People in cities prefer to stay in apartments as a convenient way to live, but to own an independent house is a dream that everyone cherishes. Many cities do offer the typology of independent houses like Villas and Row Houses, but these too are compact like the apartments. Peri-urban areas and rural areas on the fringes of cities have options for Bungalows and Farm Houses with easy availability of know-how and resources for constructing this type of houses. These generally end up serving as weekend houses and second homes.
Either ways let’s briefly understand how to go about creating a house.
Step I. Choosing a plot.
Depending upon the nature of the location, a house could be a suburban house, a bungalow, a villa, a farmhouse or a palace. An ideal location from point of view of Geography, Topography, Climate, Accessibility and other physicalities is critical to the cost and functioning. The right priority or combination will help economise building costs during design. An Architects involvement at this stage will be of huge value as his knowledge and experience will help visualise the potential of the plot.
Step II. Design
In colloquial terms Design is referred to, as the aesthetics in a building. Design is really an overall arrangement of functional spaces and elements in order to have an functional and pleasing building. The mass hence created is formalised, proportioned and treated to create a beautiful structure. Drawings representing the buildings are drawn up by the Architect. Physical models and views are created to simulate the building for better understanding. Once accepted by the owners, validated by the engineers and consultants and verified by the approving authority, the building is ready to be constructed.
Check out our Climatic House I
Step III. Construction
The Architect draws out another set of drawings – for construction. These drawings incorporate various details and provisions for Structural members, Electrical, Water supply & disposal services, Heating and Cooling, Materials and Technologies. A favourable contractor is then selected to construct the building. Based on the characteristics of the ground, a suitable excavation is dug for the foundation of the structure. Walls, Slabs and Structural members are articulated based on the designs. A roof is added on the top to cover the building. Various elements are added to the building for resisting or transmitting the external climatic conditions within. The openings are treated with materials for safety, visibility and climate control. The floors and walls are rendered with suitable materials to take wear and tear and create a desired ambience and comfort. The building is later finished with materials and finishes to counter the degradation of the structure due to weathering.
Step IV. Interiors
Fittings and Fixtures
Certain conduits for Electrical services are built-in the structure during construction. The balance is then chased into the walls and floors. Wires are drawn through them as per the plan for providing lights, fans, various other equipment and machinery. Switches, Sockets and Circuit Breakers are later installed. Water supply pipes too are concealed within the walls and tiled over in the toilets and kitchen areas. Sanitary fittings and fixtures like taps, showers, etc. are then fitted.
Furniture and Artefacts
There are primarily 2 types of furniture – Loose and fixed. Fixed furniture like Wardrobe, Beds, Storage Units, etc., are integrated with the house or become an element. These are built-in place or partly assembled. Sofa sets, Tables and Chairs, Centre tables, etc., are loose furniture and can be bought ready-made. Upholsteries are required to make Curtains, Furniture Covering, Tablecloths, etc., These are chosen to compliment the finishings from paint & polishes over the Walls, Furniture, Floors, etc.
The house might be complete but plain. It can be decorated by using various kinds of objects like Photographs, Paintings, Memorabilia, Sculptures, Plants, Fish tanks, etc. Lighting systems can be used to create various kinds of ambiences. Use of colours too can enhance the quality of the space.
Check out our Blog on Interior Design of a Home
Step V. Landscape
The outside of the house can also be considered as a different quality of space which could be designed to house various activities. The treatment of this space can be done using different kind of elements and materials. Pavilions, Pergolas, Umbrellas and Canopies can be used to create various conditions of comfort. Vegetation, Water, Stones, Metals, etc. can be used as elements to compose variety of textures and sounds.
Hope that this provides a glimpse of what entails in making your own house.
Dream on!!