The Collage House, Navi Mumbai
Source: www.archdaily.com
The facades of Collage House in Navi Mumbai after its successful completion of construction in 2015, turned out to be a talk of the city for quite some time. The concept behind the materials used in the building was appreciated widely in the industry and even today it still remains as an inspiratory work for aspiring architects.
The award-winning construction and design of the collage house was a project undertaken and victoriously completed by S+PS Architects. In an exclusive interview, the concerned architects said that they were highly influenced by the ad-hoc building typologies that many of the city's inhabitants construct using found materials.
S+PS Architects worked on bringing a design layout where they could use all the recycled and reusable material to conserve the natural resources and make the maximum out of the available. They also aimed at bringing a ramshackle look to the buildings found throughout the city. Usage of old doors, windows, antique wooden columns, and metal drain pipes helped in creating a natural aesthetic touch to the building.
The Collage House was designed to accommodate four generations of the family and was designed in an Indian traditional style with the inclusion of a central courtyard to limit the overviewing from the neighbourhood.
S+PS Architects succeeded in promoting an alternative approach to using recycling materials by making utilizing the old, destructed and abandoned window frames and wooden columns.
Source: designpataki.com
Doors and windows salvaged from demolished buildings are used around the sides thereby wrapping the two sides of the living room. A large number of the reclaimed windows and frames are used by retaining their hinges thereby providing a provision to open and allow natural ventilation. A small balcony attached from the bedroom is made of blue coloured glass which is projected from the face giving a feeling of "stained glass of antique age".
Spurce: static.dezeen.com
The amount of recycled and reusable materials used inside the building just makes anybody scream wow!!
The floorings made of Burma teak rafters and purlins, upholstery stitched from wasted fabrics are just a few among them. Old cemented tiles, carved wooden mouldings and colonial furniture were used for innovative purposes which literally made this entire project efficient and helped in sticking on to the theme of "upcycled architecture and design elements".
The S+PS Architects made sure to include a parking area at the ground level and room spaces for workers and staffs. This space is also occupied by service areas for lift service and a 50,000-litre rainwater harvesting tank.
Metal pipes of varying diameters are lined up for mounting a wall for the courtyard which was aimed at bringing a bamboo resemblance. Concrete frames are used to wrap around the exterior to bring in a sense of separation from the neighbourhood. These frames have been used in the ceilings too in a moulded rigid form. The lightweight steel and glass pavilion of the terrace also accommodates solar panels.
Source: images.adsttc.com
The growing need for sustainability in architecture and the client's preference of design made the S+PS Architects to research and conclude at drawing a connection between the informal architecture of Mumbai and the usage of materials from old buildings and structures to keep up with the concept of upcycling.