The design of Penthouse Pafekuto by Conarch Architects transforms generic apartment units into a functional, versatile and inspiring living space

Penthouse Pafekuto is a pied-à-terre for a family, a resting place to facilitate their frequent visits to the city. Designed as a lively and a sensual world, it is a multi-level penthouse with 8000 sq.ft of indoor area and 6000 sq.ft of outdoor space spread across three levels, housing 5 bedrooms, 1 office, 2 drawing rooms, 2 entry lobbies, and 5 bathrooms.


Fact File
Name of Project: Penthouse Pafekuto
Location: Ghaziabad
Area: 18,900 sq.ft (3 floors)
Architect Firm: Conarch Architects
Principal Architect: Ar. S.K. Goel
Project Architect: Ar. Nitish Goel
3D visualization: Mukul Bharadwaj
Photography: Vibhor Yadav, Conarch Architects

To create a spacious home, two separate apartments on top of one another were combined into this luxury penthouse and ownership rights were acquired to the high-rise tower's terrace above for private use. One apartment is primarily designed as a master suite, private workspace, a guest bedroom and sit-out area. The second apartment, internally connected with the first one, includes a spread out indoor & outdoor living area, a kitchen and three bedrooms.

The spatial form in the project has emerged from a host of variables and constraints, such as the needs of a family with teenage children, structural limitations of the high-rise building and limited flexibility in relocating plumbing and electrical services. We ripped down the walls, overhauled the space custom designing the penthouse in its entirety with balance, contrast, proportion and colour, while grounding every move in logic and aesthetic precepts

Ar. S.K. Goel

Connecting the two units internally has the major advantage of passive ventilation. The staircase opening between the levels acts as a chimney and helps release hot air from the window openings at the upper floor, inducing natural air moment in the apartment. This restricts the need for mechanical air conditioning to extremely hot days.

The focal point of the space is the cantilevered floating wood steps with the artistic fall protection in a Prussian blue backdrop. Created in a simple style that belies its complexity, this protagonist of a staircase is meant to sit lightly to let light and conversations through, emphasizing the interconnected relationship between the levels.


High rise living is synonymous with a detached and siloed existence. So, the living spaces were laid out such that they have a visual connection to the 'green' outdoor terraces. Some of the areas open directly to these staggered, double height open spaces located at two levels. This link to the outdoors invokes a feeling of 'front yard', a rarity in high rise setting. Plus, the entire unit is illuminated with natural light, thereby significantly reducing energy loads. The exterior glass letting in the light remains shaded due to deep overhangs of the outdoor terraces. Since there is no direct incident solar radiation on the glass, the heat gain is minimal, resulting in low cooling load requirement.


A well-designed green roof is slowly becoming an ecosystem for bird-habitat regeneration: the roof terrace with its hydroponic 'Living wall', Plumeria & bonsai trees, Ficus Panda trees, flowering plants and water feature can be seen attracting migratory birds. 

The charming Vashi farmhouse designed by d6thD design studio exhibits the potential of vernacular architecture in creating sustainable architecture

Vernacular architecture is a time-tested practice that responds to aspects like climate, locally available materials, simple construction techniques and local skills, tradition and socio-economic conditions of the region. This traditional bank of wisdom is our legacy today and can be applied in today’s climate change and building context

Ar. Himanshu Patel

Fact File
Project Name: Vashi Farm House
Location: Amalsad Village
PMC: Phoonyx Consultant
Landscape Consultant: Earthscapes
Photo credits: Inclined Studio

Three generation of family live in the Vashi farmhouse located in Amalsad village at Navsari suburb of south Gujarat. They wanted a home in their native land, reminiscent of the region's rich culture and tradition. d6thD arranged the program into a H-shaped plan, conceptualized around the idea of two distinct 'green' spaces. An indoor courtyard and outdoor garden area reference traditional modes of living — blurring the line between interior and exterior.

A series of variously proportioned sloping roofs help offset the heavy rainfall native to the region. A deeply covered balcony acts as a space of transition between the hot and humid exterior environment. Communal living spaces are arranged around the central courtyard, evoking a sense of family ancestry.

A feature wall of locally available 'matakas' (earthen pots) at entrance recall the age-old tradition of storing drinking water. A fascinating drop-off area semi-covered by a wooden pergola and a lily water body lead towards the corbelled brick wall entrance. Twisted brick columns support a stone verandah and add drama. A gazebo above the entrance door creates a sense of security and acts as a sit-out for the upper level bedrooms with their unobstructed view of landscaped gardens. The staircase leading to the upper floor has solid thick kadappa stone half-done steps and open riser wooden planks.


Old marble tiles with ceramic inlay are reused to create vibrant geometrically patterned flooring. Customized 'sheesham' wooden sofas in burnt orange complemented the colour theme and are expanded throughout the decor. The house integrates different roofing techniques: the ground floor bedrooms have locally made clay pot filler in RCC slab. A low height rough kota stone slab with a steel girder tops the verandah and high volume pitched roof with decorative clay ceiling tiles reference the ornamental traditions of the locality. Reuse of old wooden door windows and marble flooring is evident throughout the house; in fact, many of the house's circular surfaces are a result of reusing curved window frames.


Says Ar. Himanshu Patel, “The materials and techniques employed in this house are not only time tested and reliable but clearly reflect a cultural and climate sensitivity towards the area. The foundation is of random rubble stone masonry, and the 14" load bearing exposed brick walls in quetta bond act as thermal insulators. It all smells like petrichor that brings the environment close to heart with their warmth."

MVRDV breaks ground on its first US project, a colourful 22-storey ‘Vertical Village’ that combines hotel, retail, office, and party functions


Fact File
Program: 21,800m2 mixed-use hotel, offices, and event spaces
Client: YoungWoo & Associates
Architect: MVRDV
Principal-in-charge: Winy Maas
Partner: Frans de Witte
Executive architect: Stonehill & Taylor Architects
Interior design: WORKSHOP APD
Hotel Management: Filament Hospitality
Building Systems: Cosentini Associates
Structural Engineer: GACE consulting engineers dpc
Façade Engineer: CANY Technical Services, LCC
Images: ©MVRDV
Date of completion: 2021.

Radio Tower & Hotel forms a 'vertical village' with blocks that are the same size as the surrounding buildings, thus avoiding the common drawback of large developments in which new skyscrapers overwhelm the existing character of the city. It will be a colourful, welcoming beacon for people entering Manhattan

Winy Maas, Principal & co-Founder, MVRDV

The 22-storey Radio Tower & Hotel, located in the Washington Heights area in Northern Manhattan, is MVRDV’s first major project in the United States. The 21,800-sqm mixed-use high-rise building combines hotel, retail, office, and party functions in vibrantly stacked blocks.

The distinctive massing of the building resolves the project’s main challenge of accommodating a large volume of programs while remaining contextual. The building takes the typical composition of a small block, pulls it apart, and then reassembles it into an asymmetrical stack of boxes with openings and roof terraces.

These boxes are designed to appear like separate buildings: each is roughly the same size as others in the neighbourhood and features its own specific window pattern. The boxes also take inspiration from the vibrant colours of the shopfronts in the majority-Hispanic neighbourhood, with each part of the building being finished in a different colour of ceramic bricks.


