Metal Screen Protects This Bengaluru House by Kumar La Nos
Kumar La Nos designs GB House, a multi-generational house covered with a metal screen, in Bengaluru, India
This multi-generational family home covered with a metal screen in Bengaluru, Karnataka provides an airy, functional and contemporary residence for the painter and the unity of their families and guardians. JP House consists of two interconnected apartments; The upper part hosts the client unit, while the lower space is reserved for the grandparents. Designed by local architecture studio Kumar La Nous, the new home balances homely warmth with clean, semi-industrial beauty mixed with a minimalist architectural feel inside.
Kumar La Nos, headed by Bhavana Kumar and Nicola La Nos, built a three storey building to best meet the needs of the extended family. The modern structure is united by a light blue “veil” perforated on the street side – a thin and playful metal screen. However, this element is not just an aesthetic gesture. Its permeable nature helps regulate the heat, air and sunlight that flow into the interior, ensuring comfortable conditions for residents.
Upon entering the interior, the clean interior exudes confidence, in an overall solid and utilitarian atmosphere. The material palette consists of whitewashed walls, polished cement, and a handful of hand-picked, custom-made wood details. The green lacquered main staircase matches the skin tone of the exterior and offers a pop of color, combined with bright and strategic pieces of furniture.
The interior and exterior are fused behind the metal facade through outdoor but sheltered balconies that extend the length of the facade, also allowing for a close appreciation of this major architectural feature. The perforated metal facade is visualized as “filigree”; It incorporates simple but intricate details to retain lightness, while using readily available metal sections, the engineers explain. The custom screen system was achieved through close collaboration with a manufacturer with a passion for detail in metalwork. An exercise in balancing performance with a minimum of basic and rugged details, craft plays a role here as much as engineering.
Balancing Bengaluru’s hot climate, views of neighbors and a cramped urban setting, the design of JP House is simple but functional, providing spatial luxury through smart architecture and relatively inexpensive materials. §
.