Private Terrace to Personal Lounge

Architects Gouri Deshpande and Ammeya Gogate transform a part of an open terrace into a restful retreat

- Brinda Gill

The client had a terrace that he wished to convert into a space to relax after work on weekdays and have his friends over on weekends’, says architect Gouri Deshpande, of the project she and architect Ammeya Gogate, studio G+A, Pune, worked on recently. Shown the terrace of a ground plus three level apartment building in Karve Nagar, Pune, where the client lived on the third floor and had ownership of half the terrace, they took in its compact 550 square feet space, the parapet wall defining it and the views of the crowns of mango and coconut trees just beyond the terrace.

A Neat Plan

Interacting with the client, they learnt that he was an industrialist with long working hours and felt the need for a quiet space to relax, read a book or listen to music after work, and where he could host parties for his friends on his days off from work. “Tapping the potential of the terrace, we thought of developing its relation with the surrounding vistas of the tree tops and hills in the distance. We decided to opt for an area breakup of 65% built and 35% treated open which would encompass the varied needs of the client while offering ample space for large get-togethers” explains architect Ammeya Gogate.

In this way, keeping the client’s requirements in mind and exploring the potential of the space with the existing parapet wall and two duct shafts in mind, the architects designed a semi-covered terrace (to the north) and closed space comprising a large lounge (to the south) and a service bay (of pantry, bar and powder room) between the terrace and lounge that – by virtue of its location – would easily serve or offer access to both areas.

FACT FILE

Architects: studio G+A Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India