The ground floor functions are positioned to support an active street level, and the hotel entry leads to a ground level courtyard, open to both users of the building and residents of the neighbourhood, and will include a coffee bar and a community garden. Several roof terraces provide space for outdoor events and boast spectacular views. 

Shashi Prabhu & Associates design Kausa Sports City, whose mission is to establish itself as a recognized center of excellence with an integrated educational and physical training programme and lead in developing a sports academy


Material Palette
Synthetic track, flood lighting, Kalzip sports floor
Façade: glass and plain plaster
Fenestration: curtain glazing
Roofing: Kalzip
Flooring: sports floor
Green Solutions
Solar panels
Rainwater harvesting
CRZ-built mass
Green sports field

Projects are developed through an intense exercise of master planning focused on urban design principles of developing neighborhoods, public spaces, surrounding areas and landscapes, so as to make them more safe, functional, attractive, and sustainable. We worked closely with clients, operators, event promoters and other specialists to create the various sports venues. A huge challenge was in designing the football field and athlete track as per international standards, and the lighting

Ar. Amol Prabhu

Spread over 130 acres, Kausa Sports City is the largest contiguous sports complex in the entire Mumbai Metropolitan region, and the second largest in the State after the Balewadi Sports City Pune. Located within 3 kms of Thane City, it is a hub for community cohesion and an epicenter for sports development. The complex is well connected by road, train and public transportation. The surrounding real estate has shown a 6-fold appreciation in property prices.

The vision for Kausa sports complex is to raise the sports standard of athletes in the MMR region to national and International level and at the same time raise necessary finances for upkeep of the facility by holding national and international competitions and supporting events.


Features

• International level 8-lane running track with flood lighting.
• Athletic Gallery
• Olympic-size swimming pool
• Indoor 4-court badminton complex
• Tennis courts
• Volley ball courts
• Indoor games
• Club House

In 2017 UNStudio was selected by the Hilversum Municipality and Media Park Enterprise to develop an urban vision which could offer a roadmap for the transformation of Hilversum’s Media Park into a vibrant and leading destination for future media content creation


Credits
Project: Media Park, Hilversum, Netherlands
Client: Hilversum Municipality, Hilversum Media Enterprise Location: Hilversum
Building surface: 36,000 m²
Building volume: 188,350 m²
Building site: 87,800 m²
Programme: Mixed use
Status: Urban Vision
UNStudio: Ben van Berkel, Caroline Bos with Christian Veddeler, Ren Yee, Dana Behrman and Maria Zafeiriadou, Pedro Silva Costa, Pietro Marziali, Teun Bimbergen
Renderings by: Plompmozes

The urban vision that resulted from a collaborative process between all three parties was borne out of the need to adapt to new technologies and shifting consumer demands and includes potential programmatic, spatial, and infrastructural development models. In the vision, phased transformation of existing areas, as well as new interventions, respond to the already present shifts in the media landscape, while short and long-term strategies for future scenarios offer solutions for those that have yet to occur.

Says Wimar Jaeger, Vice Mayor, Economic, Media and Culture portfolio: “Hilversum Media Park 2030 is envisioned as a new social ecosystem where innovation is a spectacle and culture is the heart of the community. Our goal is to create a media park that is vibrant and affordable, an international magnet, a place where talent can grow.”

5 Pillars of Growth

New technologies have created abundant new possibilities for media creation and consumption. The new Hilversum Media Park will be adaptable to this evolving environment and attract top-tier young talent to ensure its continued success. With these goals in mind, UNStudio proposes 5 ‘Pillars of Growth’, which will be the keystones of the urban vision for the Media Park as a thriving desitination.

Industry Hotspot

The urban vision aims to create an industry hotpot by enabling cross-disciplinary links between once disparate sectors of media. VR developers, film producers and different kinds of creatives will work side-by-side, sharing knowledge and innovation. Additionally, on-site Media and Technology-focused educational facilities will drive young professionals to close the gap between learning and working and position the Media Park as a diverse hub of industry and content creation.

Public Interface

Innovation in media has enabled ways for contemporary audiences to participate and engage with content. The Hilversum Media Park therefore aims to create a vibrant public interface by providing a variety of innovative amenities such as open-air studios, meeting venues, and increased modes of interaction. The park will also serve as a hotbed of culture, strengthening the activities of the Museum of Sound & Vision.


Vibrant Community

Creative people often seek a dense, lively, 24-hr lifestyle, therefore, hospitality and local amenities will cover the every-day needs of users, while the introduction of sector-based short-term living accommodation in a contemporary, modular style that is geared towards young professionals.

Technology

Currently, the Hilversum Media Park has an unparalleled digital infrastructure which has enabled it to become a leader in broadcasting. In the future, media tech prototypes and pilot projects could be tested on site, while the possible introduction of a sensory network could inform users’ awareness of stresses in the system.

Spaces would be made available for research into technologies such as hologram tech and artificial intelligence. Additionally, facilities and buildings will be upgraded to a smart network that can mitigate shortages of any kind and respond in real-time to needs that may arise. A proposed app specific to the Media Park will also inform users about climate, navigation, available meeting spaces, employment opportunities, etc.

Says Ben Van Berkel, “When utilized and applied correctly, technology can not only make cities smarter, but also more humane, social and inclusive. Sensor-based technologies also enable you to design and operate city districts and individual sites in ways that are highly relevant to their specific conditions and to their end-users.”


Healthy Environment

Hilversum’s existing identity as a Green City is embedded into the urban future of the Park and is a contributing factor to its healthy environment. The urban vision extends the green vegetation to the west of the site into the park, further linking the media park to its surroundings. Additionally, it incorporates traditional healthy amenities such as sports and recreation areas, whilst unlocking more innovative solutions, such as the incorporation of urban farms.

Programmatic Transformation

The concept of the music festival is certainly not a new phenomenon, but in recent years, it has transformed into a growing market for artists and communities in a wide variety of disciplines. The urban vision updates its programmatic aspects by setting aside numerous ‘Spaces for Celebration’ that can be used for everything, from art exhibitions to concerts, and turning an exclusive industry into an inclusive celebration.


New Destinations

The urban vision for the Hilversum Media Park introduces a proposal consisting up to 5 possible new zones:

1. The Creative Hub: Work and education facilities, main public plaza, film and exhibition spaces
2. T-Campus: Labs, studios, offices and sports facilities
3. Media Citywalk: Studio, food and beverage, conference hotel, spa centre
4. Tech-Mix: Media Tech-focused work and living spaces
5. Media Downtown: A mix of destinations for work, living

Mobility

The city of Hilversum has been engaged in multiple schemes to improve the existing infrastructure and to alleviate congestion in and around the Media Park. The urban vision offers a multitude of connections into and out of the park, and strategies for a future that is more sustainable and mobile. Some examples include introduction of Park&Ride facilities with a cable car connection, widening Johannes Geradtsweg Bridge to increase capacity, and developing an app specific to the Media Park to provide mobility updates. Within the Park, bike and pedestrian paths are seamlessly incorporated to encourage green modes of transportation.


