Architecture Discipline unveils India's first mass-timber home

New Delhi-based studio Architecture Discipline has created a sea-facing, mass-timber home covered in charred-wood cladding in Goa, India.

The linear home was constructed using 11 glued laminated timber (glulam) portal frames, which according to the practice is "a first in India".

Glued laminated timber, more commonly known as glulam, is a form of high-strength mass-timber with a low carbon footprint.

"The decision to use mass-timber stemmed from a desire to push the boundaries of sustainable construction in India," Architecture Discipline principal architect Akshat Bhatt told Dezeen.

The linear block stands at the highest point of a steep site near the edge of the Chapora River in Vagator, Goa.

The team intended to construct the house in a minimally invasive manner and perched it on a foundation of stilts and concrete retaining walls. Raising the floor plate above the ground also gave protection from moisture and capillary action.

Above this, the glulam portal frames, which were prefabricated in Delhi and assembled on-site in Goa, form the house's structure.

"The prefabrication process allowed for incredible precision, and assembling the structure on-site was faster than traditional methods," Bhatt commented.

"The finished structure feels progressive yet rooted, reflecting the ability of mass-timber to achieve both sustainability and aesthetics."

The living area is arranged in an open plan on the lower level, culminating in two guest suites at the rear.

It is lined with glazing on three sides, allowing natural light to flood the space. The glazing, along with an open deck extending from the front of the living room, provides unobstructed views of the lush surroundings.

As a result of the client's minimal lifestyle, the team selected simple furniture pieces upholstered in leather, including an Eames chair .

A mezzanine level overlooks the living space, connected by a metal staircase. The team designed a gallery space here to display the client's art collection, leading into the master bedroom.

The practice chose a pared-back palette for the interiors, intending to express the raw form of the timber frames. The walls are painted white, coupled with black granite flooring.

The stilted volume on the ground level houses a glass-lined space use by the client as a wood workshop.

The exterior surface is covered with charred timber cladding created using an age-old Japanese preservation technique called Yakisugi. The material was chosen for its durability and moisture resistance, ideal for Goa's tropical climate.

Bhatt believes that mass-timber will become a key material in redefining how homes are built in India.

"Mass-timber has the potential to revolutionise residential design in India by offering a sustainable alternative to conventional materials," he said.

"As awareness grows around the environmental impact of construction, mass-timber's carbon-sequestering properties and renewable nature make it an ideal solution," he continued.

"It is time for a revolution. Bold design must be realised with sustainable technology and small-scale experiments like this can be a catalyst for change."

Other glulam buildings recently featured on Dezeen include a demountable timber sports hall at the University of Zurich by Itten+Brechbühl and a wood-clad visitor centre on the Beskydy Mountains ridge in the Czech Republic by Henkai Architekti.

The photography is by Studio Charuau and Ranjan Sharma.

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