Project: The House with the Gabion
Architects: Spasm Design
Location: Lonavala, India
Area: 1,614 sq ft
Photographs by: Courtesy of Spasm Design
The House with the Gabion by Spasm Design
Spasm Design is the Mumbai-based architecture firm behind the revolutionary design of the House with the Gabion in Lonaval, India, overlooking the stunning Pawna Lake. This description should be more than enough to conclude that this residence offers some truly stunning views of the lake and the landscapes around it, but what really distinguishes the House with the Gabion from most luxury residences is its Y-shaped roof.
It is used to collect rain water besides providing shelter for this atypical contemporary Indian house.
Pawna Lake, offers some killer vistas.
This country home starts with an 8 foot thick Gabion wall, which acts as a spine, the first marker which runs for 170 feet, from north to south.
All spaces in a one room thick linear organization attach themselves to the Gabion and a generous 10 foot wide verandah lined in local bricks becomes the movement and principal living zone.
The break in the Gabion becomes the point of entry, almost like slipping in discretely, into a densely planted court, confronted by a swing bed, framing the phenomenal view.
The innovation of the musket spouts and the full length Y-rain collector makes sure that the water shed by the roof is tamed and shot out away from the verandah. This is a high precipitation, catchment area.
The pool sort of drifts away from the verandah as a reflective mirror plane, pointing to the peak on the opposite shore.
Open showers, high rooms, terrazzo en-suites and brass lamps add to the overall frugal natural atmosphere. The Gabion has become overgrown and is ruinous and modern at once, in a way.
We, couldn’t see any other way of addressing the site.
–Spasm Design
