The Kizikula Guest Houses, a series of simple residential structures near the seashore in Zanzibar, Tanzania, display Case Design's signature approach to perfection; local, natural, tactile materials come together with regional needs and climate and a strong sense of community. This is just one of a series of works by the young Mumbai-based architecture firm founded by Samuel and Erica Barclay.
Their first project, the one that prompted the creation of their firm, was the Avasara Academy, a school set on a valley slope above the village of Lavale, west of Pune and southeast of Mumbai. It is an education project created with the local community in mind and ‘it has been a labour of love,' says Samuel. The pair went on from strength to strength since, working on a range of commissions, from new built homes to residential interiors and furniture, in India and beyond.
The Tanzania houses draw on their environment, created using coral limestone found on the island that gives them a unique site-specific twist and visually connects them to the earth; while displaying the studio's appreciation of natural materials and textured surfaces.
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These simple structures cater for a variety of needs, from social interaction to intimacy and relaxation. Entered through a deep veranda, each house is an independent, simple composition centred on an open plan main space, containing a kitchen and living room. Meanwhile, the outside area ensures the interiors have enough shade, comfort and privacy.
More residential work by the small but fast-moving studio includes the renovation of a two-bedroom apartment in Mumbai's Malabar Hill. Every project provides its own challenges and homes are no exception. ‘I think a home and a chair are two of the most difficult design challenges there are,' says Samuel Barclay.
‘In some ways the program [of a house] is very simple but there is literally no end to the depth that you can go into on elements like materials, climate, program, culture, social construct, and spatial/formal considerations. To know too that this is going to be the personal space for an individual or family to inhabit for years to come elevates the stakes for me as well especially after having children. It is an opportunity to create an environment that is built around the values that you share with your team, collaborators, and the client.'
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