The ghar in Unjha was designed for a client who wanted a private, introspective home.
The building works to mitigate northern Gujarat’s harsh climate through a second skin that envelopes the entire space. Alternating stone panels compress the prevailing wind, creating a breeze that crosses the house, while a two foot ventilated gap between exterior and interior surface removes heat emitted by the sun-baked outside walls.
The protective, tall wrapper allows the building to open into a central green chowk around which rooms are situated, structured by a ramp that runs along the western wall. A first floor terrace above the living room provides space for pulse and pickle and papad sun-drying, keeping all household activities connected through the center. Rainwater gathered from this terrace falls into a lotus pond that overflows into the chowk, while water from the upper terrace is collected for a rainwater storage tank under the building.