Strata, Bengaluru

By: Vikram Rajashekhar, Cadence Architects, Bengaluru

Situated on a tight site of 40’ by 70’ in an urban context, the client approached us with a brief of designing a residence in Bangalore for a joint family with members across a varied age group. We grappled with the issue of providing private spaces for all the members, without compromising the feel of an independent residence, as opposed to a multilevel residence.

Facade Detail Strata Residence Bangalore — **The Façade Appears to be a Stack of Hollowed-out Spaces and Fluid Forms**

Individual spaces across three levels enabled us to maintain privacy for the family members. The fragmented arrangement of these individual spaces created break-out spaces at each level, which facilitates the congregation of the family members. A large cut-out that spans through the vertical volume of the residence enables the members to constantly be in visual connectivity with each other. This also creates a sense of continuity in terms of the volume when a member enters at the ground level and ascends through the residence.

In this Strata Residence in Bangalore, the interiors were designed to look rich, replacing the traditional carvings with more contemporary finishes which make the spaces look more chic and glossy. We looked at the idea of a conventional façade comprising of decks and glazing and made it more dynamic in nature. The façade appears to be a stack of hollowed-out spaces and fluid forms. We responded to the immediate context of green foliage by introducing openings at all levels. This allows the members to have a visual connection with the outside and moreover appreciate the foliage that exists.

Strata Bangalore — **The Fragmented Arrangement of Individual Spaces created Breakout Spaces at each Level**

The house is a collage of individual aspirations and design ideologies. Each private space has been closely detailed with the member and tailored to suit their briefs. It was a challenge for us to maintain a cohesive language throughout the house. The façade albeit is an assemblage of elements, is a contrast to the internal volume of the residence, which is vertically continuous from the ground level onwards.

**The Façade responds to the Immediate Context of Green Foliage by Introducing Openings at all Levels**

QUICK FACTS:

Project: Strata
Location: Bengaluru, India
Architects: Cadence
Structural Consultant: S&S Consultants
Project Typology: Residential / House
Built-Up Area: 8935 sq ft
Site Area: 2800 sq ft
Project Completion: 2016
Photo Credit: Anand Jaju

Vikram Rajashekhar, Cadence Architects, Bengaluru

Co-founder & Principal Architect

As a co-founder/ Principal Architect of Cadence Architects, Vikram Rajashekhar brings technological insight and domain expertise into the architectural and interior design services at Cadence Architects. Directing all stages of design and construction processes across diverse project types and scales, he has been responsible for many award-winning, much accoladed projects at the Cadence studio. Adopting an inimitable approach to address functionality, innovation, while retaining the emotional aspect of the unique Cadence ethos, Vikram enables a distinctive design expression, that is contemporary yet rooted in context. Cadence started as a collaborative architectural practice by architects Narendra Pirgal, Vikram Rajashekhar and Smaran Mallesh in the year 2005. Having studied in the same school of architecture, they shared common design philosophy and vision. Driven by the intent to conceive neoteric environments, create affective spaces, and staging lifestyles, architecture at the Cadence Studio strives to spawn varied emotional responses and stage myriad lifestyles. In a candid interview, Ar. Vikram Rajashekhar spoke about his firm Cadence Architects, their recent projects, their perspective on innovative façade and fenestration designs, and on the use of innovative materials for façades and fenestration in order to achieve energy-efficient and sustainable buildings. Here is the excerpt from the interview.