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30 of the World’s Most Impressive Social Housing Projects

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As populations grow and cities become more crowded than ever, public housing has become an increasingly important issue for governments around the world. However, social housing is no longer limited to characterless blocks of concrete. These days, the aim is often to provide low-cost housing to individuals and families who need it – while still affording them the dignity of well-designed and distinctive homes. In the realm of real estate, understanding the importance of certain processes is crucial, and title searches stand out in this regard. And this article explains what it is, and why it is important , shedding light on the critical role title searches play in ensuring a smooth and secure real estate transaction. Just as well-designed and distinctive homes contribute to the dignity of individuals in need, a thorough title search contributes to the integrity and security of property transactions, safeguarding the interests of both buyers and sellers alike.

These modern public housing projects frequently incorporate eco-conscious designs and elements, as efficient energy usage tends to be a priority. Here we look at 30 of the world’s social housing developments that break the mold, undoing negative stereotypes and serving as remarkable works of architecture in their own right. Contact the installers that are certifiedhome automation atlanta ga to help adding high tech in your home.

30. Mirador Housing Project – Madrid, Spain

The Mirador housing project in Madrid’s Sanchinarro quarter is more than just a block of flats. It’s closer to a vertical collection of mini neighborhoods. Dutch architectural firm MVRDV created slits between the blocks in the construction imagined as upright alleyways, and the large open space near the top has been dubbed the “sky plaza.” This “semi-public” area provides residents with a communal meeting place and features a garden with stunning views of the nearby Guadarrama Mountains. The project won the Madrid municipality’s Best Design in Housing prize in 2005, even though it wasn’t completed until 2012. It contains 165 apartments.

29. Torre Plaça Europa – Barcelona, Spain

This stunning eco-friendly tower in Barcelona’s relatively new Plaça Europa (Europa Square) zone completely shatters the idea of the boring, gray public housing block. Designed by local architects Roldán + Berengué, it is part of a project that includes another 25 other tower blocks, most of them social housing. The naturally ventilated building is an interesting mix of surfaces in varying shades of gray and black, giving it a decidedly futuristic look. Both recycled and 100 percent recyclable materials were used in the building’s construction, which began in 2005 and was finished in 2010. The 20-story tower contains 75 units.

28. Poljane Community Housing – Maribor, Slovenia

Due to the fact that the Poljane Community Housing project in Maribor is located next to a busy intersection, award-winning Slovenian studio Bevk Perović architects faced spatial limitations when designing the complex. The limited exterior space prompted the company to create large community spaces, either inside the buildings, or on top of them in the form of roof gardens. The designers were also able to incorporate distinctive orange balconies, adding color and character to the otherwise somewhat plain looking walls. Completed in 2007, the four-building complex on the outskirts of the city contains 130 separate apartments.

27. Harold Housing Project – Paris, France

Local architectural studio Jakob + Macfarlane faced a rather tricky environment when designing the Harold Housing Project in Paris, France. Faced with strict land rules, building restrictions and tree preservation orders, the project was divided into three separate apartment blocks, which are connected by a network of pathways. Completed in 2008, the eco-conscious buildings house 100 separate apartments. The complex also features ground-level shopping areas as well as wheelchair-friendly first-floor apartments. And all three blocks have green roof elements, plus rooftop solar-powered heating systems that provide the buildings with more than half of their hot water.

26. Les Nids – Courbevoie, France

The brief for this social housing project in the relatively new urban development zone that is Les Fauvelles in Courbevoie, France was that it should “present new approaches for social housing in densely occupied urban settings.” Paris-based KOZ Architects responded with Les Nids, a two-block complex that includes innovative features such as different shaped apartments, large landings and lots of external spaces, offering residents airy views of nearby western Paris. Completed in 2010, the project was commissioned by the Courbevoie Town Council, which collaborated with social housing organization Groupe 3F to initiate a design competition and thus fill the final spot in the area. The complex includes 28 four-room social housing units.

25. Sa Pobla Social Housing – Mallorca, Spain

Locally based architectural studio Ripoll Tizon designed the Sa Pobla social housing project in Mallorca, Spain to be both unified in its simplicity and adaptable to the needs of individual occupants. The result? This white-fronted complex, which almost looks more like a holiday resort than the kind of public housing we’re used to. The project was completed in 2012 and won first prize in the Best Residential Architecture Project category at the 2013 Architecture Plus Awards. In addition, the 19-unit project was a FAD Architecture Awards 2013 and XII Spanish Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism 2013 finalist.

24. Carabanchel Social Housing – Madrid, Spain

This intriguing looking public housing project in Madrid’s Carabanchel district was designed by now-defunct London-based Foreign Office Architects, using what the design studio called “advanced ecological technology.” The exterior is clad with bamboo louvers, which provide environmentally sound climate control by keeping heat in during the winter months and offering respite from the searing Spanish sunshine in the summer. The project also includes a hollow “Air Tree” that is built from recycled materials and features solar panels, ivy plants, fans and water sprays, providing residents with shade and clean air much as a real tree would. The development, which was completed in 2007, is five stories high and contains 100 apartments, making it one of Europe’s biggest social housing schemes.

23. L’Astrolarbre – Paris, France

When architects from locally based design studio KOZ Architects first saw this location in Paris, France, their attention was drawn to an old maple tree growing on site. The architects decided to incorporate the sprawling tree into the design of the 12-unit L’Astrolarbre social housing project, infusing the urban residential development with nature. “We just couldn’t imagine to cut it down,” explained an architect from the studio. KOZ Architects also added front gardens to the ground floor and certain first floor apartments as well as an eco-friendly rainwater harvesting system for the entire development. Construction was completed in 2007.

22. Tetris Apartments – Ljubljana, Slovenia

Observing its irregular design, it’s easy to see how this block containing social housing in Ljubljana, Slovenia earned its “Tetris” name. Local firm OFIS Architects built the Tetris Apartments building utilizing cost-effective but good-quality materials like granite tiles and oak flooring. Completed in 2007, the four-story structure is situated looking in the direction of a busy highway. To compensate, the balconies and windows were angled 30 degrees away from the highway, and rather impressively, none of the windows and balconies look directly onto another apartment. What’s more, to allow for individual customization, only the main walls of the units are structural; the rest can be repositioned as desired.