Sustainability

The urban vision also aims to contribute to a sustainable future by reducing CO2 emission by 90% by the year 2050. Currently, the first step is to create an energy analysis of the Park and use this to create a smart energy strategy. Other planned actions include addition of vegetation, re-use of resources, non-polluting modes of transport, climate-neutral buildings, solar panels and many more sustainable interventions.

Ar. Sundeep Gwash at THE FIRM shares the challenges of designing a high-density development like the Residential Towers at Golvali in Thane

High-rise towers are the need of the hour in today's state of urban affairs to save maximum space for greens on natural ground. The challenges inherent with high density developments lie in providing adequate car parks for the residents, without compromising on the greens; balancing the escalated project costs for podiums or basements, as borne by the developers.

As an architectural practice that acknowledges the social dimension of architecture, the quality of life for residents in this high-density development has been the most critical driving factor for design at THE FIRM.

Ar. Sundeep Gwash, The Firm

The unique challenge with this project was the multiple DP reservations like garden and public utility on the plot. Prima facie, the 8.6-acre plot seemed undevelopable owing to its shape! It was practically not feasible to consume the available FSI on the plot. With the introduction of government's Accommodation Reservation Policy, the design team re-aligned the reservations and defined a plot best suited for the proposed development and made the project feasible for the developer.


Fact File
Project: Residential Towers
Developers: Akshat L K Infra
Plot area: 8.6 acres
Net Plot area (phase 1): 4.8 acres
Building Program (phase 1): S+27 Floors, 4 Towers
Height Restriction: 92m
Building footprint: 45%
Recreational greens: 2 acres (ground & upper level decks)
Construction: 14 lakh sq.ft
Tenements: 889 Typology of units 3 Bed, 2 bed & 1 bed
Planning: 8-10 units per floor
Salient features: Modular building planning, Aluminium formwork, Efficient core, Natural light, Solar water heating, Rainwater harvesting, LED lighting, STP based on Phytorid technology

The design for the project further evolved with the clients' brief, the site survey studies, the DCR for the sector, the environmental concerns of the region, and the site-specific environmental concerns; guided all along by the architects' design sensibilities. Besides fulfilling the clients' aspirations, the architects have value-added to the residential development in their own way. The design team had a clear agenda from the onset, that is, to provide all parking either covered or under shade, and to avoid a clash between the vehicular and pedestrian movement as much as possible.


The plan has a host of recreational spaces for the end-users: there is an entire podium dedicated to green landscape dotted with kids' play areas that are a direct spill-over from the multi-activity halls. A gymnasium is planned on another level, attached with an open deck for outdoor fitness. The plan also accommodates a community club-house with swimming pool and multi-sports courts on ground.

The façade is pure clean lines with a bold frame crowning the tower and does not rely on any ostentatious features to create its urban impression. 

 Spread over 1.5 acres, Kingsbury Terraces, designed by Studio KIA, offer well-crafted landscape patterns speckled with pools, walking trails, and paved pathways


Fact File
Project Name: Kingsbury Terraces
Location: Kundli, Sonipat, Haryana
Typology: Residential
Area: 1.5 Acres
Initiation year: December 2015
Completion year: December 2018
Design Team: Studio KIA
Text Credits: Ar. Himani Ahuja

High-rises are dominating the skylines of tier-1 cities; also called 'vertical cities' and 'multiple dwelling units,' these structures provide a practical way of decongesting the urban sprawl

Ar. Rajiv Khanna &
Ar. Sabeena Khanna

The imposing towers with their lush green balconies and terraces, seem to dominate the landscape. The concierge lobby on the ground floor impresses at the outset with its Italian marble flooring and recessed cove lighting. Each unit is a three-side open apartment with glass walls for unobstructed views, natural light and ventilation inside the premises.


Luxury living is emphasized in the executive suites with outdoor Jacuzzi and spectacular views, while the more extravagant penthouse duplex has a patio pool with inbuilt Jacuzzi jets, and an uninterrupted expanse of glass in the living and dining rooms. The site environs include state-of-the-art landscaping elements, a club with indoor sports and games, a swimming pool and more.


Sonipat’s proximity to Delhi makes it a realty hotspot. Increasing infrastructure development and upscale lifestyle projects are coming up in the city and attracting homebuyers for their modernity along with affordability.

Straight lines and simple forms depict the modern IT building designed by Ar. Harish Tripathi & Associates (Arhta), who have been conferred with the Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Concrete Structure of Western UP award 2018, by the Indian Concrete Institute Western UP Centre Ghaziabad for the IT Tower


Fact File

Project: IT Tower
Location: Sector-62, Noida
Typology: Office complex
Total Covered Area: approx 60,000 sq.ft
Completion: 16 March 2018
Client: Mehta Art Press
Architect: Arhta, New Delhi
Structural Consultant: Space Consulting Engineers
Civil Works Contractor: H.S. Buildtech
MEP: Gian Consultancy New Delhi

Material Palette

Structural Glazing: Saint Gobin’s Deep Green ST 408 glass
Aluminium: Jindal
Vitrified Tiles: Kajaria
Flooring Staircase: Grenite
Toilet Tiles for walls & floors: Orient Tiles
Sanitaryware & Fittings: Parryware
PVC & CPVC: Supreme
Wires: Havells
Steel SS: JNB
Reinforcement Steel: JSW
Windows: UPVC – PSPO (PS Polyplast Pvt Ltd)
Cement: Ultratech
Paver Tiles & Ramp Tiles: Pavers India Pvt Ltd
RMC: Lafarge India
AAC Blocks: JK Lakshmi
Fire Fighting Pipes: Jindal Hissar
Paints: Asian Paints
Column and Space Frames: Connect Building Solutions
SS Railing: 304 JNB
Wall Putty: Birla
Toilet Doors and Laminates: Green
Grouting Material: Hilti

The G+9 tower is a clean rectangular office space with flexibility in interior spaces and design, enough car parking spaces, a third lift on the rear side in case of sub-division of the floor space, an impressive arrival court, and a landscape with water features.

The east-facing site on a 60-m wide road has service roads on both sides and a metro station nearby and the front setback is of 9m. The plan of the building is in juxtaposition with one large rectangle i.e. free flowing office space; one partial semicircular portion i.e. the service core in front, and one curved portion i.e. service portion in the rear. A common terrace is for use as an open-air public space. The basements cover the grand rectangle, and ramps have been provided from outside so that maximum area can be utilized for parking.

The building is designed to cater to the needs of security, privacy, hierarchy of usage with a modern office management system and planning

Ar. (Dr.) Harish Tripathi & Interior designer Jyoti D. Tripathi

A conical steel column supporting the space frame is one of the most notable features in the building. 31m tall, it has a base of 600mm that reduces to 300mm; it was fabricated in three parts in the factory and erected onsite. Another special feature is the space frame of 9m x 9m constructed by 42.4mm O.D. pipe and MS nodes of 60mm diameter.

The building’s colour scheme is a neutral beige and white with greenish glass (unlike the more commonly seen grey, white and blue colours), and the conical column and truss are a metallic brushed golden.

The structural glazing enhances the aesthetics. Plastered walls and weather shield textured paints provide sustenance in all weather conditions and are also cost-effective. Ramps, lifts and special toilets have been provided for the differently abled.


