The Cube House

Exploring the purity and simplicity of the cube in an imaginative architectural manner forms the basis of the Cube House. The constructive elements present themselves in a natural and simple way in this concept. This modern house is located in the city of Pune and its harmonious shape demonstrates a fine synthesis of the “what” and “how” aspects of functionality.

The Cube House has been designed for a joint family of eight. The brief for NDDC was to design an abode that would combine private areas for the micro units of the family and larger, semi-public ones where the entire joint family would be able to spend quality time together.

The material palette was to be in sync with modern architecture, something that would always stay in fashion. One important condition was that the whole structure should conform to vastushastra tenets.

As for the design, the size of the plot dictated that this house should be planned vertically and not in the conventional horizontal manner. The massing and orientation have been done here in such a manner that everything is inward-looking. The residential areas get ample privacy, light and ventilation, and remain insulated from outside noise.

This is a G+4 building arranged as follows:

· The ground floor houses staff quarters and a car park

· The first floor houses the elder son’s apartment

· The second floor has semi-public areas for the entire family such as a living room, a kitchenette, the parents’ bedroom as well as a semi-open, double-height, landscaped “family area” that also acts as the lungs of the whole structure

· Guests’ bedrooms are located on the third floor, overlooking the floor below

· The fourth floor houses the younger son’s apartment

All these areas are inter-connected visually as well as verbally by an atrium located exactly at the centre of the floor-plate of the first floor.

Local climate has an undeniable bearing on any structure; therefore, appropriate use has been made of elements such as vertical louvers, external cavity walls, box windows, and indoor plantation, etc, to achieve the right balance. While facilitating ventilation, the aforementioned atrium also makes for a salutary “stack effect”.

Solar panels installed atop the Cube House provide “green energy” to the whole structure.