21. Social Housing in Parla – Parla, Spain

Madrid-based architectural firm Arquitecnica faced the common concerns tied up with developing projects of this nature when designing this social housing scheme in Parla, Spain. The architects had to consider the size and cost of the individual apartments as well as the land that was available to them, and the result was these attractively colored blocks. The design fits the specified purpose and – thanks to the green-patterned façade – blends in smoothly with the surrounding natural landscape. Construction began in 2006, and the project was completed in 2010. Altogether, 120 low-cost units with stylish modern interiors were built with young renters in mind.

20. Hayrack Apartments – Cerklje, Slovenia

To make the most of the scenic location in the Slovenian town of Cerklje, OFIS Architects designed the Hayrack Apartments social housing project so that most of the units look out onto the neighboring mountains and fields. The crisscross motif at the front of the building was inspired by the traditional hayracks in the area – hence the name. Meanwhile, the structure’s L-shape design was built to preserve a 300-year-old lime tree on the property, such that the building and the tree are nicely integrated. The project was completed in 2007 and houses 56 low-cost apartments.

19. Angers Social Housing – Maine-et-Loire, France

French architectural firm Studio Bellecour designed the Angers social housing project in France’s Maine-et-Loire department, aiming to break the mold of the stereotypically negative “concrete block” synonymous with schemes of this nature. Hence, the studio came up with a dynamic design that is both unified and intimate yet still clearly separated and defined for the different units and structures – each of which has an asymmetrical rooftop over an attic. The idea was to create a close-knit and positive environment that retains residents’ privacy, and the development was completed in 2010.

18. Vivazz, Mieres Social Housing – Asturias, Spain

For its Vivazz, Mieres project in Asturias, Spain, French/Belgian design studio Zigzag Architects aimed to create a housing development that maintains a connection to nature. While the outward-facing sections of the structure are made of corrugated steel, their inward-facing counterparts feature a “double skin” comprising sizable windows and movable wooden shutters. The open spaces in the design allow natural light to enter and air to circulate. In addition, as well as enjoying spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, the development utilizes solar power and passive solar energy. Completed in 2010, in 2011 it was honored as a highly commended project at the AR+D Awards for Emerging Architecture.

17. Monterrey Housing – Nuevo León, Mexico

The Monterrey Housing project won Chilean architectural studio Elemental a 2011 INDEX design prize. Located in Monterrey in the Mexican state of Nuevo León, the reinforced concrete units were created with the idea that occupants could modify their particular spaces themselves, depending on their personal finances. For example, the empty spaces between the units provide space for future expansion. Only the essential parts of the houses, such as the kitchens and bathrooms, are ready built. Individual adaptability seems to be an important aspect of many modern social housing projects, giving residents the feeling that they really own and have control over their living spaces.

16. Social Housing for Mine Workers – Asturias, Spain

Before this state-subsidized housing development project was constructed in the Spanish mining town of Cerredo, Asturias, it had been a quarter of century since any new homes had been built in the area. Designed by Spanish architectural studio Zon-e and completed in 2009, the two perpendicular blocks were intended to complement the colors of the surrounding countryside. Each apartment has a different floor plan, and all benefit from cross ventilation. The windows also afford stunning views of the surrounding Cantabrian Mountains.

15. Honeycomb Apartments – Izola, Slovenia

This bright, eclectic and unusual social housing project is situated in Izola in the southwestern part of Slovenia. The distinctive design ensured Ljubljana-based architects OFIS won a Slovenia Housing Fund award in a competition that involved designing inexpensive housing for young families. Dubbed the Honeycomb Apartments, the two blocks enjoy a view of Izola Bay on one flank and look out onto the neighboring hills on the other. Shade and open-air access are important in this part of the world, so each unit has its own well-ventilated balcony area. Residents can also customize the interior of their apartments, while the colored fabric shades above the outdoor spaces provide privacy. Completed in 2006, the project contains 30 apartments in each block.

14. Pearcedale Parade – Melbourne, Australia

The bright, cheerful colors and quirky architecture of Pearcedale Parade in the Melbourne suburb of Broadmeadows makes it quite an eye-catching development. It was designed by the Victoria-based branch of CH Architects and was funded by the Brumby Labor government and Yarra Community Housing, a non-profit body dedicated to providing affordable accommodation to Victorians who need it. Completed in 2010, Pearcedale Parade contains 88 cross-ventilated units, and the development also boasts solar-powered hot water and heating. They also hired Wills Plumbing plumber in Adelaide to ensure reliable plumbing. The dignity of occupants was an important factor in the design process, and the hope was that the finished project would change the way people think about community housing.

13. Bondy Social Housing – Paris, France

Thirty-four families were relocated into this stylish and energy efficient social housing building in the suburban municipality of Bondy in northeastern Paris. The units were designed by Parisian architectural studio Atelier du Pont. Built in a U-shape around a centralized courtyard, the development features a high-ceilinged roof which may have been installed by professionals who may know that metal roofing needs specialist paint , and the units benefit from ample natural light, balconies, and passive solar design – while rainwater is also used to provide eco-conscious cooling. However, the disadvantages of poor vents in the attic could include issues such as poor air circulation, increased humidity levels leading to mold growth, and potential damage to the roof structure due to moisture accumulation.

12. Salburúa Social Housing – Álava, Spain

This housing development designed by international architectural firm ACXT proves that social housing blocks don’t have to be limited to the dull brown and grey shades often associated with them. The bright red color of the building leaps out from its much less vibrant surroundings, and the facility features a 21-story tower and a lower block of differing levels. Located in the Salburúa district of Vitoria, in the Álav province of northern Spain’s Basque Country, the apartments were built with consideration given to both energy efficiency and the comfort of residents. In Salburúa, social welfare is a matter of pride for the city council, which regards decent housing as the right of all citizens, no matter their economic status.

11. Hollande Social Housing – Pas-de-Calais, France

The influence of the 1970s architecture that surrounds this building is obvious. As for the structure itself, well while its shape may be somewhat conventional, there is actually little that’s boring about this housing project in Béthune in the French department of Pas-de-Calais. The opaque black bricks of the exterior contrast with the light-colored wood used for the window frames and fencing, while the asymmetrical window placement adds a certain quirkiness to the otherwise slightly plain looking walls. Paris- and Geneva-based designers FRES Architectes developed the project for social housing specialists Pas-de-Calais Habitat, and the building was completed in 2012.