The building uses environment-friendly materials and technologies. Projections, pergolas etc. cut direct sunlight. Vacuum glass in front glazing allows maximum light and resists heat gain inside the building. On the both sides, smaller windows with vacuum glass further decrease heat gain and reduce overall energy consumption. The entire building has AAC (Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) blocks on outer walls, solar panels are planned to meet electricity requirement and rainwater harvesting system has been provided.

A concoction of industrial set-up over a full-fledged Bollywood theme, this project by UB Designs highlights a vibrant coloured design ideology


Fact File

Project: The Janak
Area: 1881 sqm
Location: Janakpuri
Completion: 2018
Plumbing: US Consultants
Fire Fighting: US Consultants
HVAC: AAN Enterprises
Text: Ar. Himani Ahuja

Material Palette

Lacquered Glass: Saint Gobain
Sanitaryware: Roca
HVAC: Bluestar
LEDs: Syska
Corian: Dupont

Detaching from the monotonous public food court design – the one at The Janak is designed to be young, quirky, colourful and inviting. It has been planned on the ground floor with cinema on the first; pushing a sense of continuity between both the spaces. A 55-ft wall art was specially designed to portray the main essence of the space. It showcases a tug of war over food between the famous Bollywood heroes and villains.

The facade of the building features a glass installation – 50 ft. high. Prominent features include the sculptures climbing ropes placed at different heights, with the best view from the first level of the building supporting this all glass enclosure. Extra number of pillars were made to look as the feature of the whole space.


MDF pixel boxes diffuse warm light and create a pleasant, inclusive environment.

36 pieces of custom lights have been designed ranging from 1 to 36 feet. The lights and the flooring continue in the same triangular synchronization.


5 different kinds of floorings have been used. 2500 triangular pieces (of 3 different colors) are designed to highlight the area bordering the kiosks.

Designed for masses, the building materials used are durable – robust for daily wear and tear - and budget-friendly


Udaai Batra Principal Designer

Pillars are beautified with alabaster sheets and pixilated MDF (from screens) backlit with LEDs.

Corian in orange color defines all the kiosks. It is seamless and very durable for such high traffic areas.

J House, a contemporary house designed by Spaces Architects@ka, has a lot of open spaces for visual connectivity between all floors and inflow of abundant natural light and air


Fact File

Project name: J House
Location: New Delhi
Gross Built Area: 5000 sq.ft
Design Team: Kapil Aggarwal, Pawan Sharma, Praveen Sharma
Completion: Jan 2017
Photo credits: Bharat Aggarwal

Material Palette

Black Slim Tiles: Intersekt Showroom, Okhla, New Delhi
Wood and MS work: Onsite by local vendors
Wooden Louvers: Indus Louvers, New Delhi

The house has a distinctive style expressing modern Indian architecture and a minimal material palette. Ample use of louvers and screens give the house the required privacy.

The three-storey house is interconnected by triple height spaces that allow light to travel throughout the house. This triple height space is characterized by rough Indian Gwalior stones placed in different sizes, adding a subtle texture. The monochrome walls are offset by splashes of bright colours in the artwork and furniture.


The elevation is driven by the functions of the interiors. A few blocks have been carved out from the elevation to accommodate multiple terraces - semi-open spaces covered with wooden louvers.


Custom-designed wooden and metal elements, a staircase treated to become a distinctive feature, front wall panelled with large glass panes and shaded using wooden louvers, and an abstract cantilevered roof element above it, characterize the design features.

This house is an expression of Indian contemporary architecture with minimal usage of materials, and in the urban context, has a strategically planned outward looking interior space, aptly screened, for privacy

Kapil Aggarwal

The design of the University of Southern Denmark by Henning Larsen Architects supports a range of different learning situations through a variety of spaces ranging from an atrium designed to facilitate transparency and openness, to group discussion zones and large staircases for walk-and-talk


Fact File

Location: Kolding, Denmark
Gross floor area: 13,700 m²
Architects: Henning Larsen Architects
Landscape Architect: Kristine Jensens Tegnestue
Engineers: Orbicon
Artwork: German artist Tobias Rehberger

From the outside, with its triangular structure, Campus Kolding features a reversal of the traditional structure of educational institutions by moving learning into the heart of the campus and away from long corridors and closed classrooms. The dynamic atrium gives students the opportunity to choose between a variety of learning environments and study places. Each floor is arranged to create fields of intersection between teachers, researchers and students, while providing areas for quiet reflection and concentration.

Sustainability

The building represents striking and innovative architecture in its form and function. Its energy consumption is so low that it is classified in Energy Class 1. The sustainability strategy has not just minimized the building’s energy requirement for lighting, heating, cooling and ventilation, but also optimizing the building’s passive characteristics, so that its form and structure solve some of the tasks that would otherwise require energy-intensive technology. This has resulted in energy consumption of just 48 kWh/m²/year, equivalent to 20-25 percent of similar buildings’ consumption.


The geometry of the architectural design ensures the best utilization of every square meter and the skylight in the atrium ensures a fair distribution of daylight to the entire building. The building has been part of a three-year development project which examines how thermal properties of concrete can be increased, and the energy consumption for heating and cooling thus reduced. In order to make optimal use of the thermal properties of concrete, the slabs are exposed where possible. This prevents large fluctuations in temperature and improves indoor air quality.

Facade

The facade is an integrated element of the building and is vital to its unique and varied expression. The dynamic solar screening consists of around 1,600 triangular shutters of perforated steel which adjust to the specific climate conditions and user patterns and provides optimal daylight and a comfortable indoor climate spaces along the façade.

The shutters’ perforation is a light organic pattern of round holes, which gives an exciting effect in the facade seen from the outside, but also plays on the light seen from the inside. The facade’s design strikes the optimum balance between the amount of light and energy allowed to flow in, and the good outlook opportunities.


When the shutters are closed, they lie flat along the façade, while they protrude from the façade when half-open or entirely open and provide the building with a very expressive appearance. The solar shading system is fitted with sensors which continuously measure light and heat levels and regulate the shutters mechanically by means of a small motor.

The decorations in the building are centered on ‘time’ as a theme. They appear as building integrated clocks on the façade, by the auditorium and classrooms.

BIG fulfils “Homes for All” mission for non-profit affordable housing association Lejerbo with the 6,800m² winding wall in Copenhagen’s multicultural north-west area

Fact File

Name: Dortheavej Residence
Program: Housing
Location: Copenhagen, DK
Size: 6800 m²
Client: Lejerbo
Partners in Charge: Bjarke Ingels, Finn Nørkjær
Project Managers: Ole Elkjær-Larsen, Per Bo Madsen
Collaborators: MOE
Awards: Danish Architect Associations Lille Arne Award, 2018
Images: Rasmus Hjortshoj

The building offers 66 new homes to low-income citizens featuring unprecedented 3.5-m ceilings, generous floor to ceiling windows and outdoor terraces, realized on a strict budget.

Named after its address, Dortheavej, in the northwest part of Copenhagen, the 5-story building winds through the area characterized by car repair shops, storage and industrial buildings from the 1930s-50s.

