State Commendation Award at the 18th Architect of the Year
Awards 2008 for Indian State Architecture Awards (ISAA)

Architects - Auroville, Pondicherry, India

Batmanabane's House, Moolakulam, Pondicherry 2008/9

Architect : Sheril Castelino & Pino Marchese
Construction: Desire Designs
Area: 500 sqm
Cost : 70 lacs
Period : 2007/8

Essentially the dominant element is a square double-storied box, pure, sleek, geometric envelope lifted buoyantly above slender pilotis on the tight site. The open to sky garden on the first floor reclaims the area of the building for green space inside. For the subtropical Indian climate, semi covered spaces have been provided on the different levels to be able to get a feel of being outdoors but protected from the heat and sun.

The architecture design features include:

• modular design
• no ornamentation
• pure colour on the facades
• a very open interior plan
• interior garden on the first level
• 3-car integral garage (the curve on ground floor based on turning radius of the cars)