Billy O’Tea House / STO.M.P

Architects: STO.M.P
Area: 465 m² (5000 ft²)
Year: 2023
Photographs: f/8
Manufacturers: Bloom Habitat, Carysil, EBCO, Hafele, Hybec, Ikea, Jaquar, Kaff, Mikasa, Nuvocotto, Tostem, Urban Pots
Lead Architect: Vignesh Sekar, Shamini Vignesh
Structural Engineers: Archetype
MEP Consultants: Aperture
Project Lead Architect: Karthik Vasuki
Architects: Raji Annamalai, Abishek
Interior Contractor: Pankaj
Program / Use / Building Function: Houses
Client: Swati & Sumit
City: Thoothukudi
Country: India

Billy O’Tea House, designed by STO.M.P Architects, is a 465 m² (5000 ft²) residence located on the outskirts of Thoothukudi (formerly Tuticorin), India. Completed in 2023, this project integrates East Indian cultural elements with coastal themes, reflecting the area’s shoreline and providing a seamless flow between interior and exterior spaces.

Sited on the outskirts of Thoothukudi, Billy O’Tea House offers solace reflecting the relentless shoreline. The 465 m² (5000 ft²) residence is personified as a docked ship, balancing the synergy between East Indian cultural backgrounds and the coast.

The core intent of the residence cascades throughout the spaces, symbolizing magical realism. Seashell inlays on rustic slabs, wave-like flooring patterns, and an amphitheater designed as a rowing vessel embody this personality. Cladded bricks on the facade enhance the rustic look, while creepers mimic weeds on an abandoned vessel. A metal canopy with a water spout resembles a ship’s overflow drain, and the amphitheater evokes the mood of the sea with an open sky. The material, detailing, patterns, and elements throughout the house reflect a shanty (traditional sailor’s song), bringing rhythm and energy.

The design maximizes alignment with the exterior, catering to the family’s need for multiple spillover areas for seasonal themed parties. Spaces flow seamlessly into one another, extending into the lawn, front yard, and open-air theatre. An urban prairie to the north contributes to the microclimate, enhancing the flow toward the plot. The planning is straightforward, with four bays of alternating widths. Multiple exits and entries to a single node provide pauses, rest, and reorientation. Generous floor plate heights help dissipate heat, and the courtyard blurs the lines between living and den. Private spaces are positioned around the core, with services allocated to the periphery.

The kitchen extends to the front yard, with aesthetics reminiscent of earlier times. The courtyard exudes warmth and sophistication, providing light and ventilation to adjacent spaces. Sunlight envelops the environment through the east-facing courtyard. Tall punctures on all edges facilitate constant wind movement. The design creates a space where no detail is inconsequential. Sleek lines, bold hues, and a material palette featuring calcium-based stones, Kota, Udaipur pink marble, Indian Arna marble, Jaisalmer yellow marble, and terrazzo create a holistic living space. Sunlight shimmers on windows and doors made of wood and Indian marble, enhancing the ambiance.

The amphitheater and living spaces, aligned with a cohesive thought, complement each other. Rainwater cascades through the amphitheater seaters, channeling runoff into the floor drain. The amphitheater accommodates ergonomic flexibility for screening movies and stargazing. The house, reminiscent of a ship, reflects the city’s maritime heritage. Billy O’Tea House embodies the spirit of sailing into the sea.