Pannerselvam Residence:

“A real building is one on which the eye can light and stay lit.”

The residence of Dr. Paneerselvam and family is sited in Erode, Periyar District. The residents of the house belong to the Medical fraternity, and it was designed by keeping in mind the busy schedules of their lives. The clients desired spaces they could unwind in after a long and laborious day.

The residence is a composite construction of concrete, metal and wood. Visual connectivity is brought in by the location of the courtyards and a play of levels that bring in ample natural lighting and ventilation.

To enter the house, one has to cross the lily pond in the lawn, which provides a calm and serene entrance. By providing discrete courtyards connecting to the bedrooms, the clients get a sense of privacy and can get in touch with the roots of nature. This feature satisfies the need for the obligatory relaxation that the clients desire.

The shallow pool and the murals surrounding it acts as the central area that provides the visual connectivity to the multiple levels of the residence. The wooden metal staircase ties the informal family space to upper level informal family spaces.

The courtyards have been designed with perforated openings that act as an air duct to keep the interiors cool. These perforations also have an aesthetic appeal and provide a semi enclosed feel to the courtyards by bringing in a certain level of privacy to the residents.

The terrace garden and the meditation area on the terrace is a sanctuary for the residents where they can spend quality time among themselves and the landscape provides a calming effect on them.

The visual and spacial connectivity plays the lead role in this residence. It connects the various spaces of the residence but also demarcates them and does not fail to provide a sense of security and privacy.

Usage of landscape and open courtyards also increases the serenity of the space and helps the residents to ease and wind down after a strenuous day.

The interconnectivity of space and the play of levels not only increases the aesthetic appeal of the building, but also paves way for the incoming of natural ventilation and lighting throughout the entire residence.

On the whole, the residence of Dr. Paneerselvam and family has an overall homely atmosphere and is a haven for its inhabitants.