BIG was commissioned to design Dortheavej in 2013 by Danish non-profit affordable housing association, Lejerbo, whose mission is drafted by Danish urban space designer Jan Gehl. BIG was asked to create much needed public space in the area while keeping the pedestrian passageways open and the adjacent green yard untouched.

In the beginning of 2018, BIG and Lejerbo were honored by the Danish Association of Architects with the Lille Arne Award for prioritizing the spatial qualities of the residences and the building strategy on a strict affordable housing budget.


The north facing façade looks towards an enclosed green courtyard which residents of Dortheavej and the neighboring buildings can use for recreational activities.


The characteristic checkered pattern of Dortheavej is based on a singular prefab structure. Conceived as a porous wall, the building gently curves in the center, creating space for a public plaza towards the street on the south side and an intimate green courtyard towards north. On the street level, the building opens up to allow the residents and general public to pass seamlessly into the courtyard.


The size of the apartments ranges from 60 to 115 m² and all the materials are kept very simple with wood and concrete in light colors dominating inside and out.


The housing modules repeat along the curve and are stacked to the height of the surrounding buildings. The stacking creates additional space for each apartment to have a small terrace, providing a setting for healthy, sustainable living. On the sunny south side, balconies retract and add depth to the façade while on the northern side, the facade is even. Long wooden planks cover the façade on all sides, highlighting the modules and alternating to accentuate the checkered pattern.


Large floor to ceiling windows in the apartments allow lots of daylight into the units and outside views into the green courtyard and the surrounding neighborhood.

The design of this residence by Urban Zen strategically brings together two private spaces


Material Palette

Flooring: full body vitrified tiles and natural wooden polished planks
Walls: Specialty paints with brass textures and streaks from Oikos
Wallpaper: Cole and Sons
Ceilings: rafted and have concealed beams with wallpaper and wooden beading for edges
Furniture: Nivasa, New Delhi
Tiles: Casamia, Mumbai
Lighting: Unique Lighting Solutions
Kitchen by Hacker
Staircase: VITO flooring. H-004 herring bone with a plywood base to fix flooring.
UPVC windows from LG

Fact File

Name of project: Twin Houses
Location: Secunderabad
Area: 6750 sqft
Design Team: Akhileshwar Yella, Lakshmi Triveni, Rohit Patnala
Initiation date: March 2016
Completion date: July 2018
Text: Ar. Himani Ahuja
Photo courtesy: Arotographers, Ricken Desai


In the suburbs of Hyderabad lies the Twin House with distinctive Indian features and design elements. It is segregated into two major spaces connected with a buffer space in the middle, which fosters interaction with projecting balconies that also create a shaded parking below. The elevation is subtle with shades of grey and green vegetation for ornamentation. The building’s symmetrical façade ensures equitable distribution as it joins the two semi-private spaces.


In the interiors, metalized paint with a matt finish gives a rustic, glittery look. Pastel and earthy hues, dull brass, and shades of wood lend warmth, while the lighting has a translucent effect as it highlights the brass on the walls.

The design aims at creating a bridge between Indian and Western architecture styles with a very simple amalgamation of two cultures and design influences

Rohit Suraj, Principal Designer

MVRDV’s The Imprint, a dual structured entertainment facility, sits as the centrepiece of a new tourist hub in Paradise City, a White-and-Gold Art-Entertainment Complex


Fact File

Location: Incheon, Seoul, South Korea
Year: 2015+
Client: Paradise Segasammy Co., Ltd.
Program: 3,600m2 entertainment centre to include a theme park and 6,200m² nightclub
Architect: MVRDV
Principal-in-charge: Winy Maas
Partner: Wenchian Shi
Design Team: María López Calleja with Daehee Suk, Xiaoting Chen, Kyosuk Lee, Guang Ruey Tan, Stavros Gargaretas, Mafalda Rangel, and Dong Min Lee
Photography: Ossip van Duivenbode
Copyright: MVRDV 2018 (Winy Maas, Jacob van Rijs, Nathalie de Vries)
Co-Architect: GANSAM Architects & Partners, South Korea
Facade Consultant: VS-A Group Ltd
Panelization Consultant: WITHWORKS
GFRC: Techwall
Lighting: L’Observatoire International
Images: © Ossip van Duivenbode


The Imprint, a 2-building complex near Seoul’s Incheon Airport, features a nightclub in one building and an indoor theme park in the other. It is part of the larger Paradise City complex of 6 buildings, which will provide a full suite of entertainment and hotels. The twin concrete windowless monolithic forms have three key design elements: imprints of the façade features of surrounding buildings, lifted entrances, and a golden entrance spot covering one corner of the nightclub building.


The challenge was to design an expressive façade that connects with its surroundings even though it has no windows. The design achieves this by projecting the façades of the surrounding buildings in the complex, which are ‘draped’ over the simple building forms and plazas like a shadow, and ‘imprinted’ as a relief pattern onto the façades.

To achieve this, the façade is constructed of glass-fibre reinforced concrete panels. As many of the 3,869 panels are unique. The construction required moulds to be individually produced using MVRDV’s 3D modelling files from the design phase. Once installed, these panels were painted white to emphasise the relief in the design.


The golden spot is the project’s most obvious and attention-grabbing element. The golden colour is achieved simply by using gold paint instead of white and is reinforced by the lighting of the facades at night: while most of the façade is lit from below, the gold spot is highlighted from above. The entrances, where the façades are lifted like a curtain to reveal mirrored ceilings and glass media floors, exude a sense of the excitement happening inside.

The Brick Curtain House by Design Work Group is an expression of the owner’s affinity to nature, and an outcome of a sustainable and functional amalgamation for the living environment that also houses an offices


Fact File

Project: Brick Curtain House
Location: Surat
Gross Built Area: 810m²
Structure: Angle Consultancy
Electricals: Leo Electrical
Windows: Dream Home Element
Modular Kitchen: Ottimo Agency
Photo credits: phxindia


The layout of the house is organized such that private zones like kitchen, dining and bedroom are accommodated at the inner side. The public zone in the front contains semi-open spaces with a double height living area in the center. On the third floor, the home office merges with the terrace garden. While one side of the house is encased in concrete, the other is in brick. In the interiors, the exposed brickwork is complemented by wooden furniture, marble flooring, and muted colours of large areas of exposed concrete.

The spatial organization brought with it a big climatic challenge as the front facade with large surface areas stood exposed to the west, intensifying the heat gain throughout the day. To reduce the heat gain, the architects decided to use Brick - a module that is raw and natural and can help create projections to reduce the heating effect.

The brick façade has unevenly placed bricks, protruding in and out. As the façade needs to shade the central indoor environment, the two ends are straight without bulges, giving the undulations in the center a firm hold. The central portion is divided into three parts, each having three bulges in a series. To structurally hold the huge façade of 83 layers, vertical and horizontal reinforcement was added.

We chose brick as it is a simple earthy module that comes together to form a complex element that stands against harsh climatic conditions and appears beautiful

Principal Designers Bharat Patel, Dinesh Suthar, Jitendra Sabalpara

The chosen form served two purposes: individually, the brick module shades itself, and the convex bulges in the wall shade the lower concave bulges. The brick façade provides an interesting backdrop for the living area and other interactive spaces, bringing simplicity and integrity to the design.

