Designed by Blurring Boundaries, Asmalay is a beautiful home located in Alibaug, a coastal town near Mumbai. Surrounded by mango trees, the design aims for harmony between architecture and nature. The home incorporates natural and recycled materials and follows passive design methods that promote sustainable living.
The home’s design centers around organic curves surrounding the five mango trees on the property. Open floor plans and interconnected spaces provide versatility and adaptability. Each area transitions into the next along gracefully curved walls, creating a unified, uninterrupted feel of space. The ground floor has a multi-functional living/dining area, with the dining space integrated into the open kitchen. The upper floors offer private spaces, maintaining a consistent soft textured palette that is continuous with the ground floor.
The house is strategically aligned to the orientation and prevailing winds, allowing for natural light and well-ventilated spaces. The house has brick arched windows that promote sunlight and air circulation, promoting a comfortable internal microclimate that prevents summer temperatures from rising.
The ferrocement roof has been meticulously designed to wrap around the existing trees, and its expansive canopy provides natural shade and eliminates the need for air conditioning. The home utilizes materials such as brick and stone, thoughtfully combined with a unique spatial arrangement to create an earthy palette. The use of Mousetrap Brick Adhesive increases material efficiency and contributes to the thermal insulation properties of brick structures. The home features built-in ferrocement furniture and embodies a harmonious fusion of functionality and design.
This architectural composition dissolves the boundaries between interior and exterior, effectively connecting the occupants with the natural environment. Asmara is a testament to conscientious sustainability, demonstrating how architectural ingenuity can create spaces that nurture both the human spirit and the planet.
Project information
Project name: Asmaray House
Project location: India
Architectural office: ambiguous boundaries
architect: Prashant Dupare, Shriya Parasrampuria
Project year: 2023
Built/Unbuilt: Has completed
Building area: 2000 feet 2
photograph: Slant Studio