TREE HUGGER

SARJAPUR ROAD, BENGALURU, KARNATAKA

Plot Area: 2,400 sq ft

Built Up Area: 3,300 sq ft
Project Timeline: 2014 – 2015
Project Cost: INR 3,500 per sq ft

4SITE ARCHITECTS, BENGALURU

Principal Architects: Chandrakant S Kanthigavi
Project Team: Rohit Baligidad, Madhusudhan, Veema Haridas, Bhagyashri

© Skyboard, 2018. No part of this eBook may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information
storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author.
1 | TREE HUGGER > 4SITE ARCHITECTS, BENGALURU

The site for this house is embodied among the busy streets of

Sarjapur, with the backdrop of urban fabric. A single residence on a

40 ft X 60 ft plot, evolved from a rigorous inquiry into the particulars

of location and program.

As an architect, one needs to design a built environment, rather than just a

shelter. The design brief led to the idea of designing ‘a house that embraces
trees’. That’s where the house derives its name – ‘Tree Hugger’, a contemporary
urban residence with values of Kerala architecture.
2 | TREE HUGGER > 4SITE ARCHITECTS, BENGALURU

The house is planned as G+ two levels and a terrace. The concept was conceived
as an abstraction of the traditional Nadumuttam – a typical Kerala style central
courtyard, wherein the homes are composed around a focal landscape feature,
usually a Tulsi plant. A pair of palm trees, divides the parking and pedestrian
path at lower level.
3 | TREE HUGGER > 4SITE ARCHITECTS, BENGALURU

The ‘vertical drops’ on the facades which act as screening from the neighbours
are done out of aluminium boxes plastered over MS mesh. A better understanding
of the client and his background, priorities, values, inspirations, likes – dislikes,
all became a task in itself. The challenge was to create a contemporary residence
with values of Kerala architecture and interior spaces that would resonate with
the client’s personality. It was a difficult but not impossible to achieve the same
ambience in an urban scenario.
4 | TREE HUGGER > 4SITE ARCHITECTS, BENGALURU

Above and Left: Dark

shades of furniture and
wood, break the monotony
of the white space

The choice of colors in the material palette is limited. This helps in drawing
the focus towards the landscape and the wood used in the interiors. Teak wood
used as the key element as it adds colour, texture and warmth to the spaces.
5 | TREE H UGGER > 4SITE ARCHITECTS, BENGALURU

Above: Dining Area

6 | TREE HUGGER > 4SITE ARCHITECTS, BENGALURU

Plan and Sections

The client for this house hails from God’s own country – Kerala, and hence, is
inclined towards nature. He wanted to design ‘a house around a tree’ that would
have a flawless and close connection to nature and one that would remind him
of his home and childhood. The large footprint of a traditional Kerala home and
its virtues had to be imbibed in a smaller urban footprint.

As an architect, one needs to design a built environment, rather than just a

shelter. The design brief led to the idea of designing ‘a house that embraces
trees’. That’s where the house derives its name – ‘Tree Hugger’, a contemporary
urban residence with values of Kerala architecture.
 7 | TREE HUGGER > 4SITE ARCHITECTS, BENGALURU

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
G

H H

AD-301
TA

B
S.N
1

FEATURE
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 2
WALL
DWG NO.501
3
3455 1900 945 3955 3050 1600
NORTH
G G 4

+250mm Lvl(FIN).

UP FW FW
A

A
1700 RE
BUILDING LINE PLINTH BEAM
F ABOVE LINE CUTOUT +250mm Lvl. R2
F
ENTRANCE
2150

2200
1900 x 1950 R3
+600mm Lvl. LIVING AD1
4700 x 4300 330
330 330 W5 330 330
600 600 600 600 600
250

A
B

B
100mm thk ; ED WALL UPTO
300 300 300

+50mm Lvl.
300

MIDLANDING
900

block work with UP AD6

PARKING 300 SLAB

SSL +550mm Lvl.

midlanding
5355 x 2800 window (100mm
2350

+2453mm lvl
WEST

E thk lintel) MANHOLE GLASS PARTITION E

EAST
W1 FOYER
A +300mm Lvl(FIN).
1700 x 2100 S.T A

1150
+100mm Lvl(STR).
SILL AT 900MM
300

SUMP TANK
3655 100
10000 LTR CAPACITY
SSL +550mm Lvl. 300 800 x 2150
600

AD-302 AD-302
550

450 FFL +600mm Lvl. +200mm Lvl.

C

C
400

605
650

V1 CO
400

1300 600

600
D

D
ST
200

low ht wall LOW HT WALL EL

2000

D1 100thk,800mm WITH GATE HV

350
150

ht

1600
D
CW1 BED ROOM -01
IN
900 D

2000
KW OPENING FOR OT
2500

4400 x 4400
100 KITCHEN
D2 SSL +550mm Lvl.
VENTILATION RE
DINING FFL +600mm Lvl.
4800

