Minaret House.

Minaret house is designed to capture and reinterpret the traditional elements to create a distinctive identity rooted in culture and traditions. It not only embodies the climatic principles but also the social patterns that the architectural heritage offered. As a reinterpretation of traditional social spaces, distinct character is provided to public and private zones of the house. This is done through strict planning and placement of functions, segregated circulation patterns and varied spatial volumes. Subtle impregnated design elements and planning patterns generate curiosity in the mind and lead to many unique experiences for the user. 

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Creating designs that embrace details and technology belonging to the Historical era (Classical era) require a deep and comprehensive understanding of Architectural design and Interior Design that was practiced at that period. Such designs have evolved over centuries and encapsulate innumerous aspects in their form and creation. This understanding and subtelty of design can only be achieved through years of design experimentation, study of heritage and history, coupled with real time construction experiences. Chaukor studio from the time of its inception has been extensively involved in the creation of many such distinctive houses that capture the fundamentals of heritage and embody the essence of the classical era.

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With the onset of globalization, there has been a great exchange of technology, knowledge, art and architecture and many other disciplines. In one way this has led to greater exposure and efficiency but at the very same time, it is also the reason behind the present state of mundane monotony. Across the globe, each region had its unique culture and traditions that were formed organically over a period of centuries that gave a distinct- unique character to the people of that particular region. With the growing exchange of information, we are constantly losing out on this distinctiveness and are choosing to create a large over-arching generic character. Architecture too went through this process of globalization and pretty much all major centers across the globe now follow a similar building standard. The materials are getting homogenized and so is the design language. Architecture is gradually losing its variety, its distinct flavor and is heading towards a uniform singularity. This individual residence as a part of a greater exploration has tried to restore, renew and revitalize the lost wisdom of formal expressions that have been developed over centuries as an art of building. The process of regeneration in the ‘Minaret house’ through ecological and cultural means has somewhat tried to capture the essence of tradition and provide a base to imminent architecture.

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The house is situated in an urban setting in Noida. The immediate surrounding area has been developed mostly as high-rise buildings. In the midst of this dense urban environment, the Minaret house is located adjacent to a large golf course in a plotted development. As the construction activity is on the rise, it becomes crucial that the contextual setting serves as a strong background. Being the first residence built in the development, the Minaret house also serves as a strong and defining precursor to all new constructions to follow. 

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In spite of being spread across three floors, the built form is fragmented and stepped to create large terraces adjoining all family areas to recapture the feeling of the ground connection. It facilitates the family to reconnect to the cultural way of always being in semi-outdoor spaces like courtyards, streets and allows them to use these spaces as an extension to the house. The character of intimate family spaces like courtyards in traditional houses has been captured in the double-height living area. All private areas of the house invariably connect both visually and audibly to this central space that ties the whole family. A large kitchen adjoining this living area further enhances its usage as the family gathering space. Small intimate spaces with low ceiling heights, narrow entryways and small external windows are planned adjoining large family spaces and other public spaces for providing the requisite comfort , privacy, and scale that exist in the traditional houses of Rajasthan. These small intimate spaces, varying in character and physical manifestation helps in retaining the feeling of intimacy at home. 

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The ecological sense of traditional buildings provides insights into the challenge of creating a comfortable home with minimal environmental damage. Buildings in hot-dry climates have existed over centuries; in-numerous construction technologies have evolved over time to passively cool the interior spaces. A natural ventilation system has been implemented in the house with the use of a Minaret. The forced air circulation created by the Minaret lowers the indoor temperature phenomenally and helps in reducing energy loads. Wind towers have been in use for many centuries in various desert regions around the world. The Minaret (Wind Tower) has been integrated centrally with its exposed façade towards the south-west side. With this exposure the air heats up quickly inside the tower, thus forcing itself out and creating a continuous airflow inside the house. This has been used in combination with openings towards green terraces that surround the house and that towards the golf course. This creates a continuously self-existing cycle of cool and fresh air from the greens to enter the house and ultimately pushed upwards from the wind tower. This forced air circulation created by the Minaret lowers the indoor temperature phenomenally and helps in reducing energy loads. 

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The house is termed Domus, and it dates back to Roman times which was the much-desired dwelling unit of the classical era. A domus generally depicted a single-family house of palatial proportions while maintaining the pleasures of simple living. Natural light and greens are given a lot of significance in the overall experience of the space. Large windows fenestrations (generally arched) provide ample daylight into the interior spaces thus making the spaces grand and experiential. To further accentuate the essence of palatial grandeur, the ceilings are kept high and decorated with minimal detailing to create large volumes of space filled with natural daylight. The exterior and interior materials finishes are kept minimal and monochromatic thus shifting focus of the viewer to the overall experience and not to a particular space or feature.

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The embellished façade of the building, especially towards the southwest side, also serves an alternate purpose than creating a reflectance of a traditional façade. The detailing of the façade is designed to precisely inter-shade the exterior façade of the building to reduce the direct heat gains. The openings in the façade towards this side are also kept small and planned in deep recesses to further reduce heat gains. Large planters are planned even high up on the external façade of the building to allow creepers to gradually blend to become an integral part of the house. Such plantation shall further shade the external façade of the building and reduce heat gains. The planters also deliver fresh air through multiple louvered windows into various internal spaces of the house.

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With a large volume and building mass similar to that of a palace, the house embodies grandeur in its purest form. To further add to it, the internal ceiling heights are also kept higher than conventional with minimal false ceilings and decoration. As the interiors are primarily kept monochromatic, the essence of openness and natural light becomes phenomenal. Higher ceiling heights make the interiors spacious and open that creates an environment of immense peace and calmness. Since the core planning and fundamental design of the building embody the essence of classical design, the need to add claddings and additional design features vanishes. The interior design of the space only becomes a continuation of the architectural design. The material finishes become extensions of the natural daylight that floods the interior space. 

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Classical style in architecture has a very wide chronological timeline and cannot be defined as a specific period in history. Across centuries it has evolved many times, has taken varied forms, and has shaped itself into a universal form. It would not be correct to define the architecture of a certain period or a certain region as the classical style. It is only the virtues and the principles of the building that are created and it possesses that can be termed classical or universal. Any creation that has characteristics that are universal can be largely termed classical. In terms of design, it is an outcome that encapsulates the essence of both function and aesthetics. A design that never gets out-dated thus becomes - Timeless.