Cuboid Deconstructed
Residence at Alibag, Mumbai- Ar. Arjun Malik
Designing a residential space, adhering to the aesthetic elements of a structure seems to have been mastered by Ar. Arjun Malik, Principal of Malik Architecture. With many accolades and awards won, his much acclaimed project 'Residence at Alibag' in Mumbai stands majestically impressive-completed in the year 2010.
Ar. Malik completed his bachelor's in architecture at the Rachana Sansad Academy of Architecture and went on to receive a Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design from the Columbia University in New York. He returned to join his father's 30 year old firm in 2005.
The firm's philosophy of providing a comprehensive design capability and harnessing new technologies has resulted in innovative and dynamic solutions in the field of Institutional Architecture and Interiors.
The Location
The site location for the residence is a hill in Alibag, one which enjoys a stunning view, not only of the rolling contours surrounding it, but of the sea and the skyline of Mumbai in the distance.
The external appearance of the structure is impressive and looks elegant. Explaining about the concept of the project Ar. Malik says, "Conceptually, the design of the home is a departure from the "stepped terrace" typology that one would conventionally employ on a heavily contoured site. Instead, we chose to deconstruct a cuboid that is tilted and suspended over the ground and seems to simultaneously 'float' and 'flow' down the hill."
Design Development
A. Conventional Method
B. Alternative Method
- Splitting the blocks that make contact with the earth creates a natural courtyard in the space between where earth flows through the home.
- The amount of cutting is drastically reduced and the natural contours of the hill remain relatively unchanged.
- The ‘Tube’ that rests on the two blocks is tilted at an angle that is almost identical to the natural slope of the ground and with a single gesture, a tangible link to the hill is created. Whilst simultaneously generating a physically liberate space.
|
 |
| Client's Requirement
The project is located on the hilltop and has a panoramic view of the nature. So when asked Ar. Malik whether there were any particular requirements from the clients end, he says, "Part of the client's brief was the desire to have the primary living space (living room) and verandah in close proximity to the swimming pool. We used the contours of the hill to design a stilted pool that satisfied the client's requirements and also, provided an auxiliary shaded verandah below it opened onto a large garden and which could be used in inclement weather."
|
 |
| The hilltop location of this house makes its occupants privy to some spectacular views of the sea as well as of the surrounding terrain. It is the fact that every space is designed to partake of these views that renders the house unique. The transition from panoramic to framed portraits and the constant three dimensional articulation of the viewing platform is what generates an experience that transcends the pure visual and ventures into a multi-sensory realm. The only restriction was the self imposed one with regards to retaining the integrity of the hill and maximizing the sustainability of the development. |
 |
The creation of singular sensory experiences has been the primary organizing and sculpting vector. Numerous geometric inflections and articulations are designed to engage the senses in unconventional ways. A walk through the house is meant to yield unique moments of being suspended in space, of intimate enclosure, of vertiginous assaults but most importantly, of being connected to nature.
Tubular Steel Truss
The contours of the hill have been used to organize the structure over 3 levels. The 'tube' contains 2 large bedroom suites at different levels with a large interstitial void that is inhabited by floating connections.
The 'Tube' that rests on the two blocks is tilted at an angle that is almost identical to the natural slope of the ground and with a single gesture, a tangible link to the hill is created, whilst simultaneously generating a physically liberated space. The earth is forced into the centre of the home, whose vertical proportions complement the intrinsic horizontality of the geometry. Similar programs are linked by the volume and its skins provide weather protection to the bridge connections hovering within the courtyard. The concept of the floating tube allowed for the elevated perch which was desired to give the occupant the best possible view of the surroundings without creating large obtrusive footprints on the ground.
The house functions as a tool to interpret the landscape. At numerous junctures, the object dematerializes to create a sense of floating amongst the elements, and its unique strength is the varying experiential conditions it creates at different points in space and time.
