The Beck house sits on a 600 sqm plot with fields on one side and a hill behind it. It’s the last house on a side street off a village road. A distinctive paving pattern and a laterite compound wall topped with Spanish tiles greet you at the gate. Beyond, all that is visible are some unusual peaked roofs atop laterite walls which arouse curiosity and draw you onward. A curving seat and a tall column holding up a peaked roof create the pocket-porch for pause.

Compared to other recent projects by D’Cruz, this house is different primarily because of the angled plan form used. This departure from a right-angled geometry has resulted in creating a house that is constantly changing as one moves through it. New angles are constantly revealed and the roof is a dynamic presence as one moves through the house. The multiple ways in which one encounters the outside in the house make for a richness in the experience; starting with the wide veranda, the lawn, the central square pebbled patch of green in the living area and finally the corner windows in the bathrooms

The Beck house proves that the past can be an interesting visual resource for new creative interpretations. This is a completely new expression, yet because of the materials and the familiarity of the elements used there is a feeling of comfort when you encounter the house. Perhaps it is the simple details like the built-in furniture, the seats and perches that are sprinkled around that finally makes the house feel very accessible and inviting. The Beck house leaves you with a series of memorable moments...a cool veranda, a stretch of secluded lawn, the afternoon light slanting in and the glowing golden floor.

 BECK'S

BECK'S 

BECK'S