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    The Mango House by Puran Kumar of Studio PKA feels like an extension of its verdurous littoral environs in Alibaug

    OCT 25, 2020 | By Aneesha Bhadri
    View of the Mango House from the front yard; Photograph by Amit Pasricha
    The entrance of the Mango House, which is designed by Puran Kumar of Studio PKA; Photograph by Amit Pasricha
    The rambling interiors are fashioned out of bricks, concrete, terracotta, stone and wood; Photograph by Amit Pasricha
    The living room is furnished with a sofa from Good Earth, Potrona Frau armchair, custom designed centre table and an Abaca wicker armchair; Photograph by Amit Pasricha
    The minimally furnished kitchen adjoins the dining area; Photograph by Sameer Chawda
    The dining area opens out to the pool deck. Furniture from Abaca is pictured here; Photograph by Amit Pasricha
    The study with the Poltrona Frau pouffe connects to the master suite furnished with furniture from Fabindia and linen from Good Earth; Photograph by Sameer Chawda

    Nestled in a path of mango trees, a short drive from the Mandwa jetty is The Mango House. This 6,000 sq ft home by principal architect Puran Kumar of Studio PKA appears to have grown out of the coastal land. Its exposed brick and concrete facade seems to be a natural part of the tropical landscape, making it look completely at home in the countryside.

    “The age-old inhabitants of the site, the mango trees, governed the simple form of the edifice. As a direct response to the resolute and intricate network of roots, careful attention was paid to leave them unharmed and unhampered. The footprint furthermore makes them an active part of the design by enabling them to act as natural shaded extensions of the house,” says Kumar.

    Spread across two storeys, the villa allows the branches of its neighbouring mango trees to spill over onto the deck, overlooking the pool. With expansive glass fenestration lining the exposed brick walls, the space responds to its surroundings by not only allowing natural light and ventilation but also exudes a sense of openness, similar to the site. The windows along with the four expansive entrances along the north-south and east-west axes further blur the lines between the inside and the outside.

    A Potrona Frau armchair is placed next to a custom designed side table in the living room. The seating nook on the upper floor is made up of furniture from Fabindia; Photograph by Amit Pasricha

    Tranquility permeates the house right from the entrance. The porch is a wonderful spot to enjoy moments of calm, where one could reflect with a cup of tea, looking out at the forested landscape around, or connect with friends and family. “Raindrops trailing down windows, the dappled reflections of sunlight bouncing off panes and the gentle breeze wafting through the spaces, all enhance the experience of living in the countryside,” smiles the architect.

    The dining area at the back of the house is decorated with a combination of custom designed furnishings and collectibles from antique shops; Photograph by Amit Pasricha

    Seemingly rising up to acknowledge the trees, the double-heighted volume opens up to an expansive sloping Mangalore tiled roof. Its gradual sloping orientation towards the entrance and backyard, renders it invisible from ground level; its subtle gradient can only be experienced from within the abode. A medley of natural materials—brick, concrete, metal, stone, terracotta and wood—come together to form the spacious abode, where myriad shades and textures coalesce to form an earthy canvas against which the lives of the inhabitants play out.

    The main entrance is seen from the dining area in this open-plan layout; Photograph by Amit Pasricha

    The articulation of spaces takes into account the privacy of the inhabitants. The lower level acts as an intimate, informal zone, perfect for casual conversations or solitary pursuits such as sitting back against the brick wall and reading a book. An open-plan layout emerges with the dining area joining the kitchen as well as pool deck in a way where each space spills out onto the other. The transition between the different spaces is marked by a subtle yet defined sense of shift, such as a change in the warm hues of exposed bricks making up the communal spaces, to white plastered brickwork that characterises the private ones. A suspended steel staircase connecting the two levels draws the eye.

    The pool deck seen in the backdrop is decorated with furniture from Abaca; Photograph by Amit Pasricha

    “The Mango House helps the city-dwelling family to connect with nature by being organic in both spirit and content. A space where design meets life, this home is an attempt to bridge the growing gap between us and the natural environment, not interfering with the course of nature, rather inviting it in as an extension of the house,” concludes Kumar.