By Savitha Hira
Photography: Courtesy LSDA
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Layers Studio for Design and
Architecture (LSDA) carve out a niche water-scape for a private residence in
Udaipur, where the onus is on minimal intervention and a holistically
responsive landscape design…
“The concept was to design the
landscape wrapped around a central water feature, which sat next to the living
room of the house, with water flowing in and out at various levels and locations
through the entire landscape,” informs Neha of the Neha Bhardwaj-Gaurav Kapoor
duo - principal architects at LSDA.
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With a focus on just one
material – rough black sandstone, 2200 sq. m. of the garden and approach path
to the home is landscaped using the stone in different patterns. Strips of
white marble and an elevation in Gwalior stone define the patterns, as pebbles
contribute to the overall aesthetic. A green cover of shrubs and bushes wraps
up the aesthetic with just two varieties of trees – Ashok and Badam trees
planted at the periphery to ensure privacy from neighbouring plots.
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Structurally, the design
consists of a driveway leading to a drop-off plaza, up to the main door of the
house. A central water-body and the main lawn flank the pathway, letting one’s
gaze take on the wider sight of an inviting beautifully landscaped garden and
the outdoor dining and play areas that peep through from the rear.
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Water is the ubiquitous
element here, as spouts emerge from tall linear stone splits and the seemingly
overflowing pond, its softly rippling murmur, cathartic music to the ears.
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Since the key utility of the
garden is relegated to the cool evenings, diligent lighting solutions
accentuate the setting, bringing the outdoors pulsatingly alive as the sun
begins to set. Adding an element of intrigue to this simple styling are 9 feet
high custom-built sculptural, cut-jaali
columns that line the driveway and perfectly complement the tall linear
floating walls that act as space separators.
The columns
transform into decorative light installations by evening, creating a festive
look all year around. Details are meticulously looked into as effective
contributors: the water spouts look artistic even when not in use; the floor of
the pond is finished with broken tile mosaic flooring laid in a contemporary
pattern using various shades of blues and is the talking point of the design as
it is visible from every point of the house and the garden.
When the approach to your home
is culled with a relative passion for the good life, the vibe becomes eternally
positive and liberating. Such is the ethos of the entrance to this private
residence, where the clients brief mandated simplicity and elegance in a
party-friendly outdoor space.
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