10. Savonnerie Heymans – Brussels, Belgium

The Savonnerie Heymans social housing project is an attempt to create an entire environmentally friendly neighborhood consisting of public housing. Designed by local firm MDW Architecture, the development offers various apartment types, including lofts, maisonettes and duplexes, all of which incorporate energy-efficient qualities. Solar power and rainwater harvesting are just two of the eco-conscious features of the complex, which is built on the site of an old soap factory and utilizes the original structural elements where possible. You can see the old chimney for yourself. The 42-unit complex, which was completed in 2011, won a 2012 Prix Bruxelles Horta Award and earned a special mention at the 2012 Belgian Building Awards.

9. Les Loggias – Paris, France

The timber façade and bright green paint of the Les Loggias housing project in Paris’ arrondissement de Reuilly sets it apart from its noticeably less vibrant neighbors. Paris-based agency KOZ Architects designed the building, giving consideration to both the environment and the needs of its inhabitants. Completed in 2011, the block is clad in neat looking ash timber, which is at once durable and cost effective. The interiors were designed to receive as much natural light as possible, and the building also features exterior insulation as well as eco-conscious solar panels.

8. Elmas Social Housing – Sardinia, Italy

The colors of the Mediterranean were incorporated into the sunny white and yellow design of this social housing project in Elmas, Sardinia. According to Italian architects 2+1 Officina Architettura, the differently spaced and sized windows “create a vibrant and binomial play of open/closed.” The development has a walkway balcony with brise-soleil screening used as a form of climate control, and shutters on the north side of the structure shield against chilly winds. Materials were chosen to be both affordably priced and long-lasting, and the development, which was completed in 2010, includes a courtyard as well as ground floor duplexes.

7. Pormetxeta Social Housing – Baracaldo, Spain

Completed in 2007, Spanish architects ACXT’s state-subsidized housing development in Pormetxeta, Baracaldo, in the north of Spain, was spearheaded by the local Basque government. Although the complex is made of prefabricated concrete, its sharp angles and modern, two-toned color scheme prevent it from resembling traditional public housing blocks. Forty-six units are housed within two separate buildings, and parking space is also provided. The plan won first prize in a scheme design competition.

6. Parc Central Social Housing – Valencia, Spain

The Parc Central Social Housing Building in Valencia, Spain is made up of a large number of units shared among three non-identical towers built around a central courtyard. Two Spanish agencies, Office of Architecture in Barcelona and Peñín Architects, were involved in the design of the modern looking, aesthetically pleasing white buildings, which are situated in a landscaped park space. The project was completed in 2010.

5. Hatert Housing – Nijmegen, Netherlands

Tower Hatert in the Dutch city of Nijmegen is part of the local government’s plan to invigorate its housing. The rippling, sculpture-like 13-story building was designed by Rotterdam-based studio 24H Architecture, and it houses 72 apartments as well as a health care center on the ground floor. The timber used throughout the construction is FSC certified. And the non-aligned balconies – with the railings apparently inspired by leaf patterns – ensure that each unit gets enough natural light, while also offering residents uninterrupted views of their surroundings. This futuristic looking tower was finished in 2011.

4. Zabalgana Social Housing – Álava, Spain

In Zabalgana, Vitoria, in northern Spain’s Basque province of Álava, Spanish architects ACXT developed this striking social housing project, which contains 65 residential units. Completed in 2006, the building incorporates wood on the balconies and in the foyer area, providing aesthetic warmth and complementing the building’s colder, stylish metal cladding. Despite strict affordable housing guidelines, ACXT stuck to their aim and achieved what the company describes as “a deep environmental and landscaping sensibility.” The project was pushed forward by the VISESA group, which is financed by the Basque government.

3. Tête en l’air Social Housing – Paris, France

This wooden structure may look more like an ancient fort than a modern complex in a busy metropolis, but Paris’ Tête en l’air (meaning “head in the clouds”) social housing project is definitely the latter. Designed by Paris-based agency KOZ Architects, the complex, which includes thirty units – 15 brand new and another 15 rehabilitated from the pre-existing structure – was completed in 2012. The project was undertaken for social housing organization SIEMP, a group committed to sustainable architecture, including the renovation of older buildings.

2. Sint-Agatha-Berchem Housing Project – Brussels, Belgium

This project in the Brussels municipality of Sint-Agatha-Berchem may be new, but the district it is located in has been dedicated to social housing since the early 1920s. Architect Victor Bourgeois created the original district, and Belgian architectural firm Buro II & Archi+I designed these new units, which were completed in 2012, to complement Bourgeois’ cubist style. They are also low-energy units that incorporate solar panels, rainwater retrieval systems and eco-friendly materials – a far cry from the gray tower blocks many picture when they think about social housing.

1. Le Lorrain – Brussels, Belgium

Designed by Belgian agency MDW Architecture, the Le Lorrain social housing project is actually a repurposed old iron dealer facility located in Belgium’s capital, Brussels. Completed in 2011, the new complex consists of a multi-unit apartment building and three terraced maisonette homes, each of which has its own private garden. Originally, a high wall surrounded the eastern side of the site, but this was lowered to allow in more light, and the complex has a large, open communal space for residents to use. The design of Le Lorrain is contemporary, yet it still retains a vestige of the site’s industrial heritage.

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Norman Foster and his High-tech Architecture

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The Sheikh Sarai Housing is a complex of 550 units in South Delhi. Which is a low-rise, high-density scheme that combines the diversity in the units with axial pedestrian networks for a range of spatial and visual experiences. Also, that is based on the Self-Financing Scheme (SFS) for the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). Since the 1970s, there was an increasing need to cater to the housing of the citizens in Delhi. Also in Delhi, with the increasing strength of the professional and the trading classes in the cities along with migration from two and three-tier cities, housing strategies had to be considered for the needs of the middle-class group.

The Mass Housing Project

The Sheikh Sarai Housing is located in the Sheikh Sarai neighbourhood in New Delhi. And the site is about 35 acres. So the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) commissioned the architect Raj Rewal to design a residential housing scheme for the middle and lower-income group of people. Raj Rewal experimented with the Sheikh Sarai Housing Complex as one of the earliest experiment on the topic of social housing applied to a big scale site. It fits into an environment defined by the absence of symbolic features that characterize the site, which is located on the outskirts of New Delhi.

Construction of Units

The housing complex’s development began in 1978 and was completed in 1982. Subsequently, the Sheikh Sarai site was originally intended for the development of a combination of LIG, MIG, and HIG housing units. However, due to financial constraints, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) introduced a new category of housing known as the Self-Financing Scheme (SFS). Within this scheme, the allottees had to pay for their units in 5 installments over the period of the construction of the units.  As a result, people who signed up for a unit were entered into a lottery and had the option of specifying their preferences for unit type, layout, and location. The entire mass housing scheme is completely economically viable because of the subsidized housing units and also because of the use of local materials for construction. Finally, this increased the affordability of the apartments.

