Houzz Tours
Alibaug Houzz: An Old Beachside Home Gets a New Lease of Life
Architecture BRIO builds a beachside home that seamlessly connects the lush outdoors with earthy interiors
Houzz at a glance
Location: Alibaug, Maharashtra
Year built: 2019
Size: 320 square meters (3444 square feet); 4 bedrooms
Design Firm: Shefali Balwani and Robert Verrijt, Architecture BRIO
Photos by: Edmund Sumner and Randhir Singh
This vacation home located by the beach has been given a new lease of life by Architecture BRIO. It involved the taking down of the existing but decrepit residence and building a new one in its place after raising and levelling out the grounds. The house that finally took shape is one that gently blends into its surroundings, defined by natural landscaping outside and a design aesthetic inside that is minimal, with an abundant use of organic elements.
Location: Alibaug, Maharashtra
Year built: 2019
Size: 320 square meters (3444 square feet); 4 bedrooms
Design Firm: Shefali Balwani and Robert Verrijt, Architecture BRIO
Photos by: Edmund Sumner and Randhir Singh
This vacation home located by the beach has been given a new lease of life by Architecture BRIO. It involved the taking down of the existing but decrepit residence and building a new one in its place after raising and levelling out the grounds. The house that finally took shape is one that gently blends into its surroundings, defined by natural landscaping outside and a design aesthetic inside that is minimal, with an abundant use of organic elements.
A bird’s eye view reveals the house sitting in a copse of coconut palms on the edge of the Arabian Sea.
Before
After
The grounds in front of the house were raised 5 feet higher when the old house was razed to make way for the new one. Shefali Balwani explains, “All material that was born from the demolition of the original structure was reused to raise the garden, such that no material had to go to a landfill.”
On arrival, one walks up a gentle set of stairs along a carefully crafted low basalt masonry wall to reach the level of the garden.
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The grounds in front of the house were raised 5 feet higher when the old house was razed to make way for the new one. Shefali Balwani explains, “All material that was born from the demolition of the original structure was reused to raise the garden, such that no material had to go to a landfill.”
On arrival, one walks up a gentle set of stairs along a carefully crafted low basalt masonry wall to reach the level of the garden.
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The entrance is through the wide 4-metre-deep verandah that opens to the garden and the ocean beyond.
The façade of the house, top and bottom, comprises full-height glass sliding windows to make the most of the scenic views. The living room and dining room on the ground floor open up to the verandah via glazed timber double doors.
Balwani says, “The use of an organic material palette consisting of cement, steel and wood creates an interesting play of textures indoors.” The muted colours highlight the surrounding lush greenery, thanks to expansive windows that line the front of the house.
This image perfectly captures the monochrome tones and layering of textures within the home. The double-height space in the centre of the house features a sculptural staircase leading to the upper floor.
An unexpected design element in the staircase is the solid steel panel that forms the railing, its edge thoughtfully folded to serve as the hand rail. The staircase and the wall are finished in polished black cement oxide while the treads are solid teak wood.
Browse through Houzz photos of inspiring staircases
Browse through Houzz photos of inspiring staircases
Cane pendant lights hang from the high ceiling to light up the living room below, adding to the natural aesthetics of the house.
A skylight lets in soft, filtered sunlight, creating a warm glow in the stairwell and living room below.
The centrally located skylight, oriented towards the south for maximum absorption, holds up the solar panels. Balwani explains, ”This skylight is dimensioned exactly to the 5-by-2-foot solar panels that electrify the house”.
The bedrooms are located along the top periphery of the house. The external faces of all the bedrooms open up with panoramic glass sliding windows that make the most of the scenic views.
Sliding screens made of aluminium strips wrap around the upper floor as a second skin. The light, movable screens, when open create a seamless connection with the outdoors, and when drawn closed, protect the rooms from the sun and rain, simultaneously affording privacy.
At the ground level, chains direct water from a concealed gutter and storm-water pipe into a collection basin.
At the ground level, chains direct water from a concealed gutter and storm-water pipe into a collection basin.
Upstairs, the palette retains the organic touch but in lighter hues. In this guest bathroom, a wardrobe in oakwood veneer serves to divide the bedroom from the bathroom. The floor and walls of the bathroom are finished in ivory-hued concrete that reflects natural light from the full-height bathroom windows.
The back of the house opens to a timber deck that is raised off the ground. The bedroom above it follows the design pattern of those on the front, with large sliding windows shaded with aluminium slats.
On the grounds out front, the 20-metre-long swimming pool enjoys a seamless visual transition to the ocean. Shahabad stone surrounds the pool and rows of palm trees flank the water body on either side.
Read more:
Goa Houzz: A Green Contemporary Holiday Home With Vernacular Elements
Houzz Tour: A Mahabaleshwar Holiday Home Brims With Luxury
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this house? Do tell us in the comments below.
Read more:
Goa Houzz: A Green Contemporary Holiday Home With Vernacular Elements
Houzz Tour: A Mahabaleshwar Holiday Home Brims With Luxury
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this house? Do tell us in the comments below.