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Architect Gurjit Singh Matharoo and Durganand Balsavar visited two dwellings designed by Matharoo Associates in Surat, India. The following text describes the architect’s experience on meeting a merchant and a doctor who share a desire for a home that is a retreat.
Situated on the Indian west-coast, Surat has been an epicenter of global trade for centuries. It is a medley of cultures, meditation and movement, the real and the virtual. The region’s architectural heritage includes indigenous building practices, among others.
The Open House and its predecessor, House with the Warped Court, spring from this historic legacy. The client, a diamond merchant, sought a home of utilitarian porosity and contemplative solace that provided a respite from the family’s feverish business world. Respected over generations for their discipline, philanthropy, loyalty, values, and craftsmanship, this client feels an uncanny synergy with Matharoo’s characteristic directness and wit.
Situated in a precinct surrounded by high walls, Open House is re-imagined as a rectangular pavilion opening onto a garden through a generous south-facing veranda. The open plan and quiet garden court connect the living spaces with the landscaped grounds.
The formal entrance through a narrow pathway opens into a double-height volume, containing the living and dining areas and kitchen. A disproportionately large, frameless, Burma teak door exudes a welcoming generosity. In contrast, the floor above carves out a series of autonomous rooms for every member of the joint, or extended, family – parents, grandparents and children – providing a sense of privacy. The rooms have partial views of the garden. Despite the socio-cultural shift towards nuclear families, several merchant families continue to live as large joint families, influenced by traditions and business considerations. The challenge lies in the nuanced blend of...
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