The design of The Window Factory located in uptown Ahmedabad by Saransh Architects, is an example of how spatial design can enhance the interface between company and customer, and effectively assert the brand image


The Window Factory manufactures aluminium and UPVC windows. Unlike the run-of-the-mill showrooms, the 3,320 sq.ft. store is designed as an Experience Centre, demonstrating the applicability of the products on display.

Two galleries are demarcated through visually permeable divisions. A black metal grid creates skeletal walls that split the long and relatively narrow available floor space into roomy, interconnected zones, and maintains visual coherence. The irregular openings in the square grid serve as points of transition, lending the space an air of informality and fluidity. The 9” x 9” black metallic grid in conjunction with black flooring and walls introduces a sense of enclosure within the expansive space, while still maintaining transparency, and minimizing visual noise.


With multiple façade and jamb conditions incorporated in the two galleries, the design consciously does away with straight lines – from irregular openings in the metal grid, to the deconstructed edges of the various facades – creating a dynamic and informal environment. The lighting design has been done in the same vein, simulating the ingress of sunlight in the inner gallery through the featured windows, to give visitors a better idea of how the products would appear when installed outdoors. In addition to windows, the store also features ACP sheets, aluminium facades and casings, which are displayed through various design interventions.

It was crucial, in line with the client’s ethos, that the showroom should embody the explorative nature of the TWF brand. The resultant design allows visitors to immerse themselves in the dynamic spatial experience

Ar. Malay Doshi

The cool tone of aluminium and the warmth of wood dominate the space, tied together by dark floors and walls. Maintaining consistency, other areas use a similar material palette. The result is an interesting, immersive spatial experience, embodying TWF’s spirit of innovation.

In contrast with the conventional, completely sealed-off, air-conditioned tower, this hotel, designed by WOHA and Patricia Urquiola, merges architecture and nature, and combines indoor and outdoor spaces in a striking fashion to create sustainability and delight

The Oasia Hotel in the central business district of Singapore, redefines what a high-rise can be in humid tropical climates. According to the architects, the aim was ‘to create an alternative imagery for commercial high-rise developments. It combines innovative ways to intensify land use with a tropical approach that showcases a perforated, permeable, furry, verdant tower.’

The 190m tower contains four large outdoor spaces: three enormous verandas on the 6th, 12th, and 21st floor, as well as a roof terrace on the 27th floor. The roof terrace is surrounded and protected by a 10-storey-high screen, covered in the same red aluminium mesh cladding as the rest of the tower. The facade will gradually be overgrown by 21 species of creepers and vines, creating a lively contrast between vibrant reds and lush greens.

While the pursuit of sustainability is often accompanied by humourless earnestness, WOHA shows that it prefers to stand apart as it combines sustainability with delight: two terms that are prominently present in the office’s design philosophy.

Aside from the red/green façade, the sky gardens also offer greenery, fresh air, and opportunities for natural cross-ventilation, as well as representing the most visibly sustainable and delightful aspects of the building. Given the small footprint, WOHA adopted what they call ‘a club sandwich approach by creating a series of different strata, each with its own sky garden.’ Introducing these sky gardens as ‘elevated ground levels’, allowed ‘the precious but limited ground floor space to be multiplied, creating generous public areas for recreation and social interaction throughout the high-rise.


While WOHA can be credited for the architecture of the tower itself and the concept of stacking layers, the actual design of the sky gardens is the work of Spanish designer and architect Patricia Urquiola, who was responsible for all interiors as well as the outdoor spaces of the hotel. For the pools on the 21st and 27th floor, she has used Agrob Buchtal ceramic tiles from the German company’s Chroma series, and has given each pool a different character.

Unlike most rooftop amenities in hotels, which are all about the panorama, here the city’s skyline is almost completely concealed by the vegetated screen. This underlines the unconventionality of WOHA’s architecture. Instead of a view, the rooftop offers a place of unexpected intimacy and tranquility from the bustle of the city.

Fact File

Client: wasl LLC Asset Management Group
Location: Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Building surface: 106.534 m² GFA / 168.081 m² BUA
Building volume: 840.000 m³
Building site: 8.785 m²
Building height: 302m.
Programme: Mixed-use
Planning time: 2014 – 2016
Construction time: 2016 – 2020
Operator: Mandarin Oriental Hospitality Group
Lead Consultant design: UNStudio, Dubai/Amsterdam
Architecture: UNStudio, Amsterdam
Engineering, Sustainability, Acoustics: Werner Sobek, Dubai/Stuttgart
MEP Engineering: Werner Sobek, London
Local MEP Engineering: Seed, Dubai
Architect of Record: U+A Architects, Dubai
Light Design: Arup, Amsterdam
Landscape Architect: Green4Cities, Vienna
Cost Consultant: Kulkarni Quantity Surveyors, Dubai
FLS Consultant: Aecom, Dubai
Vertical Transportation: Dunbar & Boardman / TUV Sud, London
AV/IT Consultant: Shen Milson Wilke
Kitchen Consultant: Sefton Horn Winch
Pool Engineering: Barr & Wray, Dubai
Interior Design Hotel: GA Design, London UK
Interior Design F&B: AB Concept, Hong Kong

UNStudio, in collaboration with Werner Sobek, was invited by the wasl Development Group to design a new kind of high-rise for the city of Dubai that would act as a benchmark


wasl Tower - a slender 300-meter-tall super-high-rise, when completed, will be one of the world’s tallest ceramic facades. Adopting a classic ‘contrapposto’ movement, the mixed-use tower faces in almost every direction and offers public areas high up in the building.

UNStudio’s design, closely interlinked with the engineering and sustainability concept developed by Werner Sobek, defines scale, light, building physics and materialisation. In addition, smart access, communication and security provide a seamless technological base, which is integrated with the architecture. Clean materials, interactive light levels, and good acoustics are implemented throughout the building.

Clay was chosen as a basic material, as such the facade fins will be manufactured as low-tech glazed ceramic elements. The geometry of the tower achieved its holistic appearance by means of innovative parametric design and high-tech engineering. On the facade, a fine lace of inclined fins over the basic skin literally veils the geometry and provides the required ‘closed’ surfaces. These fins not only provide shade, but also reflect daylight deep into the tower’s interior.


The open seam that runs the full height of the tower forms a ‘vertical boulevard’, which is topped by infinity pools on the tower roof. This seam is created by a stacking of outdoor balconies and forms a green vein which also affords a glimpse of the interiors. The boulevard connects the outdoor with the indoor and is a unique feature for the region.

Facade lighting housed behind the fins and developed with Arup Lighting, is programmed as a rhythmic animation that breathes with the cadence of this 24-hour metropole and provides a visual connection to the city. This facade lighting is powered by the energy cube PV panels located on the car park building.

The mixed-use programme, comprising offices, guest rooms, public areas and apartments, presented a challenging core configuration. A smart structural concept - with three 300-metre high shear walls in the core that connect 4 large outriggers on strategic levels - give the tower an almost free, highly efficient floorplate.

