AFFINITY DWELLINNGS HOUSING

Design Site

Location: Tikathali Mahalaxmi, Lalitpur district, Nepal

Area: 105 ropani, Total available land: 61 ropani

Surroundings: Lagankhel bus park, Vegetable market, Tempo stop

Site Features

The site for the project lies on the North of Godawari khola Bridge and main street of the settlement. Godawari River passes through the site. High tension lines lies along East West of the site.

Concept

Affinity housing is designed to create common spaces on various levels and an environment for collective growth of the residents sharing their feelings, intentions, attitudes, experiences and social part of life. Housing is designed with an axis along river with landscapes, major roads and riverfront and distribution of housing spaces and landscape with respect to it and perpendicular axis. The approach is to design a housing which shares a shares a common space on residence level, surrounding and community level. Housing with different units share common backyards, common gardens in row and detached as well common terraces on each levels of apartment and a large landscaped garden for each housing type.

One of the important part of the design is landscape and green spaces. The riverbank is designed with a three strip vegetation, walking and seating area in the entire housing giving that experience of living in the part of nature. Interactive communal gardens, parks as a central landscape of housing. The design aims in coexistence of river, plants and buildings creating pleasant urban landscape.

Contour Analysis

Cutting and filling taking in account of original contour heights and developing in considerations with road networks and housing placements.

Road Network

The main collector road is N-S along river and it distributes E-W into the housing of width 6m and has interconnecting bridges. The slopes with the contour levels is shown above.

Site Space Allocation

Axis Development

The main axis is green axis in N-S direction along the river, offers overall view of the site along the line, walkability, and as main street and riverfront spaces.

Community Area

Community area as central focal point of activities. Has recreational area, community building, landscape, plaza and play area. It also has cultural zone, farmers market and stepped riverside amphitheater and access to public with controlled entry point.

Riverside And Gardens

Riverside with walkways and trees. Interacting communal gardens for different housing types. Cleaning and river waste management achieving clean river.

Housing Density

The housing has varying density profiles encouraging alternate user experiences and addressing different population groups. The high rise apartment placed at north to avoid light blockage and allowing entire view of site along river axis. Villas at eastern side and have landscape riverside perks.

Road Side By The River

The roadside has a green line which creates a barrier between road and river. Also provides a safe space during monsoon flooding.

Housing

There are four types of housing:

1. Row housing (2.5-3 aana)

2. 3 BHK housing (4-4.5 aana)

3. 4 BHK housing (4.5-5 aana)

4. Villa (8-12 aana)

Apartment

The concept is mainly guided by the idea of receding terraces to maximize the amount of sunlight. The common terrace can act as an interaction space. Each terrace is connected by alternate staircase which creates the idea of hill climbing experience in the urban context. The apartment units are accessed through three service cores via common corridor. The central courtyard acts as a common space through landscape elements.

Community Centre

The community centre is designed for multiuser interaction experience and is a space for gathering, events, outdoor-indoor activities, recreational and functional activities. Different surfaces of the landscape are created giving an ambient environment along with the natural landscapes with different variance of shrubs, trees and grasses. The building itself is minimal and linearly designed and has inside-out spaces, indoor spaces for administration activities, health care and workouts, studying, day-care, and different events. The entr y to the community space has been given to public as well to increase the local people’s interaction in the area also as a method of giving back to public and increasing public stewardship.

Interior Spaces