Architect Puran Kumar has created an Alibaug monument to organic architecture that would make Frank Lloyd Wright jump for joy. Say hello to the Mango House!
The sign of a good architect is the integration of a plot of land’s characteristics into the forethought when conceptualising a project. The sign of a great architect is to actually incorporate natural qualities of the plot so seamlessly one cannot separate the abode from the surrounding land it is built upon. Mr Puran is one of those great architects.
The plot of land the Mango House was built upon was (surprise surprise) full of mango trees. Instead of chopping them down and giving himself an easier plot to work with, Puran kept the mango trees and took on the arduous task of building around the roots. This tactical decision along with an open, free-flowing structure that opens itself up to the surrounding area instead of sheltering itself away, like most conventional homes, balances the design.
This is why late architect and writer, Frank Lloyd Wright would tap dance under the many mango trees of Puran’s Alibaug project. By borrowing from Kimberly Elman’s Legacy Essay on Wright, we see Puran has “Integrated the spaces into a coherent whole: a marriage between the site and the structure and a union between the context and the structure.”
The result is that the Mango House mirrors the beauty of the outside on the inside as the interiors are fundamentally linked in the outdoors. For example, the suspended steel staircase works like the trunk of a tree, or simply stated, it is the epicentre of the home, with the expansive, slanted terracotta ceiling bringing in a full sense of space that interacts with an axis of viewpoints.
The inviting windows bring in so much natural light that it is doubtful the inhabitants of this home would ever need to switch on their lights during the day, especially with the inclusion of two skylights. Moreover, it makes the integral role of the property so much more important to the home dweller. The landscape is not designed merely for visitors and passersby to admire and enjoy, it is meant to be an integral part of the household.
The use of bricks gives off a minimalist, Soho feel, whilst working as a useful technique to maintain a cool indoor temperature that balances the large amount of natural light flooding in. Moreover, the sheer space in the design provides unparalleled visibility, capitalising on Puran’s decision to have a compass of entrances. Thus, like nature, the Mango House is not boxed in; it is actually an unboxing of the home, embracing the symbiosis of man’s and nature’s design.
Check out the rest of The Mango House and Puran Kumar’s designs here.
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