Three high-speed express lifts connect the four main lobbies (ground / spa /sky and rooftop) which contain most of the public programme and the main access for the hotel (at 150 metres). Four office and four guestroom lifts share the same lift shaft, while the residential apartments have their own designated lift-group, making direct access via the basement parking possible. In total, the building provides 17 lifts, of which 5 are service elevators.


The tower is supported by a low rise car-park building which, uniquely, also houses a large, column-free ballroom on the first floor. Programming this element in this location provided the advantage that the ground floor lobby now spans the full premises and creates a ‘walled’ garden, providing shade and cooling, even during the summer months. The roof of the car park building is a large outdoor pool deck and is connected to the spa lobby in the tower via a pedestrian bridge, which provides access for all guests and visitors.

Mandarin Oriental, one of the world’s top hospitality brands, will operate the full building and will establish its MO@Dubai hotel here, with 250+ luxury 5* guest rooms. Construction started in 2016. General contractor Arabtec was appointed to start main works in 2017.

The Laya residence of Ar. Shirish Beri and his wife Manasi, is designed by him as a compact, unified, no-frills house that seems to grow in an organic manner from the soil


The small 465 sqm plot on the outskirts of Kolhapur was purchased at a comparatively low price due to its steep topography (5-m level difference within a site width of 15-m) and the undeveloped road in front. This level difference was used to advantage by tucking in the domestic help’s residence and a large rainwater harvesting tank at the lower level. The house is mainly on the ground floor level with a porch, living, dining, sit out balconies, kitchen and one bedroom + toilet. The mezzanine level has one bedroom/study + toilet + terrace.

When we moved out of our big old ancestral bungalow into a new smaller house, the move was also meant to simplify our lives and make it more self-sufficient in terms of energy, water, food etc. We decided that the new house should be more rooted in sustainable values of caring and sharing, rather than in mere green ratings. And we called it Laya, which means 'something that is in harmony with life'

Ar. Shirish Beri

The house form spontaneously creates spaces in and around the house that are informal, free flowing and harmonious. The single volume space inside encourages interaction within the family and with the outside natural views. Flexibility, multiple use of space and privacy are ensured by folding doors, partitions and curtains, which help in saving valuable resources and costs.


Semi-covered sit-out spaces, balconies and terraces connect with the outdoors. Plenty of fresh air and natural light reduces energy consumption. The habitat attempts maximum self-sufficiency in use of artificial lighting, water, domestic cooking gas, kitchen vegetables and sewage disposal.

Eco-Friendly Measures & Materials

• Part of fence and gate made from waste pieces of torsteel bars
• Retaining walls and walls of the large rain water harvesting tank made in concrete with stones from waste stone debris
• Filler slabs designed with split bamboo pieces from old discarded scaffolding and with 80mm long waste pieces of 100mm diameter PVC pipes
• 25% fly ash added to all concrete to reduce cement consumption
• Masonry done with autoclaved aerated blocks with 65% fly ash, bricks from demolished buildings, and interlocking fly ash bricks
• Steps in landscaping made from cornerstones sourced from construction debris. Stone chips obtained during dressing pave the garden pathways
• Pitching for terracing done from stones obtained from construction debris
• Round black stones for façade cladding served as cobblestones for service path
• False ceiling and stairs made from packaging pinewood; doors, windows, railings, façade wood strips made from wood from old, demolished buildings
• Some windows and doors from demolished structures re-used
• Most of structural steel members such as pipe columns, pipe purlins, MS angles, channels etc, bought from scrapyard; their old holes, welding joints have been retained
• Not a single new Mangalore roofing tile was used; all old tiles from dismantled houses were bought, cleaned, painted and used
• Floors and dadoes were made from tiles discarded by tile depot owner
• In driveway, Shahbad tiles used from old, demolished buildings
• House interiors use old coir foam cushions, old plywood, etc
• Dependency on K.M.C. water supply reduced by rain water harvesting
• Dependency on state electricity supply reduced by having lesser light points (due to a smaller house), 180W solar PV panels with storage invertor, LED and CFL lights, solar water heating, natural light and ventilation
• Use of old cables, light fittings, fans
• Terraced landscaped beds planned as per the contours for a vegetable garden rather than an ornamental one
• Horizontal wooden strips with vertical GI wires tied at 15 cm intervals on external facade support vegetable creepers and climbers, and shade walls.

 The design of Shoolini University Campus in Solan in Himachal Pradesh by Archohm, responds to the topography and the natural landscape


Fact File
Typology: Institutional
Name of Project: Shoolini University of Life Science and Business Management
Location: Solan, Himanchal Pradesh
Principal Architect: Sourabh Gupta
Design Team: Sanjay Rawat, Bhoomika Singhal, Sanjay Bisht
Site Area: 538 sqm
Built-Up Area: 308 sqm
Structural consultant: Roark Engineers Consulting
Electrical consultant: Archohm Consults
Plumbing consultant: Techno Engineering Consultants
Photographer: Andre Fanthome

Material highlights

• exposed concrete
• local whitewashed brick and stone
• wooden flooring complemented by vibrant colours
• skylights
• a clean facade of concrete and recessed glass

The University campus of Shoolini comprises academic blocks, a library, a student activity centre, hostel blocks and a guest house-cum-residential block. The blocks are in logical order with individual expressions of their respective functions. The various components have been arranged sequentially, with physical and metaphoric connections at many levels.

The buildings respond to the steep contours but have been left largely unaltered with the stepped format of placing the mass, and their design was wound around existing foliage. The tower blocks have been set in a zig zag manner along the slopes. The foundation has been designed as per seismic Zone 4 regulations.

One of the challenges was to redesign while encountering rocks during levelling and incorporating the exposed rocks as part of the landscape and ensuring that the natural ecosystem is not encroached upon to the extent possible

Ar. Sourabh Gupta

Use of exposed concrete, whitewashed brick and stone, procured locally, have reined in construction costs. The architecture merges with vernacular expressions as the building has been crafted by local artisans. The material choice is such that the buildings remain maintenance-free. Wooden flooring has been used in the interiors for its warm earthy feel and for the acoustics. The colours are restrained to a few earthy yellows, greens, reds and browns - the colours of the hills – with an overall white palette with bare concrete inserts of the library and vibrant coloured interiors.


Light is a commodity that is in great need in the hills. While natural light is brought into all inhabited spaces, artificial light because of its glare and intensity, is kept muted and indirect through shaded verandahs, recessed glazing, skylights and via multiple reflections. A large circular window placed in the lobby outside the auditorium gives a panoramic view of the hills, while windows in the washrooms have been made in a mosaic-like, eye-catching pattern.

The Yogananda library overlooking a beautiful green valley has a clean facade of concrete and recessed glass, while the inner face of concrete bears the load of the entire system of the library stacks. The concrete wall is supported by seemingly intersecting concrete columns.


Each space is accentuated with interior colours and are loud and visible from the outside. A stepped theatre adds drama to the morphology. The vibrant ochre colour complements the raw wooden floors. A terrace café overlooks the entire campus and the valley, which, by virtue of its location and position, is left simple.

