Aspaces is a premium multi-program property, located in the midst of a bustling city. To symbolize the brand, and it’s prime position in the market, the ‘A’ was equated to a soaring mountain peak, emphasizing all that the company stands for: class, identity and a signature lifestlye. To further make a bold statement and establish a strong tie between the brand and the architecture, ‘copper’ was used as a key element in the design palette, and a the facade takes the form of a soaring peak fashioned out of copper. The glistening forms stands
out starkly amidst themore or less unremarkable built environment of the suburbs, demanding attention in it’s own right. The building is a testament to planning that encourages flexibility and mixed-uses in our cities today: the lower floors become high-end retail spaces, and the upper floors contain luxury suites. Considering that the theme of the design was couture, Aspaces has now become synonymous with a luxurious destination, and the architecture has succeeded in creating a monumental landmark for all to behold.
Considering Micro housing is the future of housing for the existing and upcoming generations, we propose a type of housing that ensures mobility, innovation, reuse, and optimum space utilization making it an adaptable solution for everyone. “Add to cart” is a modern solution for micro-housing that allows a house to grow within a given space. The designed modules can be brought & assembled on the existing structural sytem like ‘kits of parts’. It is designed in a way that it can be multiplied, deducted & customised as per the different stages of a man’s life and his lifestyle choices.
Mumbai, a megacity, is home to many traditional communities. Some communities bear the brunt of urban sprawl & migration and are on a verge of extinction. One such is the closely knitted Koli community of fishermen, entitled as the original inhabitants of Mumbai, that are suffering an economical, social and cultural loss today. The upcoming/proposed Coastal road development & bridges along the water banks will hugely affect the profession of this community, eventually leading them to migrate from their original habitation. Our concept of micro-housing shall retain and uplift this community, making it viable even through rapid urbanization.
1-2% of the city land is occupied by supporting structural systems that act as dead spaces, hence these structural systems can be constructed in such a way that they can host these communities. The housing takes place along the proposed infrastructure of the coastal road, while it saves green lands from undue rehabilitation of the fishermen. It also brings them closer to their profession and proposes a waterfront development program. This is the city supporting the fishermen’s concerns, the fishermen supporting the city’s concerns in return.
The concept of ‘micro modular living’, in addition to the proposed scenario can take place in the defunct areas of a city such as abandoned mills & buildings, negative spaces that are in and around theexisting or proposed infrastructure and also as parasite architecture to the existing buildings and structures.
In a country like India with 67% rural population, it is difficult for conventional education to reach everyone and be accepted as is. The site was located in a tribal area of Odisha with most people living below the poverty line. Schools were being shut down all around because locals did not relate to the system of teaching and felt it was better to involve their children in work than indulge in learning things they would never have the opportunity to use.
The design sought to make a multi-functional space that could be a school for some, a ‘haat’ or evening market for others. We used philosophies like trying to get the local children to Learn using concepts they were familiar with, by Playing and Interacting with each other and elders who would pass on information they felt their community needed.
The school did not use the conventional age based division of 1st, 2nd, 3rd standards but instead divided classes based on subjects so all ages would feel comfortable learning. The classes had moving walls and could be transformed into a school, market, exhibition and working space for artisans and forsocial gatherings.