The Winner of the “Best Use of Stone” Category at WAF 2024 Is Play Architecture With Their OH HO Residence

This year, the winner of the “Best Use of Stone” category at the World Architecture Festival 2024, sponsored by Turkish Stones, is Play Architecture with their OH HO Residence project. The project inspired by the ephemeral beauty witnessed at a South Indian temple complex in Srimushnam, Tamil Nadu, where the setting sun softly kissed the stone walls, transforming the stone into liquid gold, this architectural narrative lingers on the materiality of stone. The interplay between light and the density of stone creates an intangible connection, poetically blurring the boundaries between the material and the metaphysical. In Bangalore and Karnataka, the local Chapdi stone—often found in humble footpaths, drain covers, and partition walls—has long been an underappreciated material despite its aesthetic and structural potential. Yet, in the OH HO residence, Chapdi takes center stage, reimagined through innovative design to become a protagonist in its own right.

The site for the OH HO project, a north-facing residential plot in a picturesque neighborhood adjacent to a national zoological park in Bangalore, was once a stone quarry, later abandoned and filled to create a residential community. Set within an 80’x50′ plot, with a large shaded front yard and a small backyard providing a natural light source, OH HO is a response to both its context and the material of the land itself. The design integrates the traditional Indian planning principle of the “nine-square” layout, with a central open courtyard, harmoniously blending ancient ideas with contemporary architectural innovation. At the heart of this design is Chapdi stone, which is used in its purest form, transformed through an interlocking, carpentry-like joinery that pushes the material’s structural potential to new heights.

The residence, conceived as both a home and office for an architect and his wife, is composed of nine 12’x12’ modules, creating a footprint of 36’x36’. This modular approach, determined by the size of the stone blocks, introduces a flexible, functional arrangement that fosters privacy and openness in equal measure. The high gabion walls, constructed from leftover stone from the project, provide both privacy and shade, protecting the building from the harsh direct solar radiation while creating a soothing microclimate. The tectonic shift in the design brings clarity and simplicity to the structure, minimizing redundancies and maximizing the integrity of the material.

Beyond its aesthetic and functional qualities, the OH HO residence is designed with wellness in mind. Intended as a sanctuary for its inhabitants, who faced chronic ailments, the house prioritizes psychological and physiological well-being. With large openings that bring in ample light and fresh air while maintaining privacy, OH HO creates a space of comfort and warmth, essential in Bangalore’s moderate climate. The design also responds to the region’s environmental challenges: rainwater collected from the roof flows into an open waterbody and is channeled into the community lake, addressing the decreasing water systems in the area.

Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the project stands as a tribute to the resilience of its creators and a lasting homage to the lady of the house, whose passing during the early stages of construction imbued the home with profound emotional significance. OH HO is not just a residence—it is a thoughtful exploration of the potential of stone, a meditation on tradition, and a space that embodies both the past and the future of Indian architecture.