Brooks Arthaus Project in Bhimtaal designed by Ar. Nilanjan Bhowal, Design Consortium, is home to 11 premium vacation villas in the serenity of the lower Himalayas


The scenic location is utilized ecologically by adopting a masterplan strategy to build villas along the Himalayan contours and use the site slope to maximize view and daylight. Large windows and openings on the south capture the heat of the winter sun to warm the villa interiors. Construction and planning minimize cutting of trees and soil erosion. The design also strives to reduce cut and fill at the site to create flat terraces in front of the villas.

The main challenge in any hill architecture is to ensure that every villa gets perfect views without obstructing the other. As a part of the urban plan, all ecological aspects were taken into consideration, starting with cutting minimum trees, rainwater harvesting, and pavers to reduce soil erosion

Nilanjan Bhowal

The project is located on fertile soil contours of 1:3 slope, hence, there is a high risk of soil erosion. Special details are used in urban design strategies to retain soil. First, fertile soil has been conserved across the land parcel with retaining walls and excessive plantation. Second, no patch of land is left with loose soil; all the soft-scape is covered with grass, trees and plants.

Only natural materials, finishes and local materials such as stone and wood have been used to construct the villas. Nothing has been procured beyond 100 km from the site, thereby reducing carbon footprint. Vernacular knowledge is used for solar passive design with large overhangs to provide shade from the summer sun but allowing the winter sun’s heat to enter the villas.


The landscape is designed to ensure porosity for water to seep into the ground. This is achieved through interlocking grass pavers for roads and walking pathways. The rain water harvesting system is designed as open channels where water trickles from shallow lily ponds into pebbled channels. It forms a good landscape feature and controls water percolating in the ground. Sculptures by prominent artists, private observation decks and numerous bird spots lend visual artistry to the setting.

This house is designed by ZZ Architects to minimize its impact on the environment, utilize fewer resources, and is built as per the local climate and natural environment


The plot was located on a rocky, highly contoured site with two large trees. The design concept was to enclose all spaces in small courtyards, which eventually open into a large central space and participate in the passive climate control strategy. The large trees were retained and the design circulated to make natural use of them.

At times, it’s only the change of materials that indicates where the house finishes, and the natural setting begins. The landscape within the site creates a feel of an extension of the natural terrain around it

Ar. Zubin Zainuddin & Ar. Krupa Zubin, ZZ Architects

One large block and 5 identical blocks with divisional courtyards were created and dispersed around a C-shaped layout. The open C-shaped pathway connects the rooms and circles around a large tree in the open courtyard. An existing tree is retained within the semi open walkway around the periphery of the living zone.

For cooling, the courtyard between all the blocks circulates the air and cools it through the designed landscape. The air further flows through the openings of the passage to the central courtyard, keeping artificial energy consumption low.


For heating, the front blocks being on a contoured base, are suspended on a concrete slab, which stores radiation and gives off heat during the night and reduces dependency on conventional heating systems.


Provision for rainwater harvesting was made with an underground tank on the right-hand side of the curved pathway for providing water for plantation and sanitation of the house, and for drinking after filtration. An open stream that cuts through the land is designed to retain water collected during the rains. 

The Waterwoods Kabini resort designed by Mistry Architects and set amidst a deciduous forest, is completely unified with the existing buildings and landscape, with the planning program sensitive to the lay of the land, the surrounding ecosystem, sight/view lines, and the existing building footprint


Fact File
Name of project: Waterwoods Lodge and Resorts Pvt. Ltd.
Location: Karapura, Mysore District, Karnataka
Client: Pavan Kapoor
Area site: 56933.8 sq.ft
Total occupied area: 21025.25 sq.ft
Design Team: Ar. Sharukh Mistry, Ar.Deepa S.Wani, & Vishwanath K.B
PHE & Electrical consultant: Meca Project Engineers
Structural: Cruthi Consultants
Year of completion: May 2015
Photos: Umeed Mistry


A pedestrian entry from the north-east through a landscaped walkway leads to the reception and waiting area which is a semi-covered space. Through a koi fish pond, one walks into the 9-bedroom lodging facility, wherein all rooms overlook the pool and the river beyond on the south and spills into the surrounding landscape with deep decks. Common spaces include a spa, library, bar, gym and terraces with anti-skid, natural stone flooring.

High pitched steel roofs, floor to ceiling openings and double heights enhance the volumes, which invite the surrounding green and water indoors. Deep overhangs for all openings prevent the rains from lashing in. The pool with an invisible edge accentuates the depth of the site along the waterfront. A semi-covered dining deck is designed at the water edge.

A sustainable design approach, making the best use of natural sources and using locally available materials and manpower was the key intent. The water, the landscape and the sky inspired us!

Ar. Sharukh Mistry, Ar. Deepa S Wani

The kitchen and secondary spaces are located centrally and with separate external access for ease of service. The 6-bedroom block along the west angles out into the water with high split level roofs with thatch. An underlay of bamboo filters light and green into these spaces with large decks and terraces for star gazing nights. All toilets are finished with rustic materials and look out into the green with outdoor rain showers.

Nature inspired imprints (animal footprints, leaves etc.) adorn floors, roof slab, light fixtures etc. Use of solar power, effective water separation, recycle and reuse systems, turbo vents that run on wind energy, and sun tubes are some of the green technologies incorporated in the design. Adequate slopes and berms drain the surface runoff water.


Eco-friendly solutions

Locally available materials and vernacular construction techniques
Thatch tied with fish net for roof cover
Treated bamboo for roof underlays, vertical screens and doors
Boulders from nearby quarry for structural support systems
Mud plastered walls
Cuddapah, kota, slate, cement floors and finishes
Timber slabs for staircase treads, ledges and flooring
Solar power and turbo vents 

The campus design and layout of the PSG Institute of Technology in Coimbatore, by SD Sharma & Associates, harnesses the beauty and ambience of a planned natural environment


Material Palette
Local materials, primarily granite, in lobby and corridors
Non-slippery tiles in classrooms
Numerous windows proportionate to volume of rooms

The 1.5 lakh sq.ft campus comprises six established and independent modules, interlinked with a central corridor. It is an assemblage of classrooms, tutorial rooms, electric halls, staff rooms and other amenities. All usable rooms are assembled around a brightly lit central corridor. The play of materials in the departments gives identity and importance to the activity. The planning is user-friendly and directional. Service shafts enable easy movement of services.

Conceptualised and evolved by managing trustee Mr. L. Gopalkrishnan, the project took shape as the first Green Building in the institute and in the city of Coimbatore. It won the ‘Exemplary Performance Award for Passive Architecture Design’ by GRIHA Council in 2017

Ar. Sangeet Sharma

This block, a unit is replicated identically in other five blocks, thus creating a blocking which is thematic and systematic. The combined juxtaposition of the blocks is combination of masses with spaces in between the two blocks acting as air – shoots for cross ventilations. These areas provide access and ingress of the natural air to pass through with velocity.


The campus has passive design elements, solar panels, calculated light fittings, non-toxic paints, adequate natural light and ventilation and acoustically-treated lecture halls. Technology has been incorporated without compromising the principles of aesthetics and design, in fact, technology has followed the design.


Going beyond the normal design parameters, a mini forest zone was created on the south-west direction, for biodiversity, thereby, gaining additional points in GRIHA. Landscaped gardens and courtyards provide beautiful vistas.