For the sake of completing the project, the housing units were classified into types. The break-up of the units was as follows –

• Category 1 – 48 units (1 Bedroom).
• Category 2 – 557 units (2 and 3 Bedrooms) and MIG – 192 units (3 Bedrooms).

Categories 1 and 2 were under the Self-Financing Scheme (SFS). Raj Rewal was the architect of the units in Sector D only, which consisted of the Category 2 units only.

Design Concept

Taking inspiration and connection with the historical cities like Udaipur and Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. Also, the Sheikh Sarai Housing is the characteristic of the urban fabric of India. And the design plans establish a clear concept of the close relationship between public and private spaces. As a result, the design arranges the open spaces in a methodical hierarchy throughout.

The mass housing clearly is based on the Haveli Typology inculcating the traditional patterns of urban space. On the other hand, these patterns are refined and perfected into ideal ensembles of collective dwellings. Raj Rewal has masterfully taken advantage of the irregularities on the site as every element offers a harmonious physical entity for living and working.

Urban Fabric

Built form of sheikh sarai housing by raj rewal, new delhi.

To imitate a traditional urban settlement, low-rise high-density walk-up flats are packed to form interior shaded streets linked by gateways and open courtyards (traditional Indian architectural components) for public use, and as an expression of style of the architect. The gateways, a common feature throughout the project, enabled a high level of transparency despite the fact that it was a high-density development, making it legible for the users.

Movement and Flow

Clear demarcation of vehicular and pedestrian streets, limiting vehicular flow to the road’s periphery with few access points along the road It improves pedestrian flow by puncturing the built solids along the central spine. So that is defined as the parking spaces and flow of traffic outside of the housing clusters. Moreover, there is a clear pattern connecting the movement to space, from person to neighborhood, also pedestrian to vehicular. The movement zones flow from the outer margins to the inner areas of the housing scheme, overlapping accordingly to create access points along the periphery.

Community Spaces at Sheikh Sarai Housing by Raj Rewal, New Delhi

Moreover creating intimate courtyards connected to one another, embodying traditional components of Indian architecture, to foster common areas for the community. The scale of these courtyards manipulates to encourage more social activities and interaction among the resident community, in addition to acting as social facilitators. So the individual to community equation structures through a progression of private spaces to squares of various sizes with shaded paths running throughout. Because every open space is meticulously controlled and organized, there is no room for neglected green spaces. Thus, the open greens are at the strategic places because they facilitate the orientation for the pedestrians.

Clusters and Units

The massing of building blocks creates clusters with inner courts and inside shaded streets. Also, the blocks of units connected. On the other hand, maintain the proper spacing between them and creates a system of covered pedestrian streets and internal courts. The organization of the blocks at Sheikh Sarai housing are also similar to the traditional medieval cities of Rajasthan.

Six different types of units ranging from 70-120 Sq.m. (70 Sq.m., 95 Sq.m., 110 Sq.m. and 120 Sq.m.), organized in two different clusters, 3 and 4 story high. The units come in a variety of sizes and types, ranging from studios to three-bedroom apartments. While the differences are slight, the necessity for economy and design is evident throughout the interior. Consequently, the apartments are tight, with no ambiguity of space caused by larger floor spaces to negotiate from. Despite the closeness and clustering of both units, each room is well-ventilated and well-lit, with an adjoining patio for each apartment. However, all the units are provided with courtyards or rooftop terraces.

Areas of Spaces of Sheikh Sarai Housing by Raj Rewal, New Delhi

• Area of Intervention – 38195 Sq.m. ~ 3.82 Ha.
• Built Up – 12740 Sq.m. ~ 1.2 Ha.
• Surface Parking – 6622 Sq.m. ~ 0.66 Ha.
• Green Areas – 3931 Sq.m. ~ 0.39 Ha.

Urban-scape at the site level, the architect developed the project by employing urban strategies of articulated flows, segregated spaces and applied the same on the site level. Therefore in a structured urban settlement. Raj Rewal designed the layout density at Sheikh Sarai as 100 DU/ha which comprised about 11% greater than the master plan applications. For instance, the compact dense development both on the ground floor and above maximized the use of space.

In conclusion, the Sheikh Sarai Project resembles the morphology of medieval Indian cities and its white composition, intentionally modern, is reminiscent of Udaipur. Most importantly, the housing scheme stands as yet another landmark in Delhi housing chronology and is responsible for the DDA’s middle-income housing to reach the limelight once again.

Also read: The Interlace in Singapore by Ole Scheeren

Brian Brace Taylor, M. P. (1992). Sheikh Sarai Housing – New Delhi . Retrieved from Raj Rewal Associates: https://rajrewal.in/portfolio/sheikh-sarai-housing-new-delhi/

Gupta, S. (June, 1991). Housing with Authority : The role of public and private architects in public housing in Delhi. Cambridge: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Kit, S. (2018, November 6). Research Project – Low-Cost Housing Issues (Solution) . Retrieved from Blogspot.com: https://samkit-education.blogspot.com/2018/11/research-project-low-cost-housing.html

SiddhikaChichani. (March 26, 2018). POST INDEPENDENCE ARCHITECTURE IN INDIASHEIKH SARAI HOUSING COMPLEX, NEW DELHI. Slideshare.net.

Singh, H. (August 12, 2015). SHEIKH SARAI HOUSING COMPLEX. Slideshare.net.

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Between the mid-1980s and late-1990s, an unprecedented tide of new publications on contem-porary architects and architecture in India appeared in print. These included several mono-graphs as well as more comprehensive surveys, exhibition catalogues, and a new “journal” of In-dian architecture, Architecture + Design (A+D) launched in 1984. Using Bourdieuean tools of analysis, this paper examines these architectural discourses about Indian architecture as a “field of restricted production” to better understand the context and dynamics of the conspicuous ur-gency to publish Indian architects and their work at that particular time. In so doing, the paper highlights inherent problems with the representation and historiography of ‘postcolonial’ archi-tecture in the context of the hegemonic discourses of modernity and its ‘postmodern’ critiques.

