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
PIXELET
A combined basement of nearly 20000SF is the main receiving area for all raw material. From here, the building is divided into two equal blocks, meant to house the two production verticals within the company. Column-free spaces were essential to the efficient planning of upper floors; an ingenious structural diagrid system was used on the upper floors. By cross bracing the beams diagonally, the resultant triangulated concrete frame efficiently distributes load while maintaining a thin profile.
Location: Kirti Nagar
Typology: Factory
Built up area: 100000 SF
Principal Architect: Amit Khanna
Completion Date: 2015
This limits the columns to the periphery, allowing easy expansion to the upper floors and freeing up ground space for vehicular movement. Spacing the columns generously allows for large windows that ensure maximum daylight in the interior spaces, reducing dependence on artificial sources of light. Circulation cores at either end of the building house toilets, stairs and elevators. These cores also house the vertical ducts that provide cooled air to the production floors, eliminating the need for electricity guzzling air conditioning. These large ducts are centrally planned within each floor, allowing for even distribution of air to all workers.
Although primarily designed as a production unit, the building also houses a 6000SF office space within the ground floor Block A. Designed completely in white tones, the office area has an innovative baffled aluminium ceiling that incorporates LED strip lighting while effectively masking the electrical, air-conditioning and fire-fighting services. A large showroom opens up to a garden terrace, creating a pocket of nature within a heavily industrialised context. A bright orange cafeteria that acts as a breakout space for employees and the director’s room both also have independently accessed and private terrace spaces.
