Rachna Agarwal sees designing beach houses as an art form. Finding the right balance between material, design and climate/season requirements is an exhilarating challenge. The Delhi-based architect realized this five years ago, when a client asked him to redesign a sea-facing house in Goa; The client bought a Portuguese era bungalow in North Goa.
The architect and designer share that, over the past decade, the approach to building oceanfront homes has changed. As more people leave congested metropolises to find peace in coastal cities, homes are changing from vacation spots that sit empty for much of the year to inviting places for families to stay Well, at least for a few months. Advances in technology and quality of material available in the market are also helping in this boom. Many of the architects we spoke to were asked to call back clients who came to them with well-researched concepts.
The Cove, a 5,000-sq-ft beach house in North Goa, designed by Rachna Agarwal Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Heat, humidity and strong winds are the defining climatic conditions of the coastal regions. They accelerate corrosion, and seepage and leakage are ever-present concerns—all of which can shorten a structure’s life. Nowadays, many architects prefer wood or aluminum for construction as both are cost effective and sustainable options. Agarwal, co-founder of Studio IAAD, says, “In Goa, we generally prefer aluminum over wood as it lasts longer and requires less maintenance. After a few years, some types of wood crack which are not suitable for houses living close to the sea. At The Cove, a 5,000-square-foot beach house in North Goa, she designed the facade with textured tiles and concrete, as the texture discourages moss growth and requires little to no maintenance. There is a roof that tilts on its axis – the tilt helps to deal with the torrential rain while also letting the sea breeze in.
Cove textured tile and concrete facade | photo credit: special arrangement
Natasha Kochhar, associate partner, LTDF Architecture in Delhi, asks her clients how they plan to use the home they are buying. Its design depends on whether they will live there permanently or use it as a holiday hideout. His definition of permanent: 150 days. “If one is using the house for more than 150 days, I prefer to use aluminum for cladding [which is durable and rust-proof], I also ask them about the location of the property. Even if it is not facing the sea, but in a seaside city, my first priority is aluminum.
vote for hardwood
But there are also supporters of wood. PL Narayan, founder of NESCA Homes in Hyderabad, advocates wood as a prime construction material. “In the last five to eight years, many architects are using wood not only for making bungalows and villas, but also for multi-storey buildings. and wood [especially from managed forestry] is a durable material.
One of the wooden houses from NESCA Homes | photo credit: special arrangement
Although aluminum is readily available and certainly better in terms of corrosion and its lightness for seaside structures than other metals such as iron, they believe that wood is a better thermal insulator. “It has the best sound absorption and is also warm, which helps in saving up to 60% on heating and air conditioning per year. And it improves your carbon footprint as it absorbs carbon dioxide,” says Narayan Currently working with ITC for a commercial project in Port Blair, constructing 50 sea front homes.
Hardwoods are resistant to water and weathering, and do not scratch or splinter easily. (other than local varieties Ann – which architect Bijoy Jain used to great effect in his spectacular Palmyra House in Alibaug – India also imports Douglas fir, yellow cedar, spruce, pine and so on.) The fact is that a wooden building is lighter than a concrete one This also means the gravity load is reduced, thus a large amount of concrete is not required in the ground for the foundation.
Akshat Bhatt, the founder of the Delhi-based architecture discipline, recently designed a completely large-scale wooden residence in Goa. They used new-age materials like architectural fabric and thermally-treated cork to further up the sustainability factor. “The project generates its own power, it is advanced in the way waste is treated on site, and it only uses naturally occurring air because it is good for the humid environment,” he says. Huh.
Akshat Bhatt’s mass timber house under construction in Goa | photo credit: special arrangement
metal for the win
Further south, Sunil Philip, director of PSP Design in Chennai, chooses Corten steel – with its rusticated appearance that enhances its aesthetic qualities – for seaside construction. “This is ideal because the material tends to rust, which acts as a protective layer,” he says. It is also anti-corrosive and low maintenance.
On the other hand, Biju Kuriakose, co-founder of ArchitectureRED in Chennai, prefers a mix of high-end aluminium, stones or bricks and any materials that are naturally available.
Clockwise from top left: Biju Kuriakose, Rachna Aggarwal, Natasha Kochhar, PL Narayan, and Akshat Bhatt | photo credit: special arrangement
deal with rust
Over the past few years, architects are increasingly turning to eco-friendly, energy-efficient and sustainable building materials that are also corrosion-free. “Some of the important materials to consider while developing a seaside project are corrosion resistance steel [CRS] TMT Bar, Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag [that has a slower rate of hydration which helps in reducing the permeability of concrete]and Cera Cote Protecto series [which creates a high water barrier effect]In Mumbai, S. says Ram Raheja, managing director of Raheja Realty.
He also points out that special care should be taken when choosing hardware and joints as they can wear out quickly due to slanting rain and salt spray. It’s also important to use weatherproof flooring materials and keep a close eye on leaks or corrosion.
A rendering of Bhatt’s collective timber house in Goa | photo credit: special arrangement
keeping in mind the sustainability
Wood scores high on the sustainability and eco-friendly scale. “Trees can regenerate in 10 years, whereas metals take centuries to regenerate,” says Narayan. “Plus, wood is 1,770 times more energy efficient than aluminum.” Kuriakose agrees. “Wood brings warmth into the home. If there is no wood, it will be too cold inside an apartment or house.” But he adds a caveat: Wood will require maintenance from time to time.
According to Philip, another important factor is the minimum use of electrical products such as ventilation and air conditioners. “There should be enough room for air to pass through. Proper cross ventilation will help avoid using too many electrical products,” he says.
A beachside property | Photo Credit: Getty Images
In most of her projects, Agarwal encourages clients to plant saplings or trees. “In Goa, any type of planting will look beautiful. We suggest banana trees, bird of paradise or spider leaves. These will also help increase the greenery in the area. She also recommends, if the budget allows is, “installation of solar panels, which helps in the long run”.
Kochhar addresses ventilation through large windows in the units she designs. “Ideally, I like 10×12 windows. But they can be changed depending on the wind speed and reach. For example, if a house is situated on the top of a hill, it is difficult to move the window panes.”
first buyer advantage
In smaller cities, such as those in Goa, or in places such as Alibaug, many customers are second-time buyers, preferring to invest in oceanfront homes as a luxury retreat. But in Tier 1 cities like Mumbai and Chennai, especially along the East Coast Road, many people choose such properties for a better quality of life. In Mumbai, clients of leading realtors are either first-time buyers or opt for redevelopment projects. “In a bustling city like Mumbai, a beautiful view of the seashore is considered a utility in itself. And the architectural impact of such a project can be enhanced with the help of high class amenities like terrace garden, infinity swimming pool, green open space, high ceilings etc. He adds that realtors are now coming up with modern amenities to attract millennials and first-time buyers.
keep rain water out
Lastly, with climate change wreaking havoc across the globe, and a drastic increase in rainfall along the Indian coastline, any seaside construction must take the necessary precautions against flooding. Raheja explains, “The way to tackle the issue is to understand the strengths and opportunities that are presented in the form of open spaces.”
“The idea is to increase the number of perverse [porous or permeable] Encourage design, policies, collaborative and participatory strategies such as surface and riverine buffer zones to enable more blue-green infrastructure, rainwater co-management in built-up areas, and mitigation green conversion of open spaces, Which can reduce the load of storm water management on the main grid.