IAEME PUBLICATION

IAEME Publication

Generally, architecture can be termed as a field of art in building, a structure designed by human beings. Therefore, the grandeur and the height of a civilization is measured by the buildings it left behind which include religious buildings. This can be seen through Indian architecture that appeared as a result of the emergence of Buddhism and Hinduism. Between the main objectives of this study is to discuss the concept, goals and philosophy found in the architecture of India. In addition, the study also discusses the characteristics and elements of Indian architecture made up of Buddhist and Hindu architecture that has influenced some of the architecture of other buildings in the world. In this writing, the authors used qualitative methodology focusing on research on the analysis of documents and observations. The finding shows that the concept and philosophy of Indian architecture has been largely influenced by nation and world civilization. The study also identified the characters and elements. system along the western coast of India.

Thakur Manoj Singh

Indian architecture isone of the most famous in the world. Its architecture was based on the concept of religious plurality. One might notice that the architecture of Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic and colonial or Indo-saracenic were distinct. Based on these styles four historical eraswere classified i.e., the ancient Indian, pre-Islamic, and colonial periods. This article seeks to reassess the general perception of Indian Architecture and its relation to the formation of Indian identities. It focusses in particular on the interpretation of the concept of plurality n the academic world by western art-historians. The socioeconomic factorsplays determining role in defining the architectural styles of south Asia.

National Conference: Cultural Identities - Manifestation through Architecture (CIMA) 2020

Priyanka Gayen

Modern architectural heritage has various tangible & intangible values associated with them. It is the cultural significance of and the association of these values, which makes it heritage. Like ancient architectural heritage, the post-independence architecture of India has a potential association of values of cultural transformation, social & technological development, innovation, tradition & lifestyle. This paper attempts to explore the various values of the post-independence architecture of India, which makes it an integral part of the nation's cultural heritage. The period under consideration is five decades after independence (1947 to 2000)for this research. Cultural significance of the architecture of this period has been explored through the history of modern architecture of India and the significant modern architecture in the broader setting. For a comprehensive understanding of the cultural significance from a global perspective, there is a brief discussion of the values considered by major organisations involved in the recognition & protection of 20th-century heritage. In light of the broader spectrum of values associated with the architecture of this period and the cultural significance of the post-independence architecture of India, the values associated with the significant modern public buildings of this period have been identified.

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Incremental Housing at Belapur: Exceptional Examples of Housing Designs in India

Incremental Housing at Belapur –  Housing Design in India

In the ever-evolving landscape of Indian architecture, Incremental Housing at Belapur emerges as a trailblazer in redefining affordable living. This article explores the nuanced details of this exceptional housing design, delving into its innovative features and design principles that have transformed it into a beacon of progressive urban development.

Architectural Brilliance at Belapur

Pioneering affordable housing solutions.

Incremental Housing at Belapur stands as a pioneer in providing affordable housing solutions in the dynamic urban environment of India. Located in Belapur, Navi Mumbai, this architectural marvel challenges the traditional notions of housing design, offering a scalable and adaptable model for urban living.

Adaptive Design Philosophy

The design philosophy behind Incremental Housing revolves around adaptability. Architects envisioned a structure that could evolve alongside the changing needs of its residents, allowing for incremental growth and ensuring that the housing complex remains relevant and functional over time.

Innovative Spatial Planning for Flexibility

Scalable living spaces.

One of the standout features of Incremental Housing is its scalable living spaces. The design allows for gradual expansion, enabling residents to start with a basic structure and incrementally add additional rooms or features as their needs and family size grow. This approach ensures that the housing remains accessible to a broad demographic.

Modular Construction Techniques

Modular construction techniques play a pivotal role in the spatial planning of Incremental Housing. The use of prefabricated and modular components allows for efficient construction, reducing costs and providing a framework for residents to customize their living spaces as per their requirements.

Community-Centric Living

Shared amenities and open spaces.

Incremental Housing fosters a sense of community through shared amenities and open spaces. Common areas, playgrounds, and recreational zones are strategically integrated into the design, encouraging residents to interact and create a vibrant community within the housing complex.

Community Participation in Design

The design of Incremental Housing emphasizes community participation. Residents have a say in the development and evolution of the housing complex, creating a collaborative environment where the community actively contributes to shaping its living spaces.

Sustainable Practices and Environmental Sensitivity

Green building materials and energy efficiency.

Environmental sustainability is a core focus of Incremental Housing. The use of green building materials, energy-efficient systems, and sustainable construction practices align with global efforts towards eco-friendly urban development.

Rainwater Harvesting and Waste Management

To minimize the environmental impact, Incremental Housing incorporates rainwater harvesting systems and efficient waste management practices. These initiatives contribute to resource conservation and create a more sustainable living environment.

Technological Integration for Modern Comfort

Smart infrastructure and connectivity.

While prioritizing affordability, Incremental Housing does not compromise on modern comforts. The housing complex integrates smart infrastructure, providing residents with connectivity solutions, efficient energy management, and digital services that enhance the overall quality of life.

Digital Inclusion for Residents

The design also focuses on digital inclusion, ensuring that residents have access to technology that can improve their daily lives. From digital communication platforms to online community services, Incremental Housing embraces technology as a tool for empowerment and convenience.

Architectural Aesthetics and Cultural Integration

Adaptive façade and aesthetic appeal.

The adaptive façade of Incremental Housing adds to its aesthetic appeal. Architects have carefully designed the exterior to be visually pleasing while allowing for modifications and expansions. This adaptability ensures that the housing complex maintains a cohesive and attractive appearance.

Integration with Local Culture and Context

Incremental Housing seamlessly integrates with the local culture and context of Belapur. The architectural elements draw inspiration from the surrounding environment, creating a housing complex that feels rooted in its cultural context while embracing modern design principles.

Challenges and Adaptive Solutions

Urban planning constraints.

Navigating urban planning constraints posed challenges during the development of Incremental Housing. Architects collaborated with local authorities to find adaptive solutions that met regulatory requirements while staying true to the vision of creating affordable and scalable living spaces.

Infrastructure and Connectivity Challenges

Addressing infrastructure and connectivity challenges required innovative solutions. Incremental Housing incorporates infrastructure improvements, such as efficient transport links and enhanced connectivity, to overcome initial challenges and create a well-integrated community.

Impact on Urban Development and Future Prospects

Model for affordable housing initiatives.

Incremental Housing at Belapur serves as a model for affordable housing initiatives across India. Its success demonstrates that affordable living and architectural innovation can coexist, setting a precedent for future urban development projects aimed at addressing the housing needs of diverse populations.

Potential for Replication in Urban Centers

The scalable and adaptable nature of Incremental Housing makes it a potential solution for replication in various urban centers. The housing model can be customized to suit the unique challenges and opportunities presented by different cities, offering a flexible approach to urban development.

