Project overview – the challenge
Occupying a strategic position in the heart of Bangalore city, India, the project is in close proximity with some of the best hospitality, medical and commercial facilities in the city. The clients brief saw a potential for limited ‘Sky Villas’ where the architecture would re-interpret new levels of luxury in living. The built form also had to capture the richness of its vibrant and significant urban context of the city.
The design challenge was to capitalize on the potential of the 30,000 Sqft site without compromising on the existing green cover and minimizing the ecological footprint of the structure.
Design Narrative
The idea of going higher was restricted by the existing Byelaws which did not allow the building to go beyond 12m. The master plan had to thus examine and organize the programs of the site to address the complexities of Super luxury living within the Green Parameters embedded within the site context.
Two blocks were planned to house one apartment on each side per floor that would emerge from sunken gardens and blend into the peripheral greens amidst the site. Each block was articulated using the existing vegetation as a stencil and building was thus carved out. To compensate on the loss of lower vegetation from the site during the construction, every floor plate extends into greens and balconies generating great diversity within the site context.
Bioclimatic Design
An integrated design approach was followed to evaluate and maximize the energy reductions of the building. Solar studies and simulations were used to generate data regarding daylighting, shadow analysis, rainfall pattern and shading systems. These studies, along with lighting analysis, were critical to generate the load calculations and sizing and selection of all the Mechanical Systems.
To optimize the cooling effect, the building mass and window openings were shaped and sized to best capture the breezes based on Computer Generated Simulations. The Vertical Shading devices are combined with Horizontals to cut off harsh rays of the sun. This functions as a rain protector and also multiplies as a Visual Barrier Sideways.
The building thus functions as a selective environmental filter, enhancing the best components of the regional climate to address heating, cooling and ventilation needs of the structure.
Construction resources
The construction deals intensely on using green materials to integrate multiple sustainable features into the project. Using materials like AAC Blocks, PV Cells for solar lighting, Solar Reflective tiles for High heat reflectance, Double Glazed Windows, Permeable Paving & Rain water harvesting for Ground Water Recharge are few of the systems that saves significant energy and minimizes the carbon footprint.
While the concept of the building focuses on green factors of design and use of sustainable materials, the aesthetic character of the building is far from being compromised. With individual residential units being approximately 10,000 sqft in size, the ecological elements are conscientiously woven together with the luxury requirements of the project that conclusively expresses a contemporary response which further establishes a contextual relationship and giving each residence the highest degree of originality.
