Architecture

Luxury concrete house takes the sting out of the Indian summer

Luxury concrete house takes the sting out of the Indian summer
Private Residence No. 7 is nestled among a landscaped garden in a bustling city area
Private Residence No. 7 is nestled among a landscaped garden in a bustling city area
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Private Residence No. 7 is nestled among a landscaped garden in a bustling city area
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Private Residence No. 7 is nestled among a landscaped garden in a bustling city area
Private Residence No. 7 was designed by Flxbl Design Consultancy and completed earlier this year
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Private Residence No. 7 was designed by Flxbl Design Consultancy and completed earlier this year
Private Residence No. 7's ground floor opens up to the garden that surrounds it
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Private Residence No. 7's ground floor opens up to the garden that surrounds it
Private Residence No. 7 features a lushly landscaped garden
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Private Residence No. 7 features a lushly landscaped garden 
Private Residence No. 7 is located in a bustling city area
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Private Residence No. 7 is located in a bustling city area 
Private Residence No. 7 opens up to the outside in multiple areas
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Private Residence No. 7 opens up to the outside in multiple areas
Private Residence No. 7's main entrance
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Private Residence No. 7's main entrance
Private Residence No. 7 is topped by a rooftop garden
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Private Residence No. 7 is topped by a rooftop garden 
Private Residence No. 7 is topped by a rooftop garden
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Private Residence No. 7 is topped by a rooftop garden
Private Residence No. 7 is finished in rough exposed concrete
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Private Residence No. 7 is finished in rough exposed concrete
Private Residence No. 7 is located in Ahmedabad, India
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Private Residence No. 7 is located in Ahmedabad, India
Private Residence No. 7 serves as home to a family of four
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Private Residence No. 7 serves as home to a family of four
Private Residence No. 7's louvers open up to the breeze
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Private Residence No. 7's louvers open up to the breeze
Private Residence No. 7 measures 8,500 sq ft (789 sq m)
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Private Residence No. 7 measures 8,500 sq ft (789 sq m)
Private Residence No. 7's rough concrete is softened a little with greenery
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Private Residence No. 7's rough concrete is softened a little with greenery 
Closeup of some of Private Residence No. 7's windows
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Closeup of some of Private Residence No. 7's windows 
Private Residence No. 7 is primarily constructed from rough exposed concrete
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Private Residence No. 7 is primarily constructed from rough exposed concrete
Private Residence No. 7's living room
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Private Residence No. 7's living room 
Private Residence No. 7's living room opens up to the garden with sliding glass doors
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Private Residence No. 7's living room opens up to the garden with sliding glass doors
Private Residence No. 7's dining area and kitchen
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Private Residence No. 7's dining area and kitchen
Another shot of Private Residence No. 7's dining area and kitchen
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Another shot of Private Residence No. 7's dining area and kitchen
Another shot of Private Residence No. 7's dining area and kitchen
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Another shot of Private Residence No. 7's dining area and kitchen
Private Residence No. 7's upstairs features bedrooms arranged around a central courtyard
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Private Residence No. 7's upstairs features bedrooms arranged around a central courtyard
Private Residence No. 7's staircase
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Private Residence No. 7's staircase 
Private Residence No. 7 is topped by a central courtyard and garden
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Private Residence No. 7 is topped by a central courtyard and garden 
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Flxbl Design Consultancy made extensive use of rough-finished concrete with this luxury home in Ahmedabad, India. Named Private Residence No. 7, it's designed to take some of the sting out of the tropical summer heat with a louvered facade and carefully arranged interior layout that opens up to the outside.

Private Residence No. 7 was commissioned for a family of four and measures 8,500 sq ft (789 sq m). The recently-completed home is nestled among a landscaped garden in a bustling city area.

Its ground floor includes a living room that opens up to the garden with large sliding glass doors, as does the kitchen, dining room, and gym. The upstairs hosts the master bedroom, as well as another bedroom, a rooftop garden, and an entertainment room, all arranged around a central courtyard.

Large wooden louvers are installed in the facade of the upper floor and can be manually manipulated to block out the sun or allow the prevailing breeze to permeate within. There's no suggestion from the architects that the home is purely passively cooled though, like the similar Binh House, so we'd assume that air-con is installed too.

Private Residence No. 7's living room opens up to the garden with sliding glass doors
Private Residence No. 7's living room opens up to the garden with sliding glass doors

"The building responds to the local climate which is typically hot for a major part of the year while it brings in plenty of natural light and ventilation in every room," explains Flxbl Design Consultancy. "The openings are oriented to pull in more light from the north and east facades and to significantly reduce heat gain from the south and west.

"The interior voids, facade openings, roof top courtyard, elevated garden and extended walls work together with light, shadow and the landscape to create a powerful influence of nature while keeping the identity of that of the monolith intact."

Source: Flxbl Design Consultancy

View gallery - 25 images
3 comments
3 comments
xs400
Except for the louvers, there seem to be no other features to keep this building cool. Also, the images of the interiors show AC vents. This will be another very expensive building to live in, especially in the summer, and especially in Ahmedabad.
michael_dowling
SIP housing would be better than concrete,especially in earthquake prone areas. You get super insulation,and thereby require only a small A/C unit to stay comfortable. The structure also goes up in days.
GregVoevodsky
If you love living in a cell block, this house looks great. Ugly, dark, prison.