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NISHABDHA – A HEARTFELT
DIALOGUE
NASHIK, MAHARASHTRA

Plot Area: 4,500 sq ft

Built-up Area: 8,100 sq ft
Project Timeline: 2015 – 2017
Project Cost: INR 3,000 per sq ft

WITHIN N WITHOUT, NASHIK

Principal Architect: Shailesh Devi
Project Team: Jay Chauhan, Ninad Bothara, Sachin, Kadam Raosaheb Jagannath

© Skyboard, 2020. No part of this eBook may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information
storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author.
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NISHABDHA – A HEARTFELT DIALOGUE - WITHIN N WITHOUT

Settled in Nashik, this residence comes across as an intriguing

mass of concrete. The façade expresses a play geometry with solids
and voids. Designed by Within N Without, the planning is inspired by
the traditional Indian concept of houses with central courtyards. Set
on a plot area of 4,500 sq ft, ‘Nishabdha’ - is a silent poetry hummed by
the house, harmonically composed with the forces of the place.
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NISHABDHA – A HEARTFELT DIALOGUE - WITHIN N WITHOUT

The house is planned as a G+1 structure with a west facing façade in order to cut down
the heat gain and considering the site context. This maximized the dimension of
accommodating a garden and invite the breeze. As a strategy to further reduce the harsh
sunlight and balance the privacy, architects planned to layer the mass with an envelope
that allows interaction between the interiors and exteriors. The concept of adding
layers on the façade was ideated by the traditional house designs. It was influenced by
creating a membrane or a verandah and shading them, which creates climatically and
contextually responsive spaces.

The spatial organization of spaces reflects a sense of privacy. Every space is separate
and yet effortlessly connects with the other. The south was dedicated for placing the
services and staircase as a result of thick wall that reduces the heat inside. The north
and west were opened up forming junction towards the corner road and spanning across
to overlook the garden.

From the entrance, as one moves along a shifting axis forming varied focuses through
the inner core. This invites beautiful natural light inside. The user further moves
towards the centre with a feeling of curiosity. This central area acts like a ‘chowk’ which
holds the built units around it but also binds people together informally, performing and
forming a communal space for public activities. Identifying the dining- an altogether
family activity.

The north was planned for living area keeping it open climatically to maximize the
intake of diffused light. The kitchen placed on the east faces the rear lawn and receives
beautiful light. The pooja space on the north east portion of the site, overlooks the
external green court. Presence of a waterbody ahead of the pooja, adds to the calming
ambiance of the space. Two master bedrooms are placed on ground level. One opens up
towards the parking and the other towards the east.

Though the contextual building in front took away the freedom to make it completely
open at the ground, yet has a satisfying quality at the first floor. Three bedrooms and a
family room were placed on the first floor. The street character camouflages the built
units with unbuilt central space giving it a quality of Indianness. The ever-changing
axial movement pattern reminds the one of the Indian street character realizing the
experience within.
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NISHABDHA – A HEARTFELT DIALOGUE - WITHIN N WITHOUT

Keeping the attributes of the principal personality – the character of the house has
been defined. The physical form expresses a formal look, while the interiors stick to a
a certain order. The layers of experience, order and expression dissolve in each other.

The emptiness of the central space is filled up by the presence of overhead skylight
that illuminates the double height space at the heart of the house, making a subtle
appearance of light coming off from the central courtyard. The core continuously
radiates the energy from the heart to the skin, which structured and inspired to arrange
the built form accordingly.
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Concept Sketch

Traditional Houses Street Section

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Facade view from the street

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NISHABDHA – A HEARTFELT DIALOGUE - WITHIN N WITHOUT

A spacious parking area at the entrance with plants

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Volume of entrance porch fills one with an excitement to discover the spaces
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A unique design for the dining gives it an individual character yet it blends subtly with the
overall space
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Dining area receiving views of the adjoining spaces

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NISHABDHA – A HEARTFELT DIALOGUE - WITHIN N WITHOUT

View of the minimally desinged living room

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NISHABDHA – A HEARTFELT DIALOGUE - WITHIN N WITHOUT

A play geometry for openings

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Presence of natural light creates a lively environment in the living room

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NISHABDHA – A HEARTFELT DIALOGUE - WITHIN N WITHOUT

Pooja room place and the family living connecting to the external court
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The staircase lobby distributes light across the spaces and works as a partition
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NISHABDHA – A HEARTFELT DIALOGUE - WITHIN N WITHOUT

Sense of spaciousness throughout the house

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NISHABDHA – A HEARTFELT DIALOGUE - WITHIN N WITHOUT

LEGEND
1. Entry Lobby- 25.66 sq.m 8. Master Toilet and Common Toilet – 11.2 sq.m
2. Lobby – 10.18 sq.m 9. Pooja room -
3. Living Area – 24.70 sq.m 10. Utility and store- – 5.10 sq.m
4. Dining Area- 10.17 sq.m 11. Dining Courtyard – 19.17 sq.m
5. Kitchen Area- 16.20 12. Waterbody – 8 sq.m
6. Family Room and court- 25.3sq.m 13. Parking – 22.85 sq.m
7. Master Bed Room – 17.46 sq.m 14. Garden – 110 sq.m

Ground Floor Plan

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NISHABDHA – A HEARTFELT DIALOGUE - WITHIN N WITHOUT

Family living area on the first floor has a comforting vibe due to the low height sofa
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The circular window adds a unique look to the space

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Bright bedroom space

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NISHABDHA – A HEARTFELT DIALOGUE - WITHIN N WITHOUT

View of the garden running around the house

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NISHABDHA – A HEARTFELT DIALOGUE - WITHIN N WITHOUT

View of the garden and elevation

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Balcony with skylight carved amid the concrete ceiling

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Details of concrete elevation gives a strong character to the house

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Facade details
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NISHABDHA – A HEARTFELT DIALOGUE - WITHIN N WITHOUT

LEGEND
1.Family Room – 21.74 sq.m 5.Toilet – 5.16 sq.m
2.Bed Room (i) – 19.43 sq.m 6.Bed Room (iii) – 17.69 sq.m
3.M.Toilet and dressing– 76.52 sq.m 7.Toilet – 9.45 sq.m
4.Bed Room (ii) – 16.02 sq.m 8.Terrace – 18.61 sq

First Floor Plan

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Doodles
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Section
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UNIQUE MATERIAL APPLICATIONS Ply/Laminates: Greenlam

Roofing: RCC Veneer: Timex
Windows: Fenesta from Glazing Box Air Conditioning: Daikin
Tiles: Nitco from Samir Ceramics
Lighting: Wipro KEY CONTRIBUTORS
Color: Asian Paints Structural: Sanjay Ratnaparki
Sanitaryware: Parryware Civil: Kadam Raosaheb Jagannath
Bath Fittings: Grohe Landscape: Ar. Krishna Rathi
Furnishing: D’Décor from Dreams
Hardware: Hettich PHOTO CREDITS
Modular Kitchen: Sunbird Vikrant Deshputre
Kitchen Sink: Nirali

© Skyboard, 2020. No part of this eBook may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information
storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author.