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The Sheikh Sarai Housing, a complex of 550 units in South Delhi, is a low-rise, high density scheme that combines diversity in units with axial pedestrian networks for a range of spatial and visual experiences and is based on self-financing scheme for Delhi Development Authority.

The design evolved from a specific area based programme for the Lower Income Group (LIG) and Middle Income Group (MIG) detailed by the DDA. With peripheral parking, the plan strings together a series of variable housing types with pedestrian squares, streets and pathways.

The design is based on clear pattern: connecting movement to space, from person to neighbourhood and pedestrian to vehicular. The individual-to-community equation was structured through a progression of private spaces to squares of varying sizes with shaded paths running throughout. The vehicular to pedestrian zones flow from the outer margins to the inner areas of the scheme, overlapping accordingly to create access points along the periphery. All the units have been provided with courtyards or roof top terraces.

“The mass housing that Rewal built at Sheikh Sarai based on the haveli typology and traditional patterns of urban space has been refined, purified and perfected into ideal ensembles of collective dwellings. Masterfully taking advantage of the irregularities of the site, the Laboratories and the dwellings, with walkways, courtyards and terraces offer a harmonious physical entity for living and working.”

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Interactional spaces of a high-rise group housing complex and social cohesion of its residents: case study from Kolkata, India

• Published: 12 March 2021
• Volume 36 , pages 781–820, ( 2021 )

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• Soumi Muhuri   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-1224-936X 1 &
• Sanghamitra Basu 2  

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A Correction to this article was published on 28 April 2021

This article has been updated

From concerns of mental health problems and behavioural issues of residents of high-rises, this research tries to explore the association of interactional spaces (the spaces of interaction in a high-rise housing) with dimensions of social cohesion (the social relations) of the residents. Presuming social cohesion is an important determinant of their mental health. To have both the researchers’ and users’ perspectives while an investigation, this research incorporates perception of the residents, analysis of layout plan, behaviour observation and space syntax analysis. Later, with the help of hierarchical linear regression model it identifies the significant attributes and uses of interactional spaces (both at outdoor and indoor) that facilitate or inhibit social cohesion. The finding indicates that the arrangement and use of the streets and tot-lots within a housing complex have a significant contribution in strengthening social cohesion of the residents. Further, more than actual use, the opportunities of a chance encounter and opportunities of use of the spaces appear to be more effective. The findings of the research would have a wider application not only in high-rise group housing but other instances as well.

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Change history, 28 april 2021.

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-021-09842-z

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Acknowledgements

We sincerely thank the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur for providing us with the necessary support and facilities for the research that was funded by the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD), India.

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Soumi Muhuri

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The original online version of this article was revised: The heading of the Table 1 was incorrectly published as “Sense of belonging to a group (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.889, composite reliability = 0.890)”. However, it is intended only for the first nine entries. The correct heading of the table 1 is "Dimensions/Subdimensions”.

Appendix A: Details of characteristics of residents

Appendix B: Details of attributes of the physical environment

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Muhuri, S., Basu, S. Interactional spaces of a high-rise group housing complex and social cohesion of its residents: case study from Kolkata, India. J Hous and the Built Environ 36 , 781–820 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-021-09830-3

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Received : 26 March 2020

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Issue Date : June 2021

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-021-09830-3

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Home > Case Studies > Bronx, New York: Innovative Design of Via Verde’s Affordable Housing Development

Via Verde (“the green way”) is a 222-unit mixed-income and tenure housing development in the South Bronx area of New York City. The winner of the New Housing New York Legacy Project (NHNY) design competition, Via Verde is an incubator of sustainable design features that promote resource efficiency and a healthy, active lifestyle for residents. The LEED Gold-certified building includes many innovations in design and construction technology that offer important lessons for affordable housing developments across the country.

Background and Context

In 2003, the city of New York announced the New Housing Marketplace Plan (Housing Plan) in a mayoral-led response to the citywide shortage of affordable housing. The $7.5 billion plan responded to the city’s rapid population growth during the 1990s and early 2000s (between 1990 and 2010, the city added more than 850,000 new residents) and subsequent housing shortage with a comprehensive strategy to create and preserve 165,000 units of affordable housing over a period of 10 years (2004–2013). 1 The city’s commitment to increase the housing supply has been supported by efforts to improve its quality with respect to design, environmental sustainability, and long-term affordability. In 2006, the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), in partnership with the American Institute of Architects (AIA), New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, (NYSERDA), Enterprise Community Partners, and JP Morgan Chase Bank, sponsored the NHNY design competition in an effort to “…raise the bar for design excellence and innovation in affordable housing in New York City and beyond” through a juried design competition. 2 The competition was more than a conceptual exercise to solicit bold ideas; the winning interdisciplinary team of architects and developers was charged with executing their design proposal to create a new standard for excellence in affordable housing.

The competition centered on a narrow, triangular-shaped lot adjacent to the Melrose Commons neighborhood in the South Bronx. Comprised of 40,000 square feet of land and an additional 20,000 square feet of air rights, the dimensional constraints of the site were exacerbated by soil contamination, which led to the property’s designation as a brownfield. After years of public investment in the South Bronx — including the creation of thousands of housing units in the Melrose Commons Urban Renewal Area — the property was one of the few remaining vacant city-owned parcels. 3 The characteristics of the site necessitated bold, creative ideas and the residents of the adjacent Melrose Commons neighborhood have a long history of advancing innovative concepts. In the 1990s, the community helped craft an inclusive, forward thinking revitalization plan for the neighborhood grounded in principles of sustainability. The goals of the Melrose Commons Urban Renewal Plan included a mixed-income, mixed-use neighborhood with a housing density that could support public transportation and with architecturally significant and resource-efficient buildings. Notably, the plan supplanted city-led renewal efforts for lower-density development patterns that many longtime Melrose residents feared would result in their displacement and forever change the character of the neighborhood. 4

Many of the goals of the Melrose Commons Urban Renewal Plan were included in the parameters of the NHNY design competition. The city requested proposals that served a range of income groups and that integrated an environmentally sustainable and innovative design with strategies that promote active, healthy living for residents. The focus on healthy living was a direct response to community concerns over asthma and public health in the neighborhood. 5 The winning proposal, Via Verde, was submitted by a project team consisting of Grimshaw Architects and Dattner Architects, together with developers Jonathan Rose Companies and Phipps Houses of New York.