3950 x 4000 KITCHEN

250
4400x3300
2300

75mm
3100

W2 pcc
E

E
COM.BATH 800 1350 600

600
1800 X 2850 900 ST
450

D3
1700

700 D1 PR

1100
C C
STORAGE UTILITY

1100
W4
1000

LOW HEIGHT
600 2850 x 1000 +400mm
650

600 CROCKERY UNIT BELOW SILL

F

F
W3 AD4 200mm WALL AD4 V2
300 V 300 500 500 MG1
+250mm Lvl(FIN).
UPTO SILL LEVEL 1600 Slab line NO
2800 1200 700 900 650 1150 2355 1150 above
4700 1550 450 3755 450 2350 450 D

SOUTH
B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 B

GROUND FLOOR PLAN D

AD-301
B

C
SCALE - 1:75
PR

A A

1 2 3 4
Ground Floor Plan 5 6 7 8 9
8 | TREE HUGGER > 4SITE ARCHITECTS, BENGALURU

Above and Left: Wooden Staircase

9 | TREE H UGGER > 4SITE ARCHITECTS, BENGALURU

Staircase Details
10 | TREE HUGGER > 4SITE ARCHITECTS, BENGALURU

Above and Left: Family living room on the

first floor is highlighted by wooden flooring
and staircase
11 | TREE HUGGER > 4SITE ARCHITECTS, BENGALURU

Above: First Floor Balcony

Landscape is the focal element in this project that knits the entire built and un-
built together and highlights the liveliness in the neighbourhood. The dynamics
within the home change with respect to the seasonal changes the landscape
elements undergo.

Amid a dense urban context, effort has been made to embrace nature with the built
environment to focus on the dichotomy of interior and exteriors. The trees in the
entrance acts as a visual treat from master bedroom and common balcony located
at the first floor with their foliage flowing into the balcony.
12 | TREE HUGGER > 4SITE ARCHITECTS, BENGALURU

First Floor Plan

13 | TREE HUGGER > 4SITE ARCHITECTS, BENGALURU

Second Floor Plan

14 | TREE HUGGER > 4SITE ARCHITECTS, BENGALURU

Section A–A

Section B–B
15 | TREE HUGGER > 4SITE ARCHITECTS, BENGALURU

Elevation North

Elevation South
16 | TREE HUGGER > 4SITE ARCHITECTS, BENGALURU

Elevation East

Elevation West
17 | TREE HUGGER > 4SITE ARCHITECTS, BENGALURU

Hardware: Hettich from Amar Plywood and

PRODUCT & MATERIAL APPLICATIONS
External Finishes: Sika from Tatya infra
Cladding: Fundermax from Seemax
Vertical Façade Fins: Customized from
Sobha MS works
Windows: Fenesta from Sobha Glazing
Tiles: Kajaria from Samir Ceramics
Lighting: Philips from Aditya Lamps
Color: Asian Paints from Hebsur Paints
Sanitaryware: Duravit from Ram Ceramics
Bath Fittings: Grohe from Ram Ceramics
Sanitary and Plumbing: Ashirvad CPVC
and Supreme PVC from Amar Plywood and
Hardware
Furniture: Sofa from The Design Store
Furnishing: D’Décor form The Curtain Shop
Hardware
Kitchen Sink: Carysil from Ram Ceramics
Ply: Greenlam from RC Glass and Plywood
Veneer: Green Duro Veneers from Murthi
Glass and Plywood
Laminates: Greenlam from Murthi Glass and
Plywood
Stone: Jet Black, Steel Grey from Krismar
Wooden Flooring: Burma Teak from Living
Elements
Security: Zicom from Sri Hari Securities
Air Conditioning: Daikin from Veekay Coolers
KEY CONTRIBUTORS
Structural Design: Naik Associates, Bengaluru
Civil Contractor: Tatya Infra
Façade, MEP, HVAC: 4site Architects
Acoustics: Anutone
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS
Gokul Rao

© Skyboard, 2018. No part of this eBook may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information
storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author.