Imagine a home where the boundaries between indoors and outdoors blur, where nature becomes an integral part of everyday living. This is the essence of House in Corjeum, a breathtaking residence designed by Field Atelier near Goa, India. But here's where it gets intriguing: the house is enveloped by sliding timber screens, intricately woven to allow the breeze to dance through, while folding metal doors add a touch of industrial elegance. Is this the future of sustainable, nature-immersed living?
Located in the quaint village of Corjeum, this home is a masterclass in blending functionality with aesthetics. Organized around a central courtyard that cradles a cluster of existing trees and a historic stone well, the design prioritizes harmony with its surroundings. Elevated on a concrete plinth to fend off monsoon floods, the house is encircled by verandas shielded by those stunning timber screens and metal-framed mosquito nets. These features not only provide natural ventilation and light but also create a seamless connection between the interior and exterior spaces.
But here’s the part most people miss: Field Atelier’s architects, Teja Amonkar and Yatin Fulari, envisioned the house as a series of expandable verandas, each capable of adapting to various functions. This modular approach transforms the home into a dynamic space where the exterior landscape becomes a constant source of intrigue. As Fulari puts it, the house is like a pavilion or stage, offering ever-changing views of the garden’s seasonal transformations. Does this design challenge traditional notions of what a home should be?
The entrance, accessed via the western wing of the U-shaped plan, is a long veranda that overlooks the courtyard. It gracefully passes by the main bedroom before opening into the central living and dining area. This expansive space connects to the courtyard through folding metal doors and to a south-facing veranda via sliding glass and metal doors. Here, an outdoor dining area nestles under the roof’s overhang, blurring the lines between inside and out. Is this the ultimate design for entertaining and relaxation?
Adjacent to this open central space are the kitchen, utility room, and bathroom, along with a staircase leading to a smaller first floor housing an additional bedroom, bathroom, and lounge. In the eastern wing, a slightly sunken study offers a private retreat, connected to the garden through folding wooden shutters. A large door faces north, leading to a standalone guest annexe. Could this layout redefine how we think about privacy and communal living?
Amonkar highlights how the living and dining area, paired with the deep southern veranda, creates a seamless flow across the entire site. The house acts more like a thoroughfare than a closed-off space, with utilitarian areas strategically placed along the passage, allowing life to unfold in the 'in-between spaces.' High ceilings and wooden louvres beneath the overhanging metal roof enhance natural ventilation and light, while rough lime plaster finishes—both inside and out—add a rustic charm to the steel-framed structure filled with hollow clay blocks. Is this the perfect blend of modern innovation and traditional craftsmanship?
Field Atelier, founded by Fulari and Amonkar in 2015 and based in Panaji, Goa, continues to push boundaries in architectural design. Meanwhile, other Goan projects, like Grounded’s renovation of a 160-year-old Portuguese-style home and Architecture Discipline’s creation of India’s first mass-timber home, showcase the region’s architectural renaissance. Which of these designs do you think best represents the future of Goan architecture?
Photographed by Shantanu Starick, House in Corjeum is more than just a residence—it’s a testament to the power of design to connect humans with nature. But we want to hear from you: Do you think this design strikes the right balance between innovation and tradition? Or is it too radical for mainstream adoption? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