Roof Design
The roof design of the building has both the traditional and modern touch. Elucidating the roof concept, Ar. Malik says, "The main roof of the living room and verandah is a re-interpretation of the traditional clay tiled roof, but re-designed for better performance. It has been parametrically manipulated to dip and extend to provide weather protection for the main pool deck, the entrance verandah and the car porch. In addition, it sweeps upwards to allow headroom for the stair leading to the upper level."
High wind speeds and heavy rains necessitated re-analysis of the traditional pitched roof which while performing well in homogenous spatial conditions, failed to meet the multiple performance criteria that was required.
Sustainable Features
The structure follows the design philosophy with concrete planes making contact with the ground, while steel floats above it. The home seems to conduct a constant dialogue with the ground on which it rests; it is informed by the earth but chooses at certain junctures to thrust over a precipice, completely oblivious of it.
The use of natural lights is been meticulously planned and executed well. Considering the minute details while designing such spaces, Ar. Malik says, "Care was taken to ensure adequate amount of natural light which filters in throughout the day. North and east oriented skylights have been used to maximize natural light in transition and living spaces."
Artificial Light: Lighting scheme has been designed based on the Green Building Guide Lines. An energy efficient lighting system by use of following: T5, LED,immable Ballast, CFL, Illumination and Energy based sensors.
-
Light Pollution Reduction Credit: Designing exterior lighting such that all exterior luminaries with more than 1000 initial lamp lumens are shielded and all luminaries with more than 3500 initial lamp lumens meet the Full Cutoff IESNA Classification. Technologies to reduce light pollution include full cutoff luminaries, low reflectance Surfaces and low-angle spotlights. Thus, eliminating light trespass from the building site, improving night sky access and reducing development impact on nocturnal environments.
- Energy efficient lighting system brings down energy consumption.
- Steel used for construction is recyclable.
- The stones excavated during construction have been employed to retain earth wherever necessary and to form bund walls.
- Organic waste converter and vermilion pits have been employed on site to convert the biodegradable waste into organic manure which will be reused on site.
- Water collected from storm water drainage is filtered and is reused for flushing, car washing, gardening and all secondary purposes.
- Site Conservation: Conserving the hill in its natural form was a challenge successfully executed. Use of natural and local materials such as stones etc was undertaken in cladding as well as flooring. In the new landscape scheme, existing trees were retained thereby increasing the green area.
- Energy Conservation: Solar panels are employed to heat water for pools and daily use.
Challenges Encountered
-
We were now faced with the conundrum of creating a complementary foil to the distinctly extroverted structure that was perched on the apex of the hill. On the one hand, we felt that the second home ought to partake of the same stunning views that presented themselves to the first house, but any significant built up mass would not only compete with but also vitiate the geometric singularity of the first home."
-
The home is self effacing, a more discrete and introverted alter-ego of its hilltop sibling."
|
 |
| Building Technology
|
 |
1) To divert treated water for 100% irrigation requirements
2) To use for flushing within the building
- Sufficient overhangs have been provided to ensure least amount of heat loading on the air conditioning system.
- Massing of the building itself acts as overhangs for the lower structure thereby shielding the western facade.
- The HVAC system has been designed based on the Green Building guidelines.
- The pool helps in cooling the South western breeze thereby acting as a natural air conditioner.
- Internal courts have been landscaped thereby maintaining an ambient micro climate within the house.
Project Details
Name of Project: Residence at Alibag
Address: Hno 774, 775, Alibag, Maharashtra, India
Client: Private
Name of Firm: MALIK ARCHITECTURE, Mumbai, India
Design Team: Arjun Malik, Jigar Mehta, Ganesh Kugaji
Consultants: Suhas Gangan (Plumbing); Vora Electricals Pvt. Ltd. (Electrical); Cool Air Systems (HVAC); STRUDCOM (Structural); Chiniwala Pvt. Ltd. (Cladding/ Glazing); Mungekar & Associates (Solar/Rainwater Harvesting/ Vermiculture); Silver Pools (Swimming Pool)
Built-Up Area: 11500 sq. ft.
Cost of Project: Confidential
Year of Completion: 2010