Tomoe Villas / Note-D

Architects: Note-D
Area : 5500 ft²
Year : 2014
Photographs :Tina Nandi
Contractors : UCT, Sachin Jayesh Gharat, Jivaram Suthar
Structural Consultant : Vastech, Suhas Jadhav

Text description provided by the architects. Adapting the courtyard type for a luxury villa in Alibaug.

By manipulating the courtyard i.e. lifting an arm, the transition between indoor and outdoor spaces is blurred, outdoor experience is enhanced and ground coverage is minimised. The resultant spiral geometry of the house provides enclosed, semi enclosed and shaded spaces. The spiral segregates into private areas on first floor (bedrooms), public areas on ground floor and service areas in a semi basement. Programmable outdoor spaces such as the loggia on the mezzanine are injected at regular intervals as you move from public to private around the courtyard, maintaining a visual connection across levels.

Tomoe Villas / Note-D - Image 8 of 22 — Courtesy of Note_D

The mound protects the house in a flood-prone zone and becomes an extension of the courtyard into the landscape. The faceted vocabulary disguises structural elements and channelizes surface run-off. The windows mirror the foliage outside, none of which was disturbed during construction.

Alibag is fast becoming the destination of choice for the city’s elite. It’s a short boat ride from Mumbai, is surrounded by hills and has vast spaces of open green. Tomoe homes are nestled in a quaint village 10 minutes from the jetty. Their beautiful location and lush surroundings create the perfect setting for a home that is radically designed, easy to maintain and has the ability to invite the outdoors inside. The villas effortlessly contain living areas, a kitchen, six bedrooms, gardens, terraces and a swimming pool. They're all accessorized with fresh air and lush foliage to block out all traces of hectic city living.

Tomoe homes are sensitive to their Indian context and the local environment. The design is based on a typical Indian courtyard house, which is conducive to tropical weather, especially in terms of light and ventilation. The courtyard house blurs the walls of separation to create a blissful marriage of greenery and stone. The house is raised on one end to offer a completely open ground floor feel. Living and dining areas open out on to 30,000 square feet of landscaped gardens and a pool, the upper level becomes a cocoon for bedrooms, a private lounge and terrace while the mezzanine between the two floors is the perfect setting for a covered outdoor living room. The many indoor and outdoor spaces fuse together to create a seamless living experience.

The location of the pool has been chosen to take advantage of the wind direction in order to naturally cool the house. The pavers on the lawn are environmentally friendly and easy to maintain. The kitchen opens out to a garden to gain instant access to fresh herbs and vegetables. The domestic area is attached to the house, but has its own entrance with access to the kitchen and dining areas.