Shodhan HouseAhmedabad, India. 1955Architect: Le Corbusier

Le Corbusier’s design philosophy

Free floor plan

Pilotis

Free facade

Single long

window

Terrace

garden

• Five principles of architecture proposed by le Corbusier

• Dedicatedly followed in most of his building

• Use of pure geometrical forms

• Architecture responsive to context

Five Points of New Architecture

PILOTIS i.e columns to raise building above ground

ROOF GARDEN i.e a terrace garden for economic and insulation purpose

ELONGATED WINDOW to let light in all te rooms equally

Five points of New ArchitectureFree façade i.e façade was kept free of structural restraints and acted as light membrane

Free floor plans i.e interiors weren't defined by rigid structural walls

The modular A system of proportioning based on golden ratio proposed by greeks

Design Approach

Indian Culture

Client’s way of life

Climate • Mr. Huthseeing wanted the house

to depict his flamboyant lifestyle.

• The house had to respond to varying Indian climate.

• The house was inspired from miniatures of open court life, looking over paradisical gardens.

• India was in post colonisation phase, thus innovation was important.

Site Context• Site had curved mounds,

irregular terrain.

• Site faced south-east direction

• There were no water bodies near the site though a pool was dug later

Design ApproachArchitect’s main focus

Sun Wind Lands

caping

• Use of suncutters on two facades.

• They also act as wind catchers

• Terraces provided at many levels

• House placed diagonally, making 3 quarters of it visible at once.

• Despite being private residence, house alomost achieves monumental presence due to scaling of brises soleil.

Form And Shape• Form is that of a basic cube.

• Volumes have been cut in form of brises soloeil, recessed columns on rooftop.

• All the facades are different.

• They work together to create an interesting form.

• Thus house is placed diagonally on site to give a 3D view of house.

Massing• The house is derived from basic

cube.

• Volumes are sculpted out of it on basis of modular scale

• Due to dimensions of brises soleil, house almost attains monumental scale

Spatial OrganizationWe can see how levels, terraces are juxtaposed to define spaces.

Low heighted washrooms

Spatial Organization• The house has five levels.

• Apart from the private spaces such as bedrooms, whole place acts as transition area, because client wanted a place where he could entertain guests.

• Thus there are transition spaces connected by ramps, staircases.

• Ramps andstaircase are designed in such a way so that they culminate towards certain viewpoints.

Sectional Profile

One can see the vertical layering of floors.

Terrace gardens at various levels

Sectional ProfileSections NW-SE rampsInterlinking of

levels

Double heighted rooms

Inference: The levels are layered spatially and horizontally, with help of terraces, double heights, etc to create interesting spaces and connect to nature, while maintaing privacy.

Orientation on site• According to placing of house,

house faces north east

• Suncutters are provided in south and south west to cut harsh sun

• There is a pool in east direction

• Due to presence of suncutters, gardens are at back and habitable areas in front

Orientation and Sun

• thus suncutters also acts as• wind catchers in sw dir.

cold northern winds are blocked by smaller windows.

SW winds all year round

Plan• The ground floor plan divides the

villa into main building and single storey side containing kitchen, garage.

• The approximately square plans contains entrance salon connected by a ramp to living

room.

• Despite being mainly right angled, sanitary areas have curved walls to break monotony and deflect movement.

Bare minimum walls(free plan)

Curved walls

Plans• In upper storeys, free formal

design is restricted to few walls of sanitary areas

• Levels are interlinked spatially, air spaces, penetrate

within set outer lines, creating interplay of galleries, terraces.

• All this climaxes into uppermost

viewing platform reached only via a walkaway.

Roof form• Oval apertures are cut in the roof.

• When viewed from below, they mislead about cubical form of house, and act as lens to sky

• Roof supported on recessed columns and thus appears floating.

• A terrace garden at top to provide insulation.

• Roof is a parasol( inspired from de stilj movement)

Elevations

Materials• On site cast concrete

• Wooden framework

• Brick Jalis

• Stone flooring

Elements• Various elements are used.• Recessed columns to hold roof• Walls to cover façade, partition

walls are minimum• Sun cutters• Windows are again minimum,

there are windows inspired by

mondrain squares• Roofs appears to cover the

building from sun• There is no concpet of being

raised from ground• All elements, though different

structurally and functionally, come together in unison to create

overall experience.

columns Paraso

l roofwalls

Critical Analysis• There is an interesting play

of light and shadows

• Interior façade is revealed but not overlapping of spaces

• All independent elements act in harmony to create overall view

• House was called refined version of villa savoye as it accepted nature beautifully

Sources•Le Corbusier Ideas and Forms- William J. Curtis (Phaidon Press)•GA, Shodhan House and Sarabhai House(A.D.A Edita, Japan)•www.greatbuildings.com

Thank you.Pragya ShuklaLaiq AhmadB.Arch(2nd Year)