Contextual architecture

The neighbourhood in which THE EPIC is located was originally characterised only by single-family homes. Today, the building is surrounded by an urban density of residential buildings. The scales of the existing houses and the new buildings collide. THE EPIC, although it provides 9 units of different sizes, contrasts with this problem in its villa-like appearance. With its articulated volumes and differentiated window openings, the building gives more the image of a family house rather than an apartment building. The refinement of the architecture is continued in the outer skin, from the detail of the window to the materiality of the brickwork. Again, the scale has been refined by the texture and colour of the thin tile. The resul... More

Looking to return to their homeland, this elderly couple based out of the Middle East wanted to build a comfortable retirement home near their ancestral home located in the Ayroor district of Kerala. The 0.5 acre plot, situated at the banks of Chalakudy river at the time was being used to cultivate indigenous vegetables, a practise the couple wished to continue even after their move. The couple was looking for a traditional, pitched-roof ‘tharavadu’-like home with ample verandahs that employed locally available craftsmen, contractors & construction methods and encouraged use of natural materials such as terracotta, laterite, kota stone etc. The client had a very clear programmatic requirement and a finite budget to achieve i... More

Title:House for an architectDesign Team: Deniz Ebrahimi Azar-Yasaman ForoutanClient : Mrs.DehghanLocation:Yazd,Iran. More

The site is a hide away, embraced by the Aravali Range with its greenery punctuated by quarried Rock, Kota village and the ITC golf course.The client being a golf enthusiast and having farming as a hobby, desired to use the place as a weekend getaway from his city life. Client’s brief was to create a farmhouse which would merge with its surroundings. Finishes were to have minimum required maintenance as the place would be used only once in a week. The vocabulary of the place was identified to resonate with the client’s personality - a symphony of contemporary and rustic. The site is of 3 acres, zoning of the which has been done in three parts, Main House, Servant Quarters and the Fields. 1.5 acres allocated to the fields and... More

A project of its own challenge and uniqueness that prompted us to shape the very definition of a government school. The main focus was to sculpt the school from an existing plan and dimension into a vibrant zone of learning, a place where kids can finally feel that the school is indeed built for them. Light, color, gathering spaces, greenery, scale, and most importantly, the kids have made this government school as what it is. The design breaks free of the typical rigid composition of a school through the use of Jaalis and height variations in the roof slabs which bring in daylight and ventilation, thus making it a breathing structure More

The Yahvi Residence is located in Coimbatore amidst three built forms. The design emphasis was on open spaces to facilitate abundant lighting and proper ventilation. This is achieved through a  central courtyard and skylight that forms the core of the house. The courtyard is the beating heart of the house in bringing the family together, connecting the various rooms, and serves as the perfect backdrop for family celebrations and events. Handmade Moroccan tiles accentuate the vertical wall of the courtyard, in stark contrast with the textural ochre.  The planning ensures that all rooms in the house from the bedrooms to common areas, such as the living and dining, connect to a semi-open/open space. The building's elevation has a str... More

This holiday home is designed on the hills of Sirumalai, Tamil Nadu to employ its sloped context, the incredible valley views, and the wilderness that surrounds it, blurring the line between man and nature. It was built on an existing foundation to minimize impact and cantilevers slightly over the edge. Large terrace and deck areas ensure the experiential fixity of nature. Building finishes are an amalgamation of rubble masonry, straw, thatch, terracotta, hand plaster, and laterite, all of which are sourced within close proximity of the site. Interiors are a cohesion of raw aesthetic, natural materials, and finishes that are contextually sensitive. Repurposed stems of old guava trees act as natural safety markers around the house. Apart fro... More

Client: The municipality of HamadanArchitent: NDA StudioArchitect in charge: Notash DadjooDesign Team: Notash Dadjoo, Mohammad Gerami, Naiem Nakhaie, Mehdi KhalafiSite area: 44500 Project area: 11800 The municipality of Hamadan intended to build a cultural complex on a small hill with a special visibility to the city. Consideration of building as a new urban sign, site topography, climate of the region, city’s architectural heritage, night sight with lighting, a platform with a proper view to the city, visibility from urban area to the project and providing given mixed functions was the fundamental need in architectural design which have been declared by the client. According to these needs, three approaches were adopt... More

We were offered a renovation project of a dental clinic with financial and time limitations. We began planning and design project with the aim of creating a space based on quality standards, regarding the aforementioned limitations. Sufficient attention was paid to the lighting of the project for reaching a dual effect: on one hand we aimed not to disrupt the functionality of the clinic and on the other hand we planned to create a sense of security, peace and closeness for the patients.This project is formed through contextual approach.This conceptual design is based on fractal order of teeth and heterotopia space.the dental clinic is a heterotopic space.In this design the elements of Islamic architecture have been used so as to respect the... More

New university built into destroyed old town area records both the absence of the Old Town and it’s rebuilding. Context Narva is a border city between Russia and Estonia. Prosperity of the city was in 17th century, when under the Swedish reign new baroque-style city center was developed. The Old Town was destroyed during WWII and after when it was demolished and replaced with modernist city. After the war local people were not allowed to return to the city, new habitants were brought in from Soviet Union. Site The college is built on the area of Narva’s no longer existent Old Town with the main façade opening towards the Town Hall Square. In front of the building is a square, marking the site of the former stock exchange building... More