A Spiritual Journey to Reality in Enclosure House By Design Ni Dukaan

According to Design Ni Dukaan, a home is a place to make a spiritual journey toward oneself and seek one's existence culminating in reality. Design Ni Dukaan applies this understanding to the design of the Enclosure House located in Gujarat, India. With the direction of clients who want a home emphasizing the experience of space from the inside rather than external forms and facades, the house is designed and assembles separate parts and defines a series of courtyards with an intrinsic experience to the home. Thus, it became a "Cage" house that faced inward and centered on the inner space.

Above view Enclosure House, Photo by The Fishy Project

Another thing designed is the placement of "frames" on all parts of the house that frame the phenomenon of the house that can be seen from the outside space and inner space by displaying different perspectives. This frame is combined with site planning that attempts to separate the public, semi-private, and private zones of the house, while also maintaining the continuity of flow around the central open space. All parts of the house open onto the courtyard through covered corridors and into smaller private courtyards, ensuring owners get adequate light and ventilation while being protected from the harsh tropical sun and hot winds. In addition, there are also high skylights in some places to bring a dramatic impression and add a sense of depth to its residents.

Enclosure House Corridor, Photo by The Fishy Project

Interior of living room Enclosure House, Photo by The Fishy Project

The design of the house embraces 'anticipated imperfections' as part of the construction process, even extending this option to use other materials. The inner and outer spaces are combined through a palette of textured concrete materials, white plaster walls, City stone, and greenery that ultimately grows on this gray background making the boundary between the inside, and outside will dissolve more and make the shape of this house mutually sustainable.

Interior of living room Enclosure House, Photo by The Fishy Project

In terms of the appearance of the façade, this house has an uneven concrete wall texture caused by the shifting and curvature of the wooden formwork that is not laid out evenly, resulting in an unpredictable texture but producing beauty. Regarding finishing, Ni Dukaan Design uses neutral colors from concrete walls, stone, white, and green plants interspersed by terracotta-colored accents found on pool tiles, seats, and sculptural objects. In addition, more cheerful colors are used in some bathrooms, which have a monochrome finish of green, blue, or gold, with each rendered in a different pastel color and dramatically illuminated by tower-like skylights.

Interior of living room Enclosure House, Photo by The Fishy Project

Pool view Enclosure House, Photo by The Fishy Project

Skylight View Enclosure House, Photo by The Fishy Project

Side yard view of Enclosure House, Photo by The Fishy Project

The house is designed for residents to entertain guests with a formal lounge that opens onto the courtyard and an underground cinema room. The house also has a mandir with the image of the god Shreenathji engraved in black granite, a formal kitchen, a living and dining room, a pantry and bar, two master bedroom suites, and three additional bedroom suites arranged around this central open space. In addition, in the backyard are two other bedroom suites, a gym, and lounge space next to the outdoor pool.

Site plan of Enclosure House, source by Design Ni Dukaan

Entrance view of Enclosure House, Photo by The Fishy Project