊人的作品，印证了其设计师丰富的经验、想象力与机智。预计The Retreat 住宅室内设计将成为一件备受推崇、令人钦佩且被珍爱的物品，兼具显著的专业性与创新性。这件赢得 A' Design Award 铜奖的设计融入艺术、科学、设计和技术领域的最佳实践，并因注重细节而出类拔萃。The Retreat 住宅室内设计出色地满足需求，触动渴望，迷住情感，并吸引好奇心。

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