Innovative Design and Program

Via Verde’s design includes many building form, programming, and technology innovations that create a model for the next generation of sustainable, affordable housing. Several of these innovations are realized through building massing and the ascending, “tendril-inspired” form, which responds to the narrow, triangular shape of the site as well as the neighborhood context. 6 The project consists of three building types that wrap around the perimeter of the site. From the site’s south side, the height of the buildings rise, from 2- to 4-story townhouses, to a 6- to 13-story mid-rise building that steps up to meet a 20-story tower on the north side, which serves as the project’s apex. The wrapping, terraced form gives rise to a vertical network of rooftop gardens that provides the physical and social organizing elements of Via Verde. Totaling approximately 40,000 square feet of open space, the gardens ascend from a ground level courtyard to a 7th floor fitness garden, with a rooftop dining terrace above the tower’s 20th floor. The gardens connect through a series of stairways and include a variety of uses to both engage residents and incorporate green building technologies: an amphitheater (2nd floor), a grove of conifer trees (3rd floor), a fruit tree orchard (4th floor), community gardens (5th floor), and a fitness garden (7th floor). These open spaces are designed to promote physical activity and create dynamic community spaces that encourage both passive and active recreation. The garden on the seventh floor includes access to an indoor fitness center that offers commanding views of the Bronx and Manhattan to the south. 7 The upper floors include six additional gardens that are planted with native vegetation. Although not accessible to residents, these areas provide building insulation and advanced stormwater management; the rainwater is harvested to irrigate the rooftop plantings. To ensure the success of the community gardens, the developers partnered with GrowNYC , a local nonprofit organization, to manage and operate the gardens during Via Verde’s first two years of operation. The objective is to educate and train residents so that the gardens are managed and maintained entirely by the Via Verde community after this initial start-up period. 8

The innovations at Via Verde extend to the façade where advanced building technologies are used to further the goals of environmental sustainability and affordability. The terraced, south-facing walls harness the unobstructed southern exposure with six arrays of photovoltaic (PV) panels mounted to the building’s exterior. 9 Combined with additional arrays on the roofs of the fifth and seventh floors, the project includes a total of 288 photovoltaic panels capable of producing 66kw of electricity, or the equivalent of $12,000 in electricity savings annually, based on the energy model developed for the building. 10 In addition to the wall mounted solar panels, the building envelope includes technology to prevent water damage and promote building longevity. Via Verde’s exterior includes a prefabricated rainscreen cladding that is engineered to minimize water from infiltrating the exterior wall and damaging the building materials. 11

Efforts to promote healthy, active living extend from the vertical gardens to the interior of the buildings. A pilot of the New York City Active Design Guidelines, Via Verde is designed to achieve a LEED Innovation Credit for incorporating design elements that promote a more active lifestyle for residents. For example, the use of stairs is encouraged by locating stairwells in highly visible and accessible areas and by placing windows in stairwells to bring in natural light. Signage encourages the use of stairs and highlights the health benefits (calories burned) of residents’ daily climbs. Centralized bicycle storage facilitates encourage the use of active modes of transportation and a medical clinic on the first floor provides health services for residents. 16

Financing and Planning

The successful completion of the $99 million project would not have been possible without the strong support of both city and state government. The project’s affordable rental component was financed with a combination of local, state, and federal resources totaling over $66 million dollars. The financing package included $25 million generated through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program and $7 million from the New York State Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (SLIHC) program . HPD contributed an addition $12 million in financing through the HOME Investment Partnership Program and City Capital funds. The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York provided $1.9 million through its affordable housing program. 17

Via Verde benefitted from state programs designed to facilitate investments in brownfields, energy efficiency, and clean energy production. The developer invested $2.6 million in site remediation, supported by tax credits provided by the state’s Brownfield Cleanup Program. 18 The project also received over $500,000 through its participation in the NYSERDA Multi-Family Performance Program, which provides technical assistance and financing to owners of multifamily properties to implement an energy savings plan that targets a 15 percent improvement in building efficiency. 19 In addition to the various funding sources that made Via Verde possible, the project’s financial viability was strengthened by an exemption from providing the 36 parking spaces required by zoning code. 20 The mayor’s office granted this exemption, in part, because of the availability of parking throughout the neighborhood and Via Verde’s proximity to public transit. This exemption eliminated the need for a subsurface parking structure that would have significantly increased project costs. 21

Experience Gained

Via Verde includes many innovations in the design and programming of affordable housing that provide important lessons for future projects. The development is rooted in a community-based planning process that dates to the early 1990s, when local residents helped establish a revitalization plan for a mixed-income community that promotes environmental and social sustainability. These same principles have informed Via Verde’s planning process, in that the NHNY design competition relied on community input to help shape the project’s design.

For those involved in the development of Via Verde, the project includes many lessons that can be applied to future efforts. As a result of the competition, HPD has placed a greater emphasis on sustainability in their RFP process for new projects, and the Department is using the design competition platform to solicit proposals to meet other housing needs. 22 The project has enabled the designers and developers to explore innovative design and program ideas, including the prefabricated rainscreen technology, wall-mounted PV panels, and the vertical open space network that serves as both a community and a natural resource amenity. The incorporation of rooftop community gardens and the nonprofit start-up management model is being used in other projects involving the Via Verde development team. Via Verde’s sustainable design is expected to help maintain housing affordability while providing immediate savings in utility costs, when the project is compared to a baseline development without similar green features. Total savings are expected to exceed $115,000 annually, representing a 27 percent reduction compared with a baseline building. 23

The success of Via Verde is symbolic of the transformation of Melrose Commons, and the partnership between members of the community and the city. Subsequent to adoption of the Melrose Commons Urban Renewal Plan in the early 1990s, more than 2,800 new residential units have been constructed in an area that once stood as an infamous symbol of urban decline. When the redevelopment of city-owned land in Melrose is complete, approximately 3,700 new units will be built across the 66 properties once owned by the city. The resulting combination of public and private investment in the Bronx now stands at $5.9 billion dollars, and the city estimates that for every $1 of public funding, $3.41 in private investment has been leveraged. 24 The Housing Plan has been instrumental in rebuilding the Melrose neighborhood and in using public dollars to leverage private investment.

City of New York, Department of Housing Preservation and Development. 2004. “The New Housing Marketplace: Creating Housing for the Next Generation.”

New Housing New York Legacy Project, Request for Proposals. June 2006. City of New York Department of Housing Preservation and Development, 13.

Ibid; Federal Home Loan Bank of New York. 2010. “Highlighting the Drivers of Community Development: Via Verde/The Green Way.” Community Investment News ; Email Correspondence with Eric Bederman, Press Secretary, City of New York Department of Housing Preservation and Development, 18 July 2012.

Eddie Bautista, Yolanda Garcia, and Peter Stand. 1996. “ Melrose Commons: A Case Study for Sustainable Community Design ,” prepared for the 1996 Planners Network Conference.

New Housing New York Legacy Project, Request for Proposals. June 2006. City of New York Department of Housing Preservation and Development; Where is New York? Affordability at Via Verde. Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Columbia University. 26 March 2012.

Where is New York? Affordability at Via Verde . 2012 .

Ibid; Via Verde Floor Plan. Dattner, Grimshaw, Phipps, and Rose

Project documents provided by Andrew McNamara, Vice President of New Construction, Bright Power, Inc, 10 July 2012

Association for Affordability, Inc. 2011, “NYSERDA Multifamily Performance Program Case Study: Via Verde,” presentation

Via Verde/The Green Way: Press Pack.

Via Verde Floor Plan.

Center for Active Design. Case Studies: Via Verde . Accessed 27 June 2012.

City of New York, Office of the Mayor, Via Verde press release, 18 June 2012. (website content has changed and this document is no longer available)

Association for Affordability, Inc. 2011.

City of New York, City Planning Commission Report C 080522 HAX, 7 October 2008. Accessed 27 June 2012; Interview with William Stein, Principal, Dattner Architects 26 June 2012. (website content has changed and this document is no longer available)

City of New York, City Planning Commission Report C 080522 HAX; Interview with William Stein, Principal, Dattner Architects 26 June 2012; Interview with Michaell Wadman, Vice President, Phipps Houses 29 June 2012. (website content has changed and this document is no longer available)

Interview with Bea De La Torre, Assistant Commissioner Planning, Marketing, and Sustainability, New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development 27 June 2012.

Email correspondence with Eric Bederman.

The contents of this article are the views of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or the U.S. Government.

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A Recyclable and Modular Housing Complex in India and A Secluded Cliff House in Iran: 8 Unbuilt Residential Projects Submitted to ArchDaily

• Written by Maria-Cristina Florian
• Published on May 30, 2022

This week’s curated selection of Best Unbuilt Architecture highlights residential projects submitted by the ArchDaily community . From a small community-dwelling in Ghana to a villa tucked under a hillside in Portugal , this roundup of unbuilt projects explores how architects react to various site topographies, cultures, and material availability when designing spaces that provide more than shelter to their users. The article also includes projects from India , Iran , Ireland , Latvia , Georgia , and Saudi Arabia.

Read on to discover eight residential projects along with their descriptions from the architects.

Samya Awas - Affordable Housing from Sustainable Interlocking Blocks

A simple rectilinear vault load-bearing structure is chosen as a design module. The idea is to use the Silica Plastic Blocks (The Interlocking Block) in order for easy and fast construction. The advantage of using the SPB block is that it uses no cement mortar and hence reduced the total cost of construction. The blocks can be built without any expertise on construction. One module uses a mere 1500 bricks which is equal to the cost of clay bricks when accounted for the time taken to construct.

Ev Design Office

Although a hot and dry climate prevails in most parts of Iran , the southern coast of the Caspian Sea has climatic advantages of this region. The findings show that design strategies based on traditional architecture are still applicable in the temperate humid climate of the region and can lead to low-energy buildings. Construction of small buildings In the past, this climate was common in the warehouse of agricultural products. Our project was formed by adapting to the local architecture and the needs of the client.

Cross Avenue

Urban Agency

The design for Cross Avenue, a new residential project, has grown out of the existing qualities of the site, melding the architecture harmoniously with its surrounds. Taking the treehouse as an initial concept, the design seeks to emulate the immersive capacity of this primary architectural structure. Three buildings are submerged in the ‘forest’, instilling a similar sense of escapism. Capturing the genius loci, the design envisages the project as a ‘growing organism’, invoking a symbiosis between nature and architecture.

Tamale Mini-living

Magdalena Gorecka modelsoffbeauty

Tamale, Ghana ’s third-largest urban center and one of the fastest-growing cities in West Africa, is characterized by its horizontality and urban sprawl. It is situated in the Tree Savannah climate zone, however, very much impacted by Sahel culture. Tamale Mini-living balances the densification and compression of the urban tissue. It provides three different types of living units, that could be assembled in various ways creating an almost vernacular, typology of an island.

Villa in Jurmala

Kerimov Architects

A three-story villa of 780 sq. m is located in Jurmala, Latvia , on the banks of the river, on a fairly small site surrounded by trees that need to be preserved as much as possible. The task was to make a compact middle-rise building within a given area easy to perceive, so-scaled to the environment, and not bulky. Three elements should be embodied in the architecture of the house: nature (forest), water, and the city.

Casa do Passadiço

PAULO MERLINI architects

When we arrived at the plot where the clients wanted us to design a single-family house that they wanted to be unpretentious, private, and timeless, we found a beautiful landscape of bucolic character. The presence of a small pre-existing building largely defined the creative process. With the premise of respecting the original natural landscape, we proposed a single-story house that integrates with the terrain in such a way that it becomes invisible from the visual axis of the entrance.

Mirage Dream

Studio Makal

A mirage is a phenomenon often experienced by weary travelers who seek refuge from the arid desert. It is seen as an oasis, a destination, and a safe place, but as they journey toward it, the mirage keeps going further, merely not there. It is an illusion, an intangible reality. Like the mirage, dreams are intangible. It is until we interpret dreams, that it becomes a reality, it becomes part of us, not just a figment in our mind. The aim is to make dreams tangible. To make the journey through the desert worthwhile. To make dreams a reality through architecture.

Fillet Edge House

Laboratory of Architecture #3

On a hillside near Tbilisi, in Georgia , laboratory of architecture #3 has designed a distinctive geometric residence, divided into an arrangement of stadium forms. To fully assimilate a rather steep slope, the building was divided into four spaces and levels, which allowed us to fully absorb the area and create separate open and closed terraces, loaded with different functions. House contains four bedrooms, two courtyards, a wine cellar, a pool, a sauna, and multiple big terraces and has an amazing view of the Tbilisi landscape.

HOW TO SUBMIT AN UNBUILT PROJECT

We highly appreciate the input from our readers and are always happy to see more projects designed by them. If you have an Unbuilt project to submit, click here and follow the guidelines. Our curators will review your submission and get back to you in case it is selected for a feature.

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