Fact File
Project name: Villa kd45
Program: Private residence
Location: Ghaziabad, Delhi-NCR
Site area: 1081 sqm
Built up area: 1100 sqm
Design: Amit Gupta, Britta Knobel Gupta
Project lead: Kartik Misra, Nitish Falmale
Photo & Video: Niveditaa Gupta
Structure: Acecon
MEP: DBHMS
Lighting: Luminars
Being a joint family, the client wanted dual interaction in the house with zones of privacy and a few spaces where all members could be together. A double height living, dining and open kitchen space combines the two family floors into one zone thereby strengthening family connectivity. A home theatre, bar and gym in the basement connect with an outdoor staircase and a patio to bring in light.
The odd shape of the plot along with the views to the neighbourhood park were used as design drivers. Thematically, the design looks at flowing the green of the neighbourhood park in the site, with streamlines emerging from the park facing southern side and opening up towards the northern edge of the site. This base grid has been used to define the built-form and landscape zones such as water bodies, hard scape, and soft scape.
A meandering stepped walkway has an outdoor space on the first floor with outdoor shaded seating and connects further to the terrace. The space also acts as a balcony and as a direct entrance to the first-floor apartment.
In an urban setting, there is a growing disconnect between the user and nature. With this project we are looking at creating green urban living, to rekindle the relationship of the residents with nature in their immediate surroundings.
Ar. Amit Gupta, Ar. Britta Knobel Gupta
The design intent was to create a dichotomy in the façades with the lower façade being light in nature and a heavy volume floating on top of it. The ground floor has a glass façade to connect with outdoor green spaces, and the first floor has punched windows carved out of concrete to minimize heat gain.
Sustainable design strategies have been inculcated in the design, to create ambient indoor and outdoor spaces. Ground floor has a deep cantilever on south-west and east facing façade to cut the harsh summer sun. Water bodies on ground floor and terrace promote evaporative cooling. The roof of the building is a landscaped terrace with earth and grass to further cut down the direct heat gain of the villa. Existing trees on site have been retained and their shading create ambient outdoor spaces.
A shallow water body placed in the path of the wind direction, helps in evaporative cooling. The main south-west facing facade on the ground is recessed to block the direct sunlight during the day, while maintaining a seamless visual connection to the outside. The upper floor of the building is made of concrete with recessed windows to cut the south sun.
