What if a home could let you see the world outside without always being seen? That idea forms the heart of Thirai, a compact Bengaluru home designed for a young family on a 30 ft \u00d7 40 ft plot in Sarjapur. Named after the Tamil word for \u201cscreen\u201d, the home uses a perforated facade to filter sunlight, encourage cross-ventilation and create privacy.<\/p>\n
The home tour<\/a> shared by Buildofy in a YouTube video on August 7, features Bhooma Balaji, Principal Architect at Studio Sienna, Bengaluru, who explained the design philosophy behind the project. (Also read: Step inside Japan\u2019s \u2018tiniest house\u2019 where a couple lives comfortably in just 19 square metres using clever design tricks<\/a> )<\/p>\n A home designed to \u2018see without being seen\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cThirai means \u2018screen\u2019 in Tamil. To see without being seen, Thirai refers to the perforated screen on the facade. It is a response that says, I want to see but not to be seen when I choose so,\u201d Bhooma says. The house sits on a 30 ft \u00d7 40 ft plot with a road on the west. The western facade became an important part of the climate-responsive design, with the screen helping filter sunlight while maintaining a connection with the street.<\/p>\n \u201cThe couple with a young kid and a growing family wanted a space that will be clutter-free, where the kids can run around and play. The project is in a fast-growing urban area on the outskirts of Sarjapur,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n The first-floor living room<\/a> opens into a double-height balcony overlooking the street. A large metal opening frames the view, while angled ferrocement walls help block harsh sunlight. \u201cThin long ferrocement walls are angled at 45\u00b0 to block the harsh southwest sun,\u201d Bhooma explains.<\/p>\n \u201cBetween these walls are perforated aluminium sheets which cross-ventilate the house while casting beautiful shadows throughout the day.\u201d Circular skylights above the balcony bring natural light into the double-height space, creating changing patterns of light and shadow throughout the day.<\/p>\n Flexible interiors and earthy tones<\/p>\n The interiors have been kept minimal, with the living room designed to provide plenty of movement space. The kitchen<\/a> and dining area span much of the home\u2019s width and receive cross-ventilation through the utility balcony. A small pooja nook opens into the space. The children\u2019s bedroom on the second floor features a small balcony and flexible furniture.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve tried to keep the furniture flexible. It has a sofa-cum-bed and can accommodate more guests if need be,\u201d Bhooma says. The room can also evolve as the family\u2019s needs change. Its balcony overlooks the double-height balcony below, creating a visual connection between the two levels. The master bedroom occupies the width of the house and includes a walk-in wardrobe and attached bathroom.<\/p>\n