4.2 BIOPHILIA - Duplex Residences

4.2 BIOPHILIA - Duplex Residences

Designed by: Akash Menon

Location: Dahran City, Saudi Arabia

Plot area: 4500 Sqm

The design is a proposal for an international competition for a Residential complex to be designed in Dahran City, Saudi Arabia.

Form Development:

The mass is placed longitudinally in the north-south direction, so as to avoid the harsh south sun. Placing it in the center naturally divides the site into two halves, creating space for parking on one side and public gardens on the other, clearly separating vehicular traffic and pedestrian areas.

The ground floor units are staggered and separated to create pockets in the mass to allow wind flow on street level to naturally ventilate the public gardens. Private gardens are developed around the unit like personal front and back yards.

The circulation core is placed in the center of the complex dividing the structure into wing A and B. The IBHK block is created as a solid mass in the center of the structure.

The remaining 3 and 2 BHK units take its place above the ground units while developing its own personal garden surrounding the units. As the structure is placed centrally in the site, the units avoid overlooking directly onto the street traffic and are provided much quieter views inside the site.

The units on wing A get private rooftop gardens and the mass on top of wing B houses the gym and multipurpose hall.

Façade composition:

The structure is a composition of staggered masses that peeks out of vegetated facades and planted gardens that risevertically for every unit.

The design of the facade is influenced by the vernacular Architecture found in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Middle east. The screens used for shading the building is inspired from the screens used in traditional "MASHRABIYAS" The screen is used as a modernistic

interpretation to serve the same purpose, shading and diffused light.

The structure is majorly clad in a textured white plaster and avoids dark colors to avoid absorbing unwanted heat. The planters and vegetation on the facade and rooftop help in shading and cooling the structure.

The units are designed to have a traditional housing scheme on the ground where the living mass is surrounded by a garden on 2 or more sides. The screens used to mask the facade helps in ventilating the semi open spaces in the unit through its punctures as well as cut of the direct sun producing a diffused pattern-like light in the interior spaces. The major point of the whole project is that as we go higher floor-wise it does not lose the garden space that it would have when placed on the ground, it incorporates dense vegetative spaces in the interior as well as the exterior balconies.