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    SferaBlu Architects interlaces this Ahmedabad house with childlike ingenuity and ecological interventions

    JUN 29, 2021 | By Kashish Kaushal
    Dynamic ceiling that covers the double height living room offers a vision to gaze, fantasise and experience the limitless skies. Furnishings from Tectona Grandis Furniture emanates familial warmth; Photographs by Umang Shah
    Earthy shades derived from natural oxides along with the deep blue door and floor complement the design. Entrance to the house features tiles by Bharat Floorings; Photographs by Umang Shah
    Semi-covered patio with upcycled wood and glass faces the garden. Taken from an old building that was being demolished, the wood was treated, cut and joined skillfully to create frames, doors and windows; Photographs by Umang Shah
    Kitchen by Prato Kitchens & More, like the rest of the house displays colours, materials and design details derived from natural wood, oxides and shades of rammed earth; Photographs by Umang Shah
    A staircase is designed in the library that merges with the bookshelf but actually leads to a secret room on the upper floor; Photographs by Umang Shah
    The ramp on the first floor that goes down to the girl’s bedroom prompts for an impromptu catwalk or some shenanigans; Photographs by Umang Shah
    Most of the material used is locally sourced just like the glasses and windows by Shri Rang Glass; Photographs by Umang Shah
    Primary bedroom on the first floor develops a rich aesthetic, which is softened by natural light. Complementing the space are dainty light fixtures by Philips; Photographs by Umang Shah
    Bringing warmth to the guest bedroom, soft furnishings from NOYA Studio compliment the earthy palette of the house while Green House Enterprise by Prato are instrumental for wardrobes; Photographs by Umang Shah
    Lime plaster that filters toxins from the air have been used on the walls, toilet floors and basin. Also seen are sanitary fittings by Jaquar and Artize; Photographs by Umang Shah
    Rammed earth became the construction method of choice in this residence as it uses only 6-8% of cement needed for regular construction; Photographs by Umang Shah

    When kids Meethi and Mishti described their dream home to Naman Shah, Principal architect of SferaBlu Architects promised to build an earth-friendly house that aligned with their sensitivities and fancies. Aged 3 and 9 respectively, the girls were keen on building a house that did not harm nature. 

    Aptly christened Meethi-Mishti nu Mati Ghar translating to Meethi-Mishti’s earth house, the residence is constructed using ecological principles and exhibits attributes of curiosity, play and imagination. Spanning across  4,740 sq ft, the Ahmedabad home is built in rammed earth and upcycled wood. A childlike vivacity is captured in elements like a ladder being camouflaged within library shelves to a slide transpiring alongside the staircase.

    Making its way down, a slide runs parallel to the staircase; Photographs by Umang Shah

    “To add a fun element akin to the patterns seen in layered sand art, different natural oxides were used to create layered fluid patterns in the large monolith”, adds Shah. The girls’ stone and shell collections, ones they had gathered over the years, were also added to the walls to preserve their fond memories. 

    Different natural oxides were used to create layered fluid patterns in the large monolith to add a convivial element; Photographs by Umang Shah

    The living room with its double height ceiling encompasses an enormous volume. A sloping glass ceiling towards the north illuminates the house in diffused natural light. With a porch that opens onto the garden, the spatial planning efficiently integrates nature into the house with three bedrooms alongside the kitchen and dining.

    The dining area features blackboards as partitions for the girls to pour their heart out; Photographs by Umang Shah

    Lime plaster on the walls impart an earthy aesthetic as does the exposed finish on the ceiling. Wabi-sabi emerges as the theme of the house owing to the experimental nature of its design. Shah explains, “Due to research and development in real time, many products lack the finesse of readymade materials.” However, it is the raw and tactile aesthetic that respects materials in their purest form. It endows a rich backdrop to offset the wooden textures and tiles by Bharat Floorings.

    An open plan facilitates conversations between people in the dining area and those using the kitchen; Photographs by Umang Shah

    Upcycled wood from a building on the verge of being demolished is used for frames, doors and windows. The wood was treated and cut before being used in the project. Another eco-friendly intervention is the use of rammed earth that uses minimal cement. Further reducing cement is lime plaster that is used on walls, toilet floors and basin counters. As a result, the project uses less than 8% cement used in conventional construction. Executed by specialised craftsmen, lime plaster is also believed to filter toxins from air.

    An acrobatic bed suspended from the ceiling in the girls’ bedroom ensure that there is never a dull moment indoors; Photographs by Umang Shah

    Beyond its sound architecture and spatial designs, the house transforms into a playground with features like an acrobatic bed suspended from the ceiling in the girls’ bedroom. But underlining the shenanigans is a ladder camouflaged within the library shelves. It leads to a secret room with window grills in the shape of UFO sketches, fuelling creativity and imagination in the impressionable minds of the girls. 

    Meethi Mishti nu Mati Ghar embodies qualities of the people who live in it. SferaBlu Architects have designed a sustainable house that is constantly shifting and shaping between nature and space, allowing it to blend seamlessly with its surroundings.