The East Coast road in Chennai, popularly known as ECR, is a stretch offering stunning vistas of the Bay of Bengal. The client’s 1 acre plot on this stretch is close to the temple town of Mahabalipuram. The brief was for a sea-view weekend home to relax with friends and family,
This large home is inspired by Sri Lankan style beach houses. With a spread-out, uncluttered plan peppered with courtyards, lawns and long open corridors, the layout ensures views of the beach from multiple vantage points.
The house is designed as a series of 3 blocks, each of which can be secured independently. This allows the family to use the space for both small and large gatherings comfortably. As the site slopes steeply away from the seashore, varying levels are used to maximize visibility of the beach or provide privacy, depending on the function of the space.
At the entrance is the car park and staff quarters.The main block, which is at the same level as the beach, houses private living areas lined around a large open-to-sky lawn. From here, one steps down into a spacious, sunken pool deck, which has a formal living room and an outdoor dining area for large gatherings.Vast open lawns act as buffers separating the pool from the edge of the site. Entry to the beach is provided at the far corner of the compound wall, which has grills for privacy.
The bedrooms on the upper level are accessed by discretely placed staircases. These are connected by long open corridors from which one can look down onto the lawns and pool areas. Shaded verandahs are provided for guests to relax and take in the seascape.
Materials like aluminium and teak wood which can withstand the tropical climate are used. The beach themed color – turquoise, mediterranean blue and sandy shades of brown – as well as built-in interior features such as wardrobes, niches and plinths create a rustic no-frills space where one can let the mind unwind.
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