Narrow plot house design in India

Narrow plots are becoming more valuable in the eyes of both architects and clients. These
days, when cities are becoming more crowded than ever any plot of land should be used at it's maximum capacity. Designing a house on a narrow plot can have it's ups and downs, but we believe that this kind of plot is a positive challenge for everyone.

Usually, narrow plots are situated in the heart of the city, in an already dense and old urban
fabric so developing a house in that place will have a good impact on the appearance of the
street and the whole neighborhood as well.

Every individual house built on a narrow plot will have it's own unique response to it's
environment specificity that will often lead to an innovative approach and a new definitions
of the way that we interact with the built space. Here you will find some advice that you
should keep in mind on the entire time of the process of designing the house. All of them are equally important.

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1. Multi-purpose space

Every single centimeter is very important, so you will want to be very careful with your
design requirements and how the rooms can be combined and what boundaries can be
interlined. To maximize available space, the design will favor an open floor plan, with as
little walls as possible, where the space is fluid.

Think about the space by dividing it into areas rather than in rooms. You can have one single big room that has a small kitchen area equipped with everything one needs to cook, the dining area, the lounging area, the working area and, most important, some storage area. Instead of walls, thinking in narrow spaces is about separating the functional areas with flexible elements such as pieces of furniture, room dividers, or maybe rugs, plants or even by the use of artificial lighting.

2. The search for natural light...
The orientation of the plot is an constraint which must be used in your advantage. Light in the narrow houses is very important and the entire house is built under the direction of the light.
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There are a lot of cases where the house can only have 2 orientation points - the front of the house and the back of the house. An interior patio might be needed to bring natural light to the center of the house. This space could be a very interesting one - being outside, but in the same time in the comfort and intimacy of your own house. If you don't have enough space for this, a big skylight that can bring the light from above inside becomes a very useful and also sustainable element. This is also good for air circulation inside the house and a good way for cross ventilation.

​The more light you have, the bigger the space will feel.

3. The interior exterior relationship...
To take advantage of every opportunity these type of living has to offer, includes having your own yard. A good connection with the outdoor is a great way to make the interior of your home cozier and also it will give a feeling of space. Large windows with low or no sill will do a perfect job.

4. Storage
Be it a normal house or a house made on a narrow plot, enough storage space is the key to a happy living. There is never enough. For making a living in a narrow house, you will have to think about a decluttered design, with many opportunities for storage rooms. Vertical living means vertical storage also.

Long term storage in hard to get places and daily use things in handy places, all must be
thought-out from the beginning.

Designing a house on a narrow plot can be both a challenge and a fun process. Because of the unique features of any narrow plot, creativity is required from the first stages of the project.
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