A Unique Identity

Sanjay Puri Architects presents The Forest, a high-density development project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Fact File

Location: Democratic Republic of The Congo, Africa
Client: Modern Construction SARL
Built Area: 42107.85 sqm
Lead Architect: Ar. Sanjay Puri
Design Team: Ar. Dimple Mehta, Ar. Muskaan Garg
Photo credit: Sanjay Puri Architects
Source: V2com

Due to prevailing rules governing built-up areas, this project required a vertical tower since the ratio of built-up area permissible is 9 times the plot area. The vertical circulation core is planned on the southern side to mitigate heat gain and simultaneously provide privacy to the existing residential 15 storey buildings on the southern side. The offices are all oriented towards the north and north-west, with the best views of the Congo River, while also reducing heat gain by allowing natural indirect light into the office spaces.

Situated in the pretext of the Congo River, the building shape provides peripheral glazing surfaces orienting towards the river. Capturing maximum river views at the shortest distance, the balconies are aligned and projected radially from the offices.

The concept is drawn from the African forest, creating a structure that replicates a dense tree via parabolic balconies that embark upon the building façade. The angled balconies overlap at subsequent floors, providing double and single height balcony spaces for every office. The building shape, with its projecting decks, allows integration of open spaces with enclosed ones. The form generated by the blend of building shape and balconies creates a parametric envelope of repetitive cascading elements to develop a unique identity.