Houses | South City Residence
The issue of privacy and independence was tackled with a different approach to the modern Indian family; two identical houses were designed which were joined together through balconies and a common compound area.
6450 SF
2019
Traditionally, the Indian family system has been associated with that of a joint family; in recent times, that has changed with each unit that is a part of the joint setup developing a specific requirement of space and privacy. The client brief necessitated a house for two brothers, on two adjoining plots.
The problem was tackled with a different approach to the modern Indian family; two identical houses were designed which were joined together through balconies and a common compound area. This gave the two brothers independent houses to project their vision and maintain a connection between both spaces at the same time. With a unified facade, the two houses end up looking one. Open spaces and connection with nature has been incorporated at varied levels with two gardens in the front and back of the house. A take on modern Indian joint family living space, Twin house sets a precedent for Indian homes today.
Houses | South City Residence
Retail & Hospitality | USI, Rohini
Houses |Ridge House
Houses | Cottage Estate
It was decided to take advantage of this natural feature by combining the first 4 units into a single building that could be built in stages over a series of stepped foundations. A large elevator would also be installed to allow access to the lower part of the site.
The subsequent units could then be approached by a golf cart on a gently sloping path. These have been planned as duplex cottages with individual gardens retained by the path, ensuring privacy while retaining environmental sustainability.
Location: Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Typology: Multi-Family Housing
Area: 24000 SF
Principal Architect: Amit Khanna
Completion: 2015
The upper building was designed as a modular unit, allowing considerable flexibility in terms of layout. The staircase and lift core were placed in one corner and a bedroom block was created on the east face to take advantage of the morning sun. The position of the living areas could then be adjusted as per the choices of the individual owners. Consequently, the lower floors are occupied mostly by a 4-bedroom apartment, spread over three levels, while half of the first floor is given over to a 2-bedroom apartment. The upper two floors are divided into two duplex units with large terraces on the lower floors, creating a three-dimensional jigsaw of apartments.
In a unique approach to the overall site plan, future owners will be given a choice of cottage designs adhering to a set vocabulary, creating a micro-community of self-similar units rather than a